REVIEW: Contraptions’ newest single, ‘The Eye of the Unobserved’
We live in an age of innumerable hybrid genres. From folk punk to nu metal, alternative music is a broad church these days, encompassing ideas borrowed from all over the place. Even in this most accepting of climates, Contraptions (who describe themselves as ‘Proggy Skavant-Gardecore’) are bringing more genres to the table than most. They’re making music which lurks somewhere between prog rock, metal and ska with a healthy dose of hardcore thrown in.
With a list of influences as diverse as Avenged Sevenfold, Frank Zappa and Reel Big Fish, it’s almost impossible to predict what how their sound will manifest. And yet, when you hear it, it somehow makes total sense.
Their latest single ‘The Eye of the Unobserved’ is a perfect expression of these wide-ranging sources of inspiration. It opens with an energetic ska melody, builds up to a storming saxophone solo and is relentlessly punctuated by a series of thrashing breakdowns.
Midway through, Contraptions turn everything on its head once more. Out comes the acoustic guitar, accompanied in the music video by some jazzy shirts in lieu of the band’s all-black outfits. This brief departure from their heavier sound, although an impressive indication of the breadth of their skillset, is the only moment their diversity seems to stretch them a little thin. Then, moments later, the six-piece are back in their black hoodies, the distortion is back on, and all feels right in the world once more.
The song concludes much as it began: with a chaotic coming together of all sorts of sounds that probably shouldn’t work together and yet absolutely do. If you’re happy to leave purism at the door, Contraptions are solidifying themselves as a band to watch and take notice of.
You can listen to ‘The Eye of the Unobserved’ here.
Words: Lauren Archer
