Repetition is one of few attributes that ties music from all over the world together. It’s well-known how Western pop music fetishizes repetition in every song and Conor Oberst fans are familiar with how he attempts to never repeat any lyrics. In “Wall Ball”, the new single from Post Echo based duo Art Contest, they use guitar repetition to bury a tapped guitar line deep into your psyche before tinkering with you by gradually adding in quick blips of notes on top before switching to a rapid chord progression and returning to the familiar riff. The entire song tick tocks steadily, either nodding your head side to side or up and down, changing pace and breaking apart in the latter half of the song. What it is is mesmerizing, sinking into your brain and then blowing up to create cracks where the music sinks in, though I wish it exploded more. The spasticness of the guitar, drums and vocals make for an attractive listen, but I finished the song wanting more, or something different. Maybe I’ll find that in the next song off the upcoming Two Songs release. It takes creativity to get out of a corner you’ve put yourself in, and Art Contest should be able to figure it out.
Tour Dates
8.12 — Charleston, SC — King Dusko
8.13 — Savannah, GA — Erasery
8.14 — Athens, GA — Caledonia Lounge
8.15 — Columbia, SC — Bluetile Skateshop
8.16 — Clemson, SC — Superdoppler
8.17 — Charlotte, NC — Thomas St.
8.19 — Rock Hill, SC — House Show
8.20 — Richmond, VA — Gallery 5
8.21 — Baltimore, MD — Triple Ear Magic Factory
8.22 — Philadelphia, PA — The Baker Bowl
8.23 — Brooklyn, NY — House Show
8.24 — Providence, RI — News Cafe
8.25 — New Haven, CT — Cafe 9
8.27 — Washington, DC — TBA
8.29 — Blacksburg, VA — Gillie’s
8.30 — Asheville, NC — Mothlight
8.31 — Atlanta, GA — Mammal Gallery
