New Omni is here! Old Omni never left. News from the band had been as sparse as their tunes since they announced their signing to indie giant Sub Pop, but now there’s new insight into what sort of evolution to expect from the duo thanks to the release of a new single and video, as well as the album art and tracklisting from their upcoming third full length.
Unsurprisingly, the group’s sound has developed since signing to Sub Pop, but it’s notable how little of the formula has actually been rewritten. Their upcoming album Networker is advertised as a clean, modernized form of the ‘80s-indebted post-punk that launched the band on a dizzying array of world tours, but the trio stick to their guns on the record’s first single. “Sincerely Yours” acts as a calming hand for nervous fans worried that new Omni would lose their sparse sound somewhere in the Sub Pop machine. Instead, new Omni embraces the time-honored post-punk tradition of skewering late-stage capitalism through the lens of the office life without losing the deliberate songwriting that made their first two records so entrancing.
The pacing of “Sincerely Yours” mirrors the rote schedules of modern life, while bassist and vocalist Phillip Frobos analyzes the shallow pleasantries of the business world. Within the smoke and mirrors of the LinkedIn lifestyle, even the humble email signature can be a place where humanity is retained or lost, a saccharine note that often paints a suit and tie over any real emotions. Yet it’s within this disturbingly accurate portrayal of daily monotony that Frankie Broyles’ nimble guitar work brings a breath of life. The flowing riffs recall Marquee Moon both in style and substance and are less frantic than some of the syncopated jams explored on their last album Multi-Task. Still, “Sincerely Yours” is far from proof that Omni are changing their sound. It’s simply evidence that Frobos and Broyles can match dexterous jams with a keen understanding of content and tone.
Watch/listen above.
Networker is out Nov. 1. Pre-orders are available here. Check out the album’s cover art and tracklisting below.
Networker Tracklisting
01. Sincerely Yours
02. Courtesy Call
03. Moat
04. Underage
05. Skeleton Key
06. Genuine Person
07. Present Tense
08. Blunt Force
09. Flat Earth
10. Networker
11. Sleep Mask
More Info
Bandcamp: omniatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @omniatl
Instagram: @omnideluxe
SoundCloud: @omni-band
Twitter: @omniatl