is it the bills?
Do all good ideas start with a question? Middle Name John seems to think so, or at least that’s what he told himself when recording his latest EP titled is it the bills? The title’s relatability is not just intentional but also confessional. Overwhelmed, overworked, overexposed, and never over. Just like the bills. At first listen, it’s easy to tell that lyrically, the five songs of is it the bills? expand on Middle Name John’s incisive social observations of the personal and the collective, which served as the foundations for his first album, Obviously Confidential (2024, via Slowfoot Records & Juicy Records). However, this time around, the musical palette leans more towards punk-jazz (instantly noticeable due to the prevalent live drums) and places a greater emphasis on electronic experimentation. This experimentation reveals glitches in the matrix, and you can hear them. The EP’s five tracks often take a surrealist turn, undoing expected patterns and familiar musical structures, demanding the listener’s attention. Perhaps more familiar but nonetheless impressive is the EP’s list of contributing artists: ‘Walking Checklist’ features haunting guitar lines and samples from longtime collaborator, producer and guitarist Nix Bakx. The electric rhythms of Alessandro La Barbera are instantly noticeable on ‘Don’t Forget Your Pills’. On the final track, ‘More Means Less’, Berlin’s very own Max Mella concludes the recording with a heavy dose of bass and production wizardry. Drumming from Snorkel’s Frank Byng can also be heard on every track. is it the bills? will make you question if something is wrong. With your hearing, with your life, with whatever hamster wheel you’ve been put on. And perhaps that’s the best place to start. |
CREDITS
All lyrics by Alex LoSardo
Composed and produced by Alex LoSardo with: Nix Bakx [1] Alessandro La Barbera [2,3] Max Mella [5] Alex LoSardo - vocals, guitars and bass Alessandro La Barbera - production [2,3] Nix Bakx - guitar, bass [1] Max Mella - bass, synths, and electronics [5] Frank Byng - drums [1-5] All tracks mixed by Alessandro La Barbera All tracks mastered by Tobin Jones Artwork by |
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