Pylon was an ’80s musical institution, setting the pace for an alternative rock scene that would transcend the decade. Yet, never contented by the present, they have pushed forward beyond for over three decades, bringing with them their dynamic recordings. Over two and a half decades after its first release, Chomp, the second studio album by Pylon has been remastered and rereleased under the amped-up name Chomp More.
A founding member of the alternative rock scene springing out of Athens, Georgia, Pylon helped set the pace for the 1980s. Playing alongside the B-52's, Gang of Four, R.E.M., Talking Heads, and many others, Pylon was a force to be reckoned with and a solidifying factor in setting the sound that would define a decade.
Now in their third incarnation, Pylon is working to bring their quintessentially ’80s sound back to life in the contemporary scene. Chomp More is their second reissue since reuniting in 2004, after the remastered Gyrate Plus. Static guitar and streamlined bass that were far ahead of their time echo through with brilliant clarity, paying fitting homage to the late guitarist Randy Bewley. Coupled with dance-mix drums and front woman Vanessa Briscoe Hay's throaty, punky vocals, a kitschy synergy bangs through track after track.
Mixes of "Crazy," "Yo-Yo," and "Gyrate" allow for variety from the classic to the contemporary, each retrofitted with synthesized sounds emulating the electronic music of today without losing their feeling of decades past. Other songs amongst those originally recorded help to diversify the album as a whole. "Italian Movie Theme" is an instrumental track that draws inspiration from the beachy riffs of the Beach Boys and Dick Dale, while "Four Minutes" brings a chopped-up, slowed-down feel to the album.
The general sensation of the release isn't one of nostalgia or even retroactive music-making. What sets Pylon apart from their contemporaries is their ability to stay relevant, even when reissuing a twenty-something-year-old album. Their music carries a sound distinctive to the ’80s, but it's sharp, clean-cut textures and stylized drift from song to song reflect a recording savvy unmatched by many groups past and present.
Pylon is a group unlike any that came before, and unmatchable by any who came after. Their dance rock and diligent attitude carried them through three decades, and, as they prove with Chomp More, their time has come before, and will come again. |