Convenience, The - Like Cartoon Vampires - Transparent Red Vinyl Record

On their second record as The Convenience, Like Cartoon Vampires, New Orleans multi-instrumentalists Nick Corson and Duncan Troast dive into a mesmerizing physicality and a wonderfully spontaneous approach to composition. The result is an avant-rock soundworld filled with intricate, atonal guitar work, lively rhythms, and striking feedback that might feel like a total transformation from the sugary funk-pop of their 2021 debut album, Accelerator. With this second LP, their creative process involved hands-on craftsmanship, moving away from just buttons or switches. Their recording sessions were marked by gritty, improvisational jams as they explored everything from cassette loops and found sounds to 808s. Tracks like “Target Offer” and “Fake the Feeling” resonate with thunderous guitar feedback, while “Pray’r” and “Rats” shift away from their groove worship to embrace a haunting minimalism. One after another, Accelerator’s pop influences are exchanged for more adventurous directions, linked by the duo’s enchanting, funky instincts and their exquisite mastery of texture. Lyrically, Like Cartoon Vampires offers glimpses into a crumbling empire–characters caught up in feelings of alienation and vanity, while society seems indifferent. But don't be fooled; these songs go beyond mere disinterest–music-making and collaboration are deeply emotional experiences for The Convenience, embodying a vibrant zest for life.