Egowerk

Description

At its genesis, social-media platforms posited themselves as new, innovative ways to connect with friends and family. You could share and promote your work, trade insights on the latest pop-culture phenomenon, coo over a friends new pet or babythe possibilities seemed as boundless as the Internet itself had in the early 90s. But as one platform begot another, and then another, the proverbial milk started to curdle. Especially in the last decade, as algorithms evolve, Facebook and Twitter have morphed into warped personalized mirrors, where users can gaze at and react to left- or right-leaning news sources, specific-to-them advertisements, andperhaps most relevantfiery political opinions. Facebook in particular has become a breeding ground for hate speech and bullying, among other issues.

This is precisely what troubles Omaha electro-punk pioneers The Faint on their forthcoming seventh studio album, Egowerk. Social media is turning well-meaning people into self-important cruel monsters, asserts lead singer Todd Fink. Egowerks focus is on the current social state of the Internet: an amazing world of free knowledge, communication, and opportunity is proving to be a toxic battleground. One where the people most sure of their opinion are quick to take a stand and destroy anyone who doesnt agree with them.

His sense of urgency unfurls over the albums frenetic, cacophonous tracks. Opener Child Asleep echoes well-loved Faint singles from the Danse Macabre days, with rapidfire techno beats that sear so hot, your forehead will break into a sweat regardless of proximity to a dance floor. And though the synths should sound familiar to any Faint follower, the songs monotone message is at once classic and current: If I was wise, I would see Im a child still asleep.
Elaborating further, Todd says, It would be amazing if I could wake up from the world that I think Im awake in already. If theres a better way of understanding life, Id love to be privy to it. You see the wisdom of all Gurus in the East, and you know theyre not bothered by this or that. Theyve attained something, and the rest of us are just kind of banging into stuff, trying to figure out what to do with our lives.

But in terms of music creation, the band, which also includes drummer and backup vocalist Clark Baechle, keyboardist Graham Ulicny, and guitarist and bassist Michael Dapose Dappen, is very much wide awake. Its been four years since the Saddle Creek flagship act dropped a proper studio album, and more than two decades since they first tore onto the Midwest scene, alongside area staples Cursive and Bright Eyes, with anxious electro-pop-punk anthems that meshed doomsday themes with thudding dance-floor hooks.

Now with their latest effort, the group began to construct Egowerk shortly after releasing their 2016 career-spanning record, CAPSULE:1999-2016, with Baechle making frequent trips back to Omaha from his new home in Philadelphia to mix the record. We came up with the foundation of nearly an entire song each day, every day, says Fink. We worked really fast and made a lot of progress at the beginning.

As a band, we did the whole record ourselves, says Baechle, who also oversaw the production on Egowerk. We voted to produce it as a band. For me, personally, this was the biggest difference between this album and others.
Recording at Enamel Studios in Omaha, The Faint composed 11 blistering tracks that explore societys current relationship to, well, themselves. I have work to do on my ego, and so does everyone else, says Fink. Its become really noticeable with the state of the world, especially when were on communications platforms, social media and all that stuff. We have to ask ourselves why were doing what were doing. Is it an ego trip? Are we trying to make other people do what we wish we would do? Or are we just trying to feel better than other people and taking people down?

Despite The Faints nihilistic musings on Egowerk, Fink and Baechle remain optimistic that things can improve if society is willing to absorb dueling perspectives. The more you learn about any issue, any issue at all, the more you understand that its more complicated than you think, Fink says. Id like to see people less convinced that theyre right about everything all the time. I guess I think well figure it out as time goes on.

Its nothing short of epic, with labyrinthine, busy-bee synths and quirky melodies made for maximum sweatwerk. And though the song will put you in a trance, one cant help but feel wide awake when Child Asleep is on.
PAPER Magazine on Child Asleep

With an unrelenting techno beat and chaotic synths layered and then layered again, the track threatens to overtake entirely Paste on Child Asleep

synth-punk legends
Stereogum

Chameleon Nights and finds the Omaha outfit pumping out nearly four minutes of busy, frantic dance-punk.
Consequence of Sound