New York City’s Relations revive the intense aesthetics of post-punk’s heydays through an eclectic set of four tracks exploring the unsettling contradictions of the genre’s heritage. Only steps away from the explosive 1980s wave of uptempo self-loathing, old-time friends Terrence Murren and Michael Sanders build – upon head-bopping offbeat rhythms and rolling bass lines – a fast-paced narrative, tinted with nostalgia and that effervescent angst of young love. Get ready for a disturbingly pleasant journey to the center of their minds as the duo celebrates the release of the eponymous debut EP with a show at Matchless on June 28. In a refreshingly dark alternative to the gleeful connotations of most synth-based acts, their screeching guitars and dissonant dialogues bring a twist to unforgettable Factory & Co influences. Tempted? Sample or purchase the EP on the 100mrecord store, you’ll get the gist. – Tracy Mamoun
