Black Light Poster. Answerman

How many bands are there in the world, releasing records that I will never hear (about)? Too many to count and certainly to keep up with. Until very recently Answerman was one of these bands. Coming from Boston, it is not a surprise the band has reached me. To rephrase the question to: how many bands from Boston are there, releasing records, that do reach me, I should say there can't be that many left.

With Black Light Poster another great album coming out of Boston has reached me. From the very first seconds, the slowly build up 'Black Heart', the album intrigued me. What is going to happen?, I was thinking, knowing it would be something with a lot of energy. Answerman is not afraid of taking its time before Sam Pitino starts singing. First a great solo intro and all the energy that was built up in the intro is channelled into a great song.

Answerman plays rock music. Things start there. A mild form of psychedelia is let in. In Black Heart in the form of an eastern-sounding guitar solo. 1960s garage rock is there but played as solidly as became fashionable in the late 80s and early 90s. On top of that all is the pop element. Answerman presents songs like the best ones by Buffalo Tom from circa 30 years ago. If I only had a few words to write, it would be 'a perfect combination'.

Promo photo: Pat Piasecki

Black Light Poster is Answerman's debut album but looking at the band photo, these four man have a decent part of their lives behind them, so will have played in (several?) other bands before Answerman. This experience shows, as this is not music made by enthusiastic 19 year olds. They do emulate the music made by teenagers and early 20 somethings from the 1960s. Take 'Smoof'. The song starts out with reminding me of 'Everything About You", Ugly Kid Joe's hit from the early 1990s, but with a 60s vibe, including rock bands from the U.K. and our own The Outsiders. In other words, 'Smoof' is an incredibly rich song showing what Answerman is getting away with, taking all these influences and build it into its own, strong song.

'Smoof' is not even the best song on the album. I simply love the striding power of a song like 'Prophet'. The pace is great and the organ part that comes in colours the song in in a beautiful way. Answerman has a sense of urgency in several of its songs that is extremely infectious. In another world or time depending how to look at it, the band would be touring the world successfully on the back of Black Light Poster. The energy that would be shared could solve a part of our energy crisis and transition. If only we could capture it!

I doubt however if Answerman's members still dream of world domination. They do dominate my speakers for a while. Black Light Poster is a great album and that is worth a lot.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Black Light Poster here:

https://answerman.bandcamp.com/album/black-light-poster