Go Mutant by Search Results

Like every other corner of culture, indie rock finds itself stretched to extremes, simultaneously becoming slower and faster, noisier and cleaner, more abstract and more literal. Search Results push firmly in the upbeat direction on Go Mutant, a retelling of some of indie’s earliest influences while swapping out every hint of morbid goth with energetic punk. Energetic bass riffs bounce along a varied, dynamic drum sound, a whimsical atmosphere augmented by playful guitar motifs that give each song its unique character. At the lowest energy moments, we see peeks of classic dark indie like The Smiths, with open vocals and jangly melodies, but a barrage of power chords and cymbal hits propels us far ahead of Morrisey’s depressive saunter. As a result, Search Results presents their music as an explicit escape mechanism for this very darkness, keeping ourselves one step ahead of the encroaching hopeless dread of an empty future. Our only choices amount to a running start or a complete surrender, which makes such an outburst of raw punk energy in the face of darkness instantly compelling and relatable.