Czonka - The Geography of Nowhere

 Released: June 21

Bringing us their first release of the year, Washington DC-based band Czonka cranks out a deliciously funky and almost space-age rock sounding eight-piece album. There’s a lot of different stuff going on throughout the runtime, but it’s mostly energetic free-form stuff that makes full use of the range of instruments. But it’s got a pretty solid focus on the synths and the drums, both of which are phenomenal, especially with the interplay between the two. I think on the very first track, the drums really take control of the music with some wild rhythms and some interspersed pieces that feel almost like a drum solo as the other elements fade into the back. And if you don’t like a good drum solo, then I don’t think we can be friends. But the synths here are an interesting accompaniment as they make some acid-adjacent noise that blends surprisingly well with some live drums. 

On the fourth track, the bass guitar of all things really takes the lead as it pumps out a fast paced riff that, along with the drums, feels very early 2000s racing scene in an action movie. Plus the tone on it is just worthy of a chef’s kiss. As the album comes into the latter tracks, “Ballyferriter” slows things down considerably. All the elements are still there but now the drums take a backseat to soft and flowing synthesizer tones playing around a somewhat repetitive but also rather hypnotic melody. It’s a cool little groove but it definitely feel like hitting the lull in your otherwise moderately intense trip. 

The best part about the album is really just how unabashedly fun it is. It’s not really trying to convey any ind of serious message or ask you to explore a concept. It’s just a bag of energy that wants you to just take a little time to have some mindless fun and get a little lost in it. The drums are some of the best I’ve heard recorded in a while and the tone on the bass (when it comes about) has just the perfect bit of chugg to it also. The synths and the guitar come across as icing on the cake but my goodness is it some sweet icing. It’s a fun experience and that’s all it asks you to think of it as.