The Zaxons - Videopticons
Videopticons plays as if The Zaxons built a small analog machine and let it rattle in the corner of a basement club. The record is full of clipped bass lines, jagged guitar parts, strange synth tones, and vocals that feel loose and in the moment. It pulls from post-punk, new wave, lo-fi indie rock, and a bit of shoegaze, but the album works because the band gives those elements a strange personality of their own. The songs are catchy, but they are also odd enough to keep the listener slightly off balance.
“Keswick Cutouts” opens the album with a strong bass line, sharp drums, and a vocal melody that gives the song its shape. The guitars add tension without overcrowding the arrangement, and the synths aren't overused. The title track continues with a darker atmosphere, driven by bass and guitar parts that move with a nervous pulse.
“Mumpsimus” shifts the album into stranger territory and a high point. The guitars are present, but there is also dissonance in the track that gives it an uneasy pull which I liked. “Bidston” is another great one. The vocal performance is memorable, the groove has a lot of movement, and the guitar work takes the song somewhere unexpected without making it sound overthought. The breakdown brings in a different flavor, almost touching on Eastern scales, and that moment gives the track some extra dimension.
“Adrian Knows” also works well because the band balances melody and tension. The song has enough technical detail to keep things interesting, but it never turns into a display of musicianship for its own sake. “Kingsgate Spiral” brings in a hazier guitar tone, while “Rhys Replica” pushes the energy higher with loose riffs and a more forceful attack. By the time “Television Play” closes the album, The Zaxons have made their internal logic clear. These songs are built from repetition, nervous motion, and odd little details that slowly become part of the appeal.
This is not a record trying to sound expensive. It is trying to sound alive. The Zaxons succeed by committing to their own strange lane and trusting the grooves, hooks, and textures to do the work. Videopticons is fun, weird, scrappy, and full of ideas, an album that rewards listeners who enjoy rock music with personality and a few loose wires showing.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0ShwGx9isZ5OPWamHRXXXg?si=dK-7NbTNT_iBPuRxriutCg