by David Wilikofsky
WALL were one of my favorite bands in Brooklyn back in 2016. I remember them playing a scorching set at Shea Stadium one evening that summer. The band absolutely owned that room; their dark post punk set blew away every other band on the bill that night. They would break up soon after. Their debut album came out in early 2017, but the band had called it quits before the record hit shelves. Public Practice is the band that rose from the ashes of WALL. Combining members from that band and another one, Beverly, the band has big shoes to fill. With Gentle Grip, they have more than succeeded in that task on their own terms.
Gentle Grip follows in the tradition of many famous New York bands who merged punk, funk and dance music. You can hear echoes of the twinkling synth lines of Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime” on tracks like “Underneath”. “Compromised” could easily be a long lost early Blondie song. “See You When I Want To” plays with the same kind of stripped down rhythms as ESG. Still other tracks recall the tightly coiled fury of WALL; opener “Moon”, which is driven by a burbling synth line, shares a darker tone with that band’s slim discography. That track is a masterclass in building tension; the song mostly simmers, creating a sense of dread throughout. Towards the end that pent up energy explodes into a thrilling climax. All of these different sounds make sense together, and there is enough variety to keep the listener on their toes.
Lyrically, the album explores the complexities of modern living. “Compromised”, the lead single of the album, explores the moral contradiction between being a responsible global citizen and living in a consumerist society. The song questions how to navigate this dilemma; “you don’t want to live a lie” and compromise your morals, but you also want expensive goods like a house and a car. The song doesn’t many any judgements but instead leaves the questions hanging for the listener to ponder. “Each Other” tells the story of a couple falling apart. The narrator veers between feeling connected to their partner and knowing that they’ve been with someone else. The song ends when the partner returns home, and the narrator sees through all their lies.
Despite the serious lyrical territory, Gentle Grip is deliriously fun. Both “Compromised” and “Each Other” pair these heavy themes with infectiously catchy tunes. Sonically, this is life affirming music. In different times, I’d be rushing out to see the band live and spend a night dancing to these songs. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that soon, but until then I’ll have to make do dancing in the comfort of my apartment. You can have your own dance party by listening to the album and purchasing it over on Bandcamp