Seattle label Nostalgium Directive will be releasing a new, two-song 7″ record from Chicago postpunk band Population in late June or July. Below is an exclusive streaming track from the new release, sure to delight anyone that’s found themselves a fan of some of the dark band’s other releases.
In the interview I did with Population a few months ago, bassist Benny Hernandez said, “I’ve always just thought of us as a punk band,” and the DIY punk ethos is there with Population’s approach to touring, making music, and putting on shows. But from a purely sonic standpoint, the music on Population’s new “Relic” 7″ (as well as on their upcoming Beyond the Pale LP on Mass Media Records) is straight up gothic rock in the vein of early Sad Lovers and Giants, early Sisters of Mercy, or Red Lorry Yellow Lorry. The title track, “Relic,” is a somber and moody postpunk song; Keelan’s vocals remind some of Tuxedomoon’s in “No Tears” or even a little of Andrew Edritch’s on the First and Last and Always LP. The song on side B, “Mourning Dawn,” is a more straightforward, mid-tempo gothic rocker. If you’re a fan of Population’s particular take on Manchester-meets-Leeds style dark postpunk, this 7″ will not disappoint.
The packaging for the “Relic” 7″ is especially nice. According to Asa at Nostalgium Directive, “It will come in special, appropriately reliquary envelope packaging that is hand-stamped, numbered, and assembled by the band, and designed by vocalist Keelan McMorrow.” It will also include a digital download code for the mp3 version of the record.
When available, you can order the Population “Relic” seven inch at Nostalgium Directive, here.
See also:
An interview with Population
CVLT Nation Deathrock Mixtape 2013, Part 1, by Oliver Sheppard (which contains a Population track)
