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PO: Omni - Networker


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SubPop MegaMart & Bandcamp

 

First single Sincerely Yours is solid

 

https://megamart.subpop.com/releases/omni/networker

PRE-ORDER DETAILS

  • Loser Edition is pressed on opaque blue-colored vinyl.
  • Customers will be given access to stream the full album up to four (4) weeks before release date from your SubPop.com account, with your pre-order of the album on any format. 
  • All pre-orders will also receive any and all pre-release track downloads in advance of the album release as they are made public, which will be available from your SubPop.com account as they become available.
  • All physical pre-order items should ship out from our warehouse in Seattle, WA between 5-8 days before release date, so long as their are no delays in manufacturing that would delay this advance shipping timeline.
  • International orders may not arrive by release day as extra time must be taken into consideration for distance traveled and customs department clearance.

Enter Networker, the new album by Omni and first with indie giant Sub Pop Records. Their sound is still defined by sparse drums, locked-in bass, blistering guitar, and nonchalant, yet assured vocals, but from the first notes of “Sincerely Yours” you’ll immediately notice that Networker sounds much cleaner and more “HI-FI” than their prior two albums, Deluxe (2016) and Multi-task (2017). The departure in fidelity suits the new record and allows the listener to enjoy the nuances of their meticulous arrangements. Don’t worry, the riffs of Gang of Four and Wire are still present, but the production is more lush and the harmony is even more expansive.  Despite nods to the sounds of the ’70s and ’80s what comes through is a record fully rooted in the here and now. Thematically, this is apparent on the title track “Networker” taking a candid snapshot of the “digital you” aspect of life in the age of the internet. The otherwise fun romp “Skeleton Key” also acknowledges the “direct message and obsessive” side of social media with lines like “if you don’t like what you see, the pretty face on the screen, scroll on by…”  

Networker was written half between tours and half during recording sessions. The band, Philip Frobos on bass/vocals and Frankie Broyles on guitars/drums/keys, returned with longtime collaborator Nathaniel Higgins to the studio in South Georgia where they also recorded Multi-task and most recent single “Delicacy.” In this case, the “studio” is a cabin near Vienna, GA (pronounced Vye-anna) that was built by Frankie Broyles’ great-grandparents in the 1940s. The band completed four sessions between November 2018 and April 2019. Omni hit their stride in the cabin with songs such as “Moat,” which cruises along at a nice mid-tempo clip with sounds that are maybe piano or maybe the “behind the bridge” strings of a Jaguar a la Sonic Youth or This Heat.  “Blunt Force” provides a nice contrast to some of the more upbeat cuts, getting jazzy with it’s less traditional arrangement and psychedelic outro.

On “Courtesy Call,” Omni successfully ride the line of being able to pleasantly reference influences without mimicking. They venture into experimental Haruomi Hosono territory while still managing to sound like Thin Lizzy. The same could be applied to “Sincerely Yours” where the fantastic guitar work and a beautiful breakdown in the middle dive into late 70’s jazz production.  On standout cut “Present Tense,” Yellow Magic Orchestra vibes are present in the fun synthesizer riff while the guitar counterpoint checks this direction pulling the song back into something fresh, sharp, and definitely Omni.   

Overall, Networker is simultaneously fun, catchy, and contains some truly impressive musicianship. This combo is especially hard to pull off as bands that are great players often don’t have great or memorable songs. Omni and Nathaniel Higgins have done a stellar job of reigning in their diverse influences into a cohesive record by curating their sounds into a tight package that leaves you just on the cusp of understanding where the band is coming from, while still feeling like you’re hearing something totally fresh. While their earlier records had more of a “post-punk” sound, Networker is an amalgamation of the best sounds of the ’70s and ’80s, all arranged with (mostly) guitars, bass, and drums for our contemporary age, and it really works! There are hooks everywhere, vocal and instrumental, that will leave you humming along, even during the first listen. As Philip Frobos says in “Present Tense,” “guess who’s on my mind right now?” Well, Omni’s on mine and will be on yours soon.

-Scott Munro, Preoccupations 2019

READ MORE

TRACKS

  1. Sincerely Yours
  2. Courtesy Call
  3. Moat
  4. Underage
  5. Skeleton Key
  6. Genuine Person
  7. Present Tense
  8. Blunt Force
  9. Flat Earth
  10. Networker
  11. Sleep Mask
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  • 2 weeks later...

Missed this thread, but did notice last week that they'd announced a new album. What I didn't realize was that they went from Trouble in Mind to Sub Pop. I've enjoyed their last few albums, but haven't been blown away by any means. There's always a few great tracks. Will check this one out, but expecting about the same quality. 

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1 hour ago, jeromium said:

Missed this thread, but did notice last week that they'd announced a new album. What I didn't realize was that they went from Trouble in Mind to Sub Pop. I've enjoyed their last few albums, but haven't been blown away by any means. There's always a few great tracks. Will check this one out, but expecting about the same quality. 

I bought the forst 2 albums because I am a big Trouble In Mind supporter(not really liking alot of their recent direction) and tought the OMNI releases were solid. However the band has a formula and pretty much plays to it so I dont expect anything different from them here

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I like a good chunk of Trouble in Mind's releases, but for me there have always been things I liked and didn't like – it doesn't necessarily feel like I'm starting to like less. The Possible Humans album they just re-issued is quite good. But my favorite stretch was probably 2013-17. Jacco Gardner's debut, Morgan Delt, Ultimate Painting's debut, Primitive Parts, Beef Jerk, The Hecks, The Paperhead's Chew. And decent stuff from Dick Diver and Omni.

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