PERENNIAL - Modernism PERENNIAL

Whatever they do, whenever they do it, Perennial is quick, kinetic and sharp. Their bruising, bombastic sets come and go before you know it — all over but the sweating. A 20-minute marathon, on stage and on wax.

On Modernism, the New England mod trio’s newest full-length album, that lightning-strike energy is channelled into a pocket-symphony rave-up: a 10-song session built from the sharpest elements of The Who, The Blood Brothers, Otis Redding, Stereolab, MC5 and Wilson Pickett. Mellotron loops collide with electric feedback squalls, while freakbeat riffs intertwine with Stax/Volt-inspired hooks. It’s op art you can dance to — the band’s deep and eccentric record collection transformed into a 1,200-second action painting.

Formed in Connecticut in 2015, Perennial consists of Chad Jewett (electric guitar and vocals), Chelsey Hahn (electric organ and vocals) and Ceej Wolf (drums). Through unforgettable live performances and studio recordings that treat the recording process itself as an instrument, the band has cultivated a devoted international following one sweat-soaked basement show at a time.

Working once again with longtime producer Chris Teti (The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die), Perennial continue to expand their distinctive Motown-via-Dischord sound, incorporating elements of free jazz, ambient electronica, big beat, dub and musique concrète into explosive bursts of energy.

Taking inspiration from albums such as A Quick One and Sound Affects, Modernism balances experimentation with immediacy, pairing infectious hooks with layers of fuzz bass, tambourine and Vox Continental organ. The result is a thrilling new benchmark from one of punk music’s most adventurous and inventive bands.

"Perennial layering their abstract punk angles atop Stax/Volt grooves and 60s mod punch, all fuzz bass and Townshend-esque feedback morse code..." - What's New On The Beat Scene