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A very good friend once labeled the music of Pascow as "student punk," which quite accurately describes what the four gentlemen do in their free time.
Just like on their previous albums, the current achievement is filled with the familiar sound of Pascow: melodic, powerful, and fast German punk. Just as the music video for the title track is structured, the lyrics are designed, flipping back and forth between sequences, nested – apparent chaos with a system.
The clip, consisting of black and white snippets, Yoda, the devil, a light-reflecting disco ball, champagne, a black background, very minimalist, just like the cover. Visually restrained with a raven in the center of the image. Beautifully done, aesthetically tasteful.
Upon first listen, the title track 'Serve the Party' sticks the most and seems to be the strongest song on the album, but still, each piece of the fifteen tracks holds something special.
For example, 'Castle Rock.' Why? Because it is so different from the rest of the album. 1/3 intro, 1/3 outro, and in the middle part, the singing is more melodic and slower compared to the usual "screaming," and like most of the other pieces, this track also completely does without choruses. And these little nuances of apparent film quotes or film titles: the Stephen King references, aside from the band name: Ray Brower (a corpse in Stephen King's novella of the same name), Castle Rock (a fictional town created by Stephen King), the album cover (with its dark and minimalist design, a reference to the book covers of Stephen King's novels!?)
And Mel Brooks is also mentioned: "and how did the mutt go again [..] half human, half human, and half mutt."
There will be several other references on the album that only insiders will likely pick up.
Pascow have become more concrete in their statements at times, yet the lyrics remain very intricate and allow room for personal interpretations. And as in previous releases, there are again occasional English lines embedded in the otherwise German lyrics.
A more current topic is addressed in 'Lettre Noire': a certain patriotic nonsense from South Tyrol or gentrification in many big cities in 'Fliegen': "one does not live in castles in the air, one can only pay rent," and with 'Gespenster,' the album finds a very worthy conclusion, not a party anthem but one of the stronger pieces on the album.
The Saarlanders have created a very own, unmistakable style in combination with their fast, powerful sound, Alex's vocals, and the intricate lyrics.
A great album that gets better with each listen and is probably unbeatable this year.
"Serve the Party" will be released on February 28. Like the predecessor album "Alles muss kaputt sein" (2010), the fifth album will be released via Rookie Records in collaboration with Kidnap Music, the band's own label.
The fifteen songs were recorded in October and November 2013 by Simon Jäger and Kurt Ebelhäuser (among others, the great 'Frau Potz') at Toolhouse Studio and Tonstudio 45. The producer was, as with the predecessor, Kurt Ebelhäuser.
There will be three versions of the album:
1. as a CD in a six-panel digipack with inside-out cover and a 20-page booklet,
2. as white vinyl with a 20-page booklet made of heavy paper, printed inner sleeve, inside-out cover, and download code, and
3. as a limited box set consisting of a black 180-gram vinyl record with a 20-page booklet made of heavy paper, inside-out cover, and printed inner sleeves. Additionally, the box includes the CD, a download code, and an 80-page book in LP format.
This book contains the song lyrics, live photos by Kay Özdemir, as well as texts for the individual song titles written by various invited authors (including Jan Off and Bela B). The writers did not know the songs or the corresponding lyrics, only the titles of the pieces. The whole thing is packed in a stylish slipcase box.
How many of this box were pressed? Rumor has it 500 copies. Unfortunately, they are already sold out before release.
By the way, Kay Özdemir not only provides numerous photos for the book but also the teaser for the title track.
Pascow are: Alex (guitar and vocals), Ollo (drums), Swen (guitar), and Flo (bass)
