Paper
An object
Novoton
Can Novoton Records do any wrong? Paper's "An object" and all its wondrous lo-fi post-punk magic is yet another indication that, in fact, Novoton may be the best record label in Sweden at the moment. A shadowy effort, Paper create a storm of string-thin guitars, bass riffs and analog synths, punctuated by the dark vocal delivery and the assured drum patterns - and its something to behold. Like the missing step between Joy Division and New Order, "An object" carefully captures both of these influences and then proceeds to twist them around the more raucous post-punk of the later 80s, all without sacrificing the individuality of the compositions themselves despite all of these reference points. "To her" should be the opening track to a late 80s cinematic effort, "Out of it into it" is a powerful thesis for the album to come, and closer "Ideal plane" is a strangely serene, beautiful ending to an album that seems most comfortable observing frantic destruction, but this peculiar ending works; an introspective close to one of the best new post-punk albums that I've heard in a long time.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
