One of the most familiar faces in the busy Melbourne music scene; Jake Robertson (who you may remember from such class acts as Ausmuteants, Hierophants, School Damage, et al) returns in full-fledged form with another unruly record from his solo alter-ego ALIEN NOSEJOB.
Thirteen months on since the hardcore-punk inspired concept album, ‘Once Again The Present Becomes The Past’, Alien Nosejob turns the ship back to front and sails in a new direction, yet again.
Paint It Clear mixes sounds of classic 80’s new wave and post punk whilst sprinkling in the occasional disco track on top. But don’t let these descriptions throw you off - it still carries Robertson’s classic screech of cheeky yet witty lyrics and sharp songwriting hooks.
After three home-recorded records prior to this, Mikey Young has finally been phoned in to take over the production controls and breathes a whole new way of life into Alien Nosejob. Never before has ANJ been heard in such fidelity. The clarity! The definition! The dynamics! It all shines brighter than ever before resulting in a record that Robertson’s “parents could actually listen to”.
There’s a little something for everyone; whether it be 80’s Cure-inspired synths in Duplicating Satan, the robust Devo-like feel of Leather Gunn, the sing-along chorus of Crusader of Coles, or the melodic, minor closer that is Bite My Tongue. There’s even The Butcher; a piano ballad inspired by the Fun Boy Three, showcasing Jake’s skills as not just a songwriter, but a damn fine singer.
SSR: For his last several records under the Alien Nosejob moniker, Jake Roberts has been exploring his hardcore influences, which resulted in the three excellent records on Iron Lung. For this latest record, his first for Feel It, Roberts is back to a more familiar sound, though not without some new wrinkles. This time Mikey Young serves as producer, and while I’m not sure how much of the credit is due to him, Paint it Clear feels like a subtler, more varied and accomplished Alien Nosejob record. There’s still plenty of the poppy punk with bright synth melodies that fans of the band love on tracks like the opener “Artistic Vision” and “Jetlagging,” but other tracks feel like new territory. “Leather Gunn” is my favorite track with its memorable power pop guitar hook (which reminds me of something the Boys or Exploding Hearts might have done), but there’s also the disco-infused “Duplicated Satan,” the Stranglers-esque piano ballad (!!!) “The Butcher,” and the swirling, almost psychedelic “Phone Alone.” Rather than just a collection of belters, Paint It Clear feels like it has space to breathe, each song having its own distinct identity. It even has a strong finish, with the epic-sounding “Bite My Tongue.” This subtler, more ambitious version of Alien Nosejob feels like a perfect fit for Feel It Records, and fans of both the band and label will be pleased with Paint It Clear.
https://aliennosejob.bandcamp.com/album/paint-it-clear-2
