Review: The Neptune Power Federation ‘Mondo Tomorrow’
After all that unpleasantness with The Sleeping Shaman limo, the expense account, and that run in with the tax authorities, I thought I’d written my last review here. But just when I thought I was out, they’ve pulled me back in because I couldn’t resist the prospect of another The Neptune Power Federationalbum.
Yep, Sydney’s favourite five-piece are back, and before I start in earnest, I should probably set out a few basics in case you’ve not had the good fortune to come across them before.
The band are a group of Sydney-area veterans – if you’re interested, decipher the fiendish stage names, use the interweb search engine of your choice, and be surprised at how many great albums they’ve played on – fronted by the inimitable Imperial Priestess Screaming Loz Sutch. The band’s sound is a maximalist smorgasbord of every flavour of scuzzy rock you enjoy from the ‘70s and ‘80s, replete with screaming solos, huge choruses, and thoroughly gratuitous backing vocals, handclaps, etc.
In one of my previous reviews, I noted that one of the most appealing things about the band is that they seem to be having a blast when they’re recording music, but they must have some serious discipline too. The current line-up released their debut album, Lucifer’s Universe, back in 2015 – there was an earlier record, but it featured a different vocalist – and this is now their sixth full-length in a little over a decade. I started painting my shed nine months ago, and I still haven’t finished because I haven’t gotten round to the fiddly bit behind the water butt, so that comparison has made me feel bad.
Anyway, as with most of their albums, Mondo Tomorrow has a broad over-arching theme that’s kinda cool if you’re into that sort of thing or can be safely ignored if you’re just here for the music. This time it seems to be about the threat of over-arching technology, with wiggy voice-overs beginning and ending the album, as well as several tracks seeming to deal in futuristic urban decay that made me think of Blade Runner – although I should qualify that by noting I’ve only seen Blade Runner once, over twenty years ago, when I was a bit drunk.
a sweet stop-start riff fed through a wall of gnarly, sputtering fuzz…
Mondo Tomorrow sees no sign of the band slowing down, kicking off with the awesome title track: three and a half minutes of sleazy rock perfection with a naggingly memorable chorus that always has me air-drumming along. The Grip Of Death centres on a sweet stop-start riff fed through a wall of gnarly, sputtering fuzz, and I love the boogie-rock outro to And The Bones Decay, not to mention the patented self-provided backing vocals on the chorus.
Living In The Gutter has all the grimy swagger that you’d expect from a song with that title and requests, nay demands, that you strut while listening. Mind Controller is classic TNPF with its irresistible blast of summery ‘70s heavy rock replete with handclaps, cowbell, widdly guitar solo and a key change just for good measure. I’m not such a massive fan of Cybernetic Times, but the album finishes strongly with two more rippers in Rhapsody in Blue –another ‘70s stormer guaranteed to put a smile on your face – and The Barbarian Dominion – a suitably epic album closer with more groove than a record. You know, an actual record with one really long groove spiralling around it.
If I’m being picky, and I mean seriously picky, while Mondo Tomorrow is chock-full of brilliant songs, it doesn’t have a moment of bat-shit crazy weirdness that have further elevated some of their earlier records – I’m thinking of the title track from Neath A Shin Ei Sun or We Beasts Of The Night off Le Demon de L’Amour. But that is being crazy harsh. The Neptune Power Federation juggernaut rolls on, and you’d be daft to miss this!
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Liam Blanc
