Pension State Lives

Photo: www.pensionstate.com

PENSION STATE STILL BESIDE YOU

"Beside Me" was one of the best songs off Awakening Production's CD compilation, "Bulb #1". The compilation was released back in '98. Since then, few of the bands have been actually active. Blyss, Starfish and Parousia released albums to minimal fanfare, hardly making a wave in the local scenes. All 3 were decent releases, with shining songs and tasteful production. But none were unveiled with the excitement and anticipation of the new Pension State EP, "Yesterdays Make Your Tomorrows".

Among the aforementioned bands, Pension State took the longest to record the new material (they took 7 years), such that when it was announced, more than a few local music followers were surprised the band were still active at all. In fact, for months before its release, the band had been playing at various gigs and places like the Third Place, creating hype for the release - hype sorely missing from the releases from the other bands. As a result, the expectation for the new EP were high, and many wondered how the band could stand out among the present wave of local acts.

The album, fortunately, stacks well against those expectations, faring better than most expected. However, some may still level criticisms against the now-obvious chosen direction of the band. What direction? Emo. Tempered with elements of screamo and - gasp - death metal vocals. And the newly revamped "Beside Me", which removes the sung ditty-like "doo-doo-doo" intro of the original that made the song so instantly likable 6 years ago, with a prolonged instrumental intro comprising the unmistakable palm-muted melodic riff, thankfully retained in all its choppy melodic fury; Also, the final minute now has screaming bits added to the background mix that reveals the band's present screamo fixation.

So, Pension State can be said to be unabashedly, shamelessly emo. How does the band compare to the countless other emo outfits vying for attention in dreary Singapore? Very well indeed.

The sound is tighter, crunchier, more immediate than it has ever been, the product of 6 subsequent years of hard practice and live shows. The guitars chug along with new purpose and precision, and ring with great clarity, only boosted by production that leaves the songs polished, without removing the band's raw urgency. The new songs are fantastic, all strong catchy melodies, supported by an older, more confident main vocalist.

Most surprising was the band's sense of experimentation, best exemplified by the lyrical bridge of "Ordinary 21", possibly the best sounding (and unexpectedly patriotic) statement on serving the nation to come from Singapore's usually disgruntled youth, and the death-ish growling that concludes "Paran".

Among all the recent significant local emo band releases, including Plain Sunset's swansong "The Gift" and the compilation "3 letter sessions b" - which also features a song from Pension State - "Yesterdays Make Your Tomorrows" is definitely a worthy release that holds it own easily, and well deserving of the $10 you should be plunking down the counter for this, as soon as you can, albeit coming six years late.

Pension State deserves some props. Send them some appreciative support at www.pensionstate.com; and check out other new releases at www.wakemeupmusic.com. Editor signing out. Peace.