London-based artist Chas Leman impresses across the bold, hooky EP REPETITIVE STRAIN, a stylistic foray into 2000s-inspired electronica and inventive art-pop. Fusing an anti-capitalist sentiment with Gorillaz-esque loops and vintage synths, the record explores the resilience required to survive a repetitive 9-5 lifestyle amidst a modern cost-of-living crisis.

“The first CDs I ever bought with my own money were Original Pirate Material by The Streets and the first Gorillaz album, and they have both stayed in my all time greats ever since,” Chas says. “I have always wanted to make a record based around loops and beats, but being basically computer illiterate, sort of prevented that from ever happening.”

An enthralling opener to the EP, “WASHING MACHINE WEEK.” expands quickly from vaguely warming vocal effects and flickering intrigue into a pulsing charm — with bouncy guitar strums and playful rhythms building into effervescent keys. Leman’s “begins on Monday mornings” vocal salutations chronicle the waking-up process from its routine tasks to headier, grim contemplations. The “drum spins forevermore” hook delights in its vibrantly melodic charm, reminding fondly of The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon in tone. “THE GOOD LIFE?” continues in similarly captivating form, here lovably reminiscent of Gorillaz in its dazed vocal feeling and ascent into the moody “where did the good life go?” questioning. The EP kicks off with an utterly fantastic one-two punch, balancing bleakness and brightness with expert precision.

The release’s other two tracks continue the stellar run of songwriting, with “THE REAL WORLD.” Perspectives of news-driven fearmongering, incendiary livestreams, and “round and round it goes” struggles to deal with perpetual strife coexist with another memorable melodic drive, especially memorable in the heightened vocal pitch and ensuing guitar fuzziness. EP finale “THIS IS LIFE.” concludes with punchy rhythms and buzzing synths, growing thereafter to acoustic-laden brisk strums and then an anthemic, title-bearing proclamation of shop-floor resilience. The EP goes a firm 4-for-4 in regards to quality tracks and songwriting.

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“WASHING MACHINE WEEK.” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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