On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States of America. On the same day, the Canadian synth-pop outfit Austra released their third LP, ‘Future Politics’. Katie Stelmanis, the band’s creative engine, has dismissed matchup as a coincidence, but it’s hard to deny that Austra’s first full-length release since 2013 has a lot to say about the current state of the world.
Here, Stelmanis is concerned with themes of disconnection and division. On Utopia she speaks of the isolation caused by modern living, singing: “I live in a city full of people I don’t know, people riding highways from the workplace to the home.” On Gaia she pleads for the future of the Earth, plaintively reminding us that “the physical world is the only world”.
Stelmanis adroitly consolidates the record’s sense of alienation with robotic rhythms and icy embellishments. A metronomic beat chugs along at the pace of an inner-city construction project on 43, whereas brittle synths run alongside a pulsing bassline on Angel In Your Eye.
She even manages to sound mechanical herself when driving home the title track’s chief refrain. It’s not often that artists can so easily marry style and substance, but here Stelmanis pulls it off with aplomb.
Yet, the album’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. Yes, Stelmanis' music reflects its themes of isolation and detachment, but in doing so she creates a body of work that’s sometimes difficult to warm to.
In fact, some of the record’s best tracks are the ones that embody some sense of hope and optimism. I Love You More Than You Love Yourself, for example, is perhaps the only song where the synths feel full and thick; welcoming rather than austere. Such moments provide a rare glint of light in an otherwise brisk night.
To be clear though, ‘Future Politics’ never feels lazy or lacking. The record is a triumph in the way it manages to effectively meld a cold worldview with instrumentation that’s just as chilling. It’s just a shame that it becomes something of a musical mountain peak: the views might be beautiful, but you’re unlikely to want to stay for too long.
Austra Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue March 21 2017 - BRIGHTON Patterns
Wed March 22 2017 - LONDON Village Underground
Thu March 23 2017 - EDINBURGH Summerhall
Fri March 24 2017 - MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
Sat March 25 2017 - DUBLIN Button Factory
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