If we went looking for bands that aroused the revival of dance post-punk and new wave at the beginning of the new millennium, the radar would soon focus on !!! (chk chk chk), the masters of groove originating in California and New York. The triumphant comeback of dance punk was announced with their eponymous debut
If we went looking for bands that aroused the revival of dance post-punk and new wave at the beginning of the new millennium, the radar would soon focus on !!! (chk chk chk), the masters of groove originating in California and New York. The triumphant comeback of dance punk was announced with their eponymous debut full album in 2001. However, they were launched to the front line of revivers two years later by their widely popular single Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story), which also brought them under the protection of the prominent British label specialising in dance electro music, Warp Records. Having previously favoured the unstoppable dance groove over the intriguing pop loops, their reach was somewhat more limited as that of their colleagues like LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Rapture, yet despite their uncompromising attitude they have been captivating rock-rave audiences at major festivals around the globe for more than a decade.
Learning from their loved bands, such as Gang of Four, The Pop Group, Liquid Liquid and Talking Heads, the band has formed their unique expression masterfully, making it stylish and sexy like that of disco giants Chic, hedonist and partying so that even the ultimate pleasure seekers Happy Mondays would be happy with it, and funky playful in addition, which resulted in an invitation to support Red Hot Chili Peppers on tour. Their diverse expression is even further upgraded with provocative criticism of political hegemons, with intimate stories taken from the metropolitan way of life, and also committed calls for individual personal freedom. The band simply call their own music body music, i.e. the music that actually makes you move, go to the street, a club… And judging by dancefloors that are constantly being filled by hardy ravers as well as the indie youth, the seemingly simple formula of !!! is undoubtedly bearing tasty fruits.
After this year’s already fifth studio album Thr!!!er (any similarities with the deceased king of pop are supposedly a coincidence), the first appearance of the band in front of Slovenian audiences could hardly take place at a better moment in time. Their collaboration with the producer Jim Eno, also the drummer in the indie-rock superstar band Spoon, led to more focused studio work, which resulted in tracks that feature their recognisable groove as well as a mature melodic pop appeal that can be compared to the best achievements of LCD Soundsystem. An album and a band that promise a superlative feverish summery party gig!
