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.

-L.R.

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/album/hypnotic-rebel-rouser
https://open.spotify.com/album/4wHnDYl5Btt7GBuHTFU7GA
https://www.instagram.com/thetroubleseekers
https://www.facebook.com/TheTroubleSeekers/

The Trouble Seekers - "Not Like U"

If the impending dissolution of Hall & Oates has left you questioning whether life is still worth living, perhaps you just need another duo to believe in. The Trouble Seekers, Kevin McGovern and Hillary Burton, return with what is already their ninth single. In the duo's patented style, "Not Like U" mixes together elements of dark new wave, experimental synth-punk, and jagged-edged pop to create a retro-futuristic concoction that sounds like nothing else that's out there. As always, both artists succeed in merging their singing voices and creative visions. "Not Like U" sounds like something you might have heard in a 1980s dark waver dance club if you had stepped through a portal into the future. I love the atmosphere this song creates in just a little over three minutes. It builds an air of gloom and anxiety, yet it also delivers plenty of punch and high-quality hooks. And how amazing is that artwork? If you're seeking some dark wave/post-punk that's a cut above, I urge you to track down "Not Like U" and the entire Trouble Seekers discography.

-L.R.

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/track/not-like-u
https://www.instagram.com/thetroubleseekers/
https://www.facebook.com/TheTroubleSeekers/