Does Primitive Parts' Debut Album Rest In The Shadows?

The outro of the last track on Primitive Parts' debut album is an improvised piece, featuring experimental loop shuffles slathered over drum machine mechanics. The ending section aptly represents this project as a whole.

Not in a sonic sense, of course, as the album is a collection of rough, but flinty power pop tunes tinted ever so slightly by the influence of late 80s era Flying Nun psychedelic college rock. But the outro has a freewheeling energy typical of a passion project spearheaded by like-minded friends.

The members of Primitive Parts have all done time in fairly young, but established acts (Sauna Youth, Monotony, Male Bonding), each honing their skills with their respective projects. To describe Primitive Parts as a combination of those bands would be an oversimplification. Though there are similarities, the members shake things up a bit, causing a skewed pop sensibility to bubble up to the surface of their spiky compositions.

If you haven't heard the band's first two 7" singles (the A-sides of which appear on this album), then the first hint of the band's cleaner aspirations comes from opening track "Miracle Skin." The song trades noise punk aggression for an acoustic guitar-aided stroll. "Troubles" has the band sounding like a spruced up version of the Subway Sect and other tracks, like "Eyes," offer up borderline sweet melodies reminiscent of the bygone era of Britpop.

The band doesn’t shy away from post-punk angularity either, flexing their choppy dynamics on album highlight “Being There.” Smartly, the album clocks out before reaching the 30 minute mark, letting the band’s exuberant energy burn out quickly before become boorish.

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However, after the last song ends, one doesn’t get the impression of assured confidence that came with Male Bonding’s debut or Sauna Youth’s latest album. Unfortunately, it’ll take a bit more work to get this project out from under the shadows of its associated bands.

To find out more about Primitive Parts, click here.

Words by Keenan Novi.

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