Sunday, September 01, 2024

The Trouble Seekers - "Hypnotic"​/"​Rebel Rouser"


I always love it when a band can stay on brand yet totally surprise you. You probably didn't have The Trouble Seekers releasing two instrumentals for their latest single on your bingo card. It almost seems counterintuitive. Why would a unique and extraordinary vocalist like Kevin McGovern put out a release and not sing on it? Yet after hearing "Hypnotic" and "​Rebel Rouser," I can't imagine these songs not being instrumentals. "Hypnotic" lives up to its title. It's a post-modern take on the surf rock instrumental. It still transports you to a beach, but this is a beach that has been decimated by climate change and placed under the control of AI robots with nefarious intentions. "Rebel Rouser," of course, is the iconic Duane Eddy instrumental given a modern makeover with dark wave keyboards and synthesized effects. Clocking in at a total of two minutes, 37 seconds, this latest entry to The Trouble Seekers catalog is a triumph of musical economy. You don't need a whole lot of time to create a mood and a feel. While not nearly as raging as the band's other releases, "Hypnotic"​/"​Rebel Rouser" lives in the same retro-futuristic universe.

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