Gretchen goes Goth. Sort of. Well not really but we love alliteration, okay? And we’re not talking out our ass too much because while Gretchen Shae & The The Middle Eight may have been more a Rawk outfit there’s no denying the dark underbelly that tantalized each and every track they put out. But there’s no teasing in Shae’s newest project Proles which flips the script, tones down the shreds but turns up the synths for something a little bit different.
We were all over this project the second it was announced, without a smidge of sound to go along with it, because Shae has proven over and over a agin to be a prolific and endearing singer and songwriter. Add in elements from one of our most favorite genres (Electro/Darkwave) in addition to the Post-Punkiness (Not a word) of it all and it was a no brainer that this was going to be a memorable musical experience.
But how’s it actually sound??? Well for one thing, Proles ain’t yer Momma’s Post-Punk! Combining elements of Trip-Hop with Synth Pop (Portishead meets Ladytron… soooooo, PortisTron? LadyHead?) into an already Siouxsie & The Banshees-like air immediately makes Proles stand out from the rest of today’s Post-Punk. So if that sounds like your idea of a good Friday night then please read on. Actually, read on anyway? You’re already here, right? Might as well see it through. We promise it’ll be over soon…ish.
“Inaugural” is lo-fi but futuristic reminding us of Kittens For Christian mixed with a Vangelis score as Jason O’Blivion’s guitars shriek against Nikki Severen and Daniel Denied’s respective pulsating drums and bass before Shae’s haunting vocals arrive like a spectre on the sinister yet sexy sounds conjured up for “The Slumber”. “Another One for the Fire” features a full on co-vocal moment from O’Blivion (Who previously contributed some lingering screams to the end of “Inaugural”) on a track that’s ethereal yet easily one that’d also light up the Man Ray floor with a vibrant New Order circa Get Ready feel.
“Radio for Ghosts” is a mystical/spiritual romp with Shae and O’Blivion’s vocals seamlessly intertwining as “Gemini” rounds out our regularly scheduled program of Proles originals on an especially eerie tone with O’Blivion’s wails offsetting Shae’s lush croon. But wait, there’s more! Also attached to the debut release are two bonus tracks with the Allie Frost remix of last year’s “The Black Serenade” up first putting the track in a decidedly more Inauguration state of mind by stripping much of O’Blivion’s vocals and subduing the synths for a feel more akin to The Cure’s Pornography era. Then there’s the “Live at WMFO” version of 2023’s “Lines Drawn” which gives fans just a hint of what’s in store at a Proles live show.
Inauguration arrives on October 3rd and you can get all up on top of that release by heading here or to the stream below now. For the latest from Proles, including the skinny on upcoming live experiences like the one happening on release night (Again, October 3rd!) at Koto Salem with Gossip Collar and Lipsmear, hit the trail of socials found by clicking here, here, or here.