Album Review: Preoccupations, Preoccupations

The Canadian post-punk artists formerly known as Viet Cong were forced into a name change, as – to put it mildly – calling themselves after an insurgent group from the Vietnam war went down badly. It’s a good move, as the furore over their name can no longer overshadow the talents of an excellent band.

There is a new-found directness and honesty at the heart of these songs. Lead single ‘Anxiety’ deals in exactly that, directly addressing a lack of self-confidence and sense of dread. Elsewhere, the slew of songs with one-word titles – including ‘Monotony’, ‘Stimulation’, ‘Degraded’ and ‘Fever’ – do exactly what they say on the tin. Along with the new moniker, Preoccupations are now writing music with much more heart and purpose. This is well worth getting preoccupied with.