Brooklyn-based Lord Sonny the Unifier artfully melds psychedelic rock, post-punk, and melodic songwriting on The Escape Plan Handbook, a 12-track album shaped by Greg Jiritano’s fascination with an era of greater freedom and anonymity. Recorded with analog equipment and vintage-style amplification, the release turns those ideas into a restless soundtrack for rejecting everyday constraints. Jiritano’s project has caught our ears previously with cuts like “Keep the Fierce” and “I Think We’ve Been Had.”
“Ain’t Nobody Listening” kicks off with rousing invigoration, pushing forth an array of acoustic guitars, fuzzy electric ardor, and prancing piano as charismatic lead presence lets out “there ain’t nobody listening to a word we say.” The verses’ depictions of one’s “head on fire” and dealing with “serial liars” further that tumult-filled societal outlook, where being left to your own devices seems like a feature rather than a bug. The two-minute mark is especially compelling, with the delivery admitting “we might never found our way back” as spacey synth infusions add seamlessly, followed by a scorching-hot guitar solo.
Elsewhere, “Space Rock” begins with a more reserved delivery feeling, joined by spurts of ardent guitars before a haunting processional of additional backing harmonies appears. The “flying nonstop” hook dazzles thereafter with bouncy piano and aptly sci-fi resemblant synth effects, reminding a bit of The Cars. “What’s Your Message?” also delivers a spirited sound, beginning with bustling bass enjoyment and embracing an eerie “time to put it on the line” phrasing declaration, tonally akin to The Auteurs. “Leave a message at the tone,” that delivery beckons as quivering synths and stirring guitars show a fantastic interplay, before a soaring, serene “is that what you got?” hook.
From the rollicking rock energy of “The Dope Wars” to the powerful emotion within “I Might Have Taken Too Many,” the excellent The Escape Plan Handbook finishes off in strong form as well, encompassing excellent songwriting throughout this release from Lord Sonny the Unifier.
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“Space Rock” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
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