Debut cassette from NYC’s Exo. ‘80s punk sensibilities, wandering synthesizers, & siren vocals draw inspiration from the natural world & the brief, alien lives of insects, the tiny beings that move the world below us. Featuring members of Nandas, Dame, & Exit Order.

Recorded by Kevin Harris. Vocal recording, mix, & master by Sasha Stroud at Artifact Audio.

Our take: This cassette is the debut release from New York’s EXO, out on their hometown label Roachleg Records. While Roachleg’s primary focus is the more abrasive end of hardcore, EXO isn’t afraid of melody, trimming their antsy pogo beats with breathy, ethereal vocals and touches of what sounds to me like xylophone. It still sounds raw and punk, but there’s also an artsy, introverted feeling that creates a unique tension. The latter qualities also manifest in the lyrics, which focus on the lives of insects. The songs are all a little different from one another: “Mantis” is the most ferocious, while “Figwasp” has an upbeat, garage-punk feel and the closing “Plastic” foregrounds the vocal melody and has more of a C86 feel. Yet it all sounds like New York punk, albeit of the more enigmatic variety. Fans of artier New York bands like Nandas, Pinocchio, and Dollhouse will certainly enjoy this, as will folks who love bands like Zounds, the Mob, and others who pulled pop and art-punk tendencies into rawer punk aesthetics.