2012.08.23 Retisonic - Robots Fucking

Color: Transparent Green w/ Green Marbling

Released: 2012, February 24

Label: Arctic Rodeo

Hot damn! Jason Farrell does it again! It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the man’s work aesthetically. And in 2012, with the help of Retisonic drummer Joe Gorelic he’s still killing it. I kept reading about how Robots Fucking was his most ambitious packaging product yet. I had no doubt, but all the photos I had seen online of the packaging weren’t really revealing just how it was accomplishing this feat. Then the thing showed up in the mail. Let me just pause and say, Im really glad that none of the images that I had seen on the interwebs ruined what is probably the coolest aspect of the packaging. The LP arrived in a sealed anti-static bag that was embossed with the band’s logo and sealed with a custom sticker. Then you remove the actual album sleeve that is initially veiled by the anti-static bag and your eyes have even more to feast on. Farrell’s familiar command of type and organization are all there. As is his playful use of photo-collage. In an extra bit of detail, as is not uncommon for Farrell, the length of the back fold of the sleeve stops short of the height of the front cover, revealing just a bit of the actual LP jacket, creating a white band over the top of the back image. Not sure what he’s using for the type on the front cover, but I’m pretty sure that’s Univers (a fave!) for the tracklisting on the back cover and inside credits. Another surprise is that this may be the best album Retisonic has ever put out. All three members are bringing their best to the table, despite not being heard from as this unit for six years. Right away with opener “Bee-Stung Lips” there’s a different air about the music and you can actually hear the space the band is operating in. It’s becomes pretty apparent quickly that the band have mastered the blend of DC-influenced rock and catchy hooks that they have always dabbled in. “Airtight” is a track that I find myself constantly going back to while “Don’t Let It Complicate Your Mind” is another shining track that vaguely hints at Farrel’s  former band, Bluetip while Gorelic and bassist Jim Kimball anchor it firmly in Retisonic territory. The album closes with a breath of fresh air as piano permeates its final number. I’ll take old dudes (sorry guys) putting out solid fucking music with great design over this trendy hipster shit (and the equally atrocious aesthetics) any day.