Protomartyr – “A Private Understanding”

Here, then, is how Protomartyr makes utterly unique music today from a guitar-bass-drum format. A crazed, mechanical rhythm beats out like a possessed 3-D printer, ushering in tense, disquieting chords. The distinctive vocals of Joe Casey — not so much a singer as mutterer, ranter, unwilling prophet — make reference to Greek philosopher Heraclitus and a bizarre vision of Elvis Presley driving a camper van in Flagstaff, Arizona. “I don’t want to hear those vile trumpets anymore,” Casey proclaims. The puzzled listener may very well ask, this is the song Protomartyr chooses to promote its new album? Then the song’s bridge clears up the mystery. Plaintive guitar strums echo across the chasm as Casey explains, “She’s just trying to reach you.” Abruptly, the band pummels its response, beating away the outstretched hand, leaving all with only a private understanding of what it means to be human today.

On their fourth album, Relatives in Decline, Protomartyr create powerful, probing rock music that diagrams mood and song structure to convey Casey’s literary vignettes and cryptic monologues. If at first their shtick seems a little opaque, the Detroit group tosses out the occasional flat-out rocker to make plain their unique force. “My Children” builds upon a martial cadence as we hear a tyrannical patriarch disowning his offspring. Is he addressing them from his deathbed, or as they take their first baby steps, when he calls them “vessels of my self-interest”? A fiercely intelligent band of astonishing originality and execution, Protomartyr ain’t for everyone but will reward patience and repeated listening.

Relatives In Decline is out now on Domino Records.

PROTOMARTYR TOUR DATES:
Sep. 30 – Long Beach, CA @ Music Tastes Good
Oct. 8 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Oct. 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
Oct. 12  – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Oct. 13 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Oct. 14 – Eugene, OR @ Hi Fi Music Hall
Oct. 15 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Oct. 17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
Oct. 19 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
Oct. 20 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda, TX
Oct. 21 – Dallas, TX @ Dada
Oct. 22 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group
Oct. 24 – Atlanta, GA @ the Earl
Oct. 25 – Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
Oct. 26 – Washington, DC @ Rock n Roll Hotel
Oct. 27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Oct. 28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov. 2 – Prague, CZ @ Futurum
Nov. 3 – Wroclaw, PL @ Klub Firlej
Nov. 4 – Warsaw, PL @ Klub Hydrozagadka
Nov. 6 – Berlin, DE @ Bi Nuu
Nov. 7 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
Nov. 8 – Hamburg, DE @ Knust
Nov. 9 – Groningen, NL @ Vera
Nov. 10 – Utrecht, NL @ Le Guess Who?
Nov. 11 – Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown
Nov. 12 – Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
Nov. 13 – London, UK @ Rough Trade East
Nov. 14 – London, UK @ Dome Tufnell Park
Nov. 15 – Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute
Nov. 16 – Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
Nov. 17 – Glasgow, UK @ CCA
Nov. 18 – Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s
Nov. 19 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Nov. 21 – Brussels, BE @ Rotonde
Nov. 22 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix
Nov. 23 – Nantes, FR @ Pole Etudiant
Nov. 24 – Angouleme, FR @ La Nef
Nov. 25 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie

Photo by Leonard Nevarez