On their new single, The Deli, Cor de Lux combine the energy of post-punk with bright, melodic and slightly eccentric indie rock. The guitars recall Sonic Youth, with open, interlocking lines, restrained distortion, unconventional tunings and plenty of sustain. The main riff, however, has a warmer, more circular quality, closer to the intricate guitar interplay of Built to Spill.
Clean, lightly saturated guitar lines weave around one another as Dawn Moraga and Tim Lusk trade vocals. Rhythmic shifts and a more open, immersive instrumental passage with hints of shoegaze give the track an art-rock edge without sacrificing its accessibility. The drums maintain a crisp, controlled pulse, while the bass provides a discreet foundation beneath the guitars. The result is polished, warm noise rock shaped by a constant tension between melody and abrasion.
The lyrics carry that tension into the political arena, challenging received ideas and the transformation of politics into spectacle. The image of eating politicians like sandwiches captures the band’s absurd sense of humour and their rejection of a system that no amount of sauce could make palatable. Directed and animated by Stephen Coad, the video extends that satire through stop-motion animation and surreal, handcrafted imagery.
“The whole political system in a nutshell feels like a modern day WWF televised event on ‘The Jerry Springer Show.’”. Dawn Moraga
“The Deli” is the latest preview of Year of the Horse, Cor de Lux’s forthcoming new album, due out in September.
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