It’s torrential downpour season in Vancouver, and it’s a time when I reflect on the nature of what we humans have created for ourselves. We rush from lifeless concrete, dead glass, and deceased wood structures into hurtling, skidding metal boxes, into lifeless concrete, dead glass, and deceased wood structures, and back again. While the forests around us drink it all in and release life-giving oxygen from their leaves and remineralize the soil, we scurry around hiding under chemical-laden coatings that cause cancer.
When I get too deep into my ruminations over how we kill everything for profits, I need to throw on a punk album that will remind me that everyone isn’t just fucking cool with it. Today that’s Berlin punx GLAAS, which features members of Clock Of Time, Idiota Civilizzato, Useless Eaters, and Lacquer. Their debut full-length Qualm came out this summer via Static Shock Records, Iron Lung Records, and Sorry State Records — and you can get it here. This record has the right amount of open-eyed skepticism and giving-no-fucks attitude with its addictive beats and dancing riffs. Right now, I’m gonna listen to Qualm and watch the rain bring another fiery, smokey summer to an end.