Ausmuteants
Order of Operation
Goner Records
When Australia’s Ausmuteants started appearing on American music blogs last year, they were described as goofy and self-deprecating, words not usually used in reference to synth-driven punk. While their first album found the band delighting in pissing on themselves and stepping in dog excrement, it’s fair to say that on Order of Operation the band has scrapped the bathroom humor for more serious lyrical content. Some of the tracks on the new album are the fastest Ausmuteants songs to date, but the strong synth leads are still present, which is what separated the Aussies from the garage rock pack in the first place.
Their second album for Goner owes as much to Dangerhouse Records bands like The Eyes as it does to “Smart Patrol” era Devo, but even if it seems obvious who Ausmuteants are influenced by, Order of Information isn’t a rip off record. The songwriting is calculated and original (not a requirement in modern garage rock), and the way Ausmuteants can dramatically switch pace from one song to the next is a testament to the bands talent. Order of Operation is a strong step forward from Ausmuteants’ critically acclaimed first LP, which is pretty impressive seeing as they were both released this year.
