Contra Party's down turned heaviness of "Heather" from their full length "Over Your Shoulder" that drops today

AP Track Review

Contra Party, the band name itself got me excited because those two words were there for the taking all along. I thought it was a smart name but kind of humorous too. I immediately thought of the Reagan era and the Contra War, the Contra rebels and counter revolutionaries because I am a student of history and because I am fucking old too. When I clicked play on the track Heather I liked it immediately. For me, it has a sort of 90's California college rock vibe. I thought of a car crash of bands like Dinosaur Jr, The Lemonheads and Husker Du. The beer in hand small club head bob cadence was heavy on this one. The sound foggy, the vox turned down and sad. Heather is from the band's full length album "Over Your Shoulder" which drops today (Jan 17, 2020). 

While this is not an album review, I have to say that the songs that I have turned on or turned over are not only varied but have depth. The opener Hands Down has a cool kind of danger around the corner feel. Trails with it's mellow beat counterpoised by dirty guitars and bending piercing guitar notes has a dense atmosphere. 7 Hours has a lovely bit of sad romance in it's crunchiness. Scott McLean's vocal aesthetic throughout the album begs you to listen but, even more so. to feel what he is saying or spewing. He has a comfortable sound and a sad passion in his voice. I am not saying his heart is broken but on some songs it sounds like the fractures are many. On the beautiful Final, the shoe gaze haze is pulled back revealing more of his voice. Great emotional core to his voice. Speaking of core, McLean is at the core of Contra Party. While there is not a lot of bio info to be had on Contra Party's Facebook. A Google search revealed that McLean is an important figure in the Portland scene and as the co-founder of Holocene (great venue) has supported the thriving indie music scene there. He has been writing music since high school and put some of those creative endeavors on hold to form the club. Rather than parrot what I have read, I will direct you to a great, great article over at VORTEX who Premiered Heather a while back. Now back to this album (wink).

Contra Party is Scott Mclean and Luis Galdames.
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Robb Donker 







THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

"Heather" is the lead single from Contra Party's new album Over Your Shoulder, due out on January 17th.

The band says on the track, "We wrote 'Heather' as a dual-perspective homage to the feelings of uncertainty around a breakup, and the fight and courage to dig in and move on, even if you’re faking it until you make it."