EP REVIEW: DR. SURE’S UNUSUAL PRACTICE - REMEMBER THE FUTURE? VOL. 1
Released on April 20, Remember the Future? Vol. 1 is the first EP for Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice in 2020, and wow did they enter the decade with a bang.
Established in 2018, this Melbourne born post-future, post-punk four piece, sometimes known as DSUP, may not be to everyone’s taste, but their intelligently written, witty lyrical content, paired with buoyant drum tracks definitely makes it worth the listen. Initially a side project to accompany Dougal Shaw’s other musical escapades, Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practise has grown into a popular ensemble, making appearances at Weird Place Fest, as well as iconic venues such as The Tote and Sydney’s The Lansdowne.
Plus, for all you vinyl lovers, this one’s also been released on a handsome 7” hot pink wax! But you better get in quick, it’s a limited edition of 100, available for purchase on Dr. Sure’s Bandcamp.
Now, for a song to song breakdown.
Track 1: Super Speedy Zippy Whipper
Previously released as a single in mid-March, Super Speedy Zippy Whipper captures the listener instantly, especially with that power filled guitar riff. And can I just say... the title of this first track makes me so damn happy! The frankenstein-esque vocals, with lyrics debating duality, is accompanied by a music video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92q_1_I9KSI) that has a silent horror film vibe. You are transported to, what feels like, the inside of Shaw’s mind. You’re taken to his practice, where we see surgical gloves, implements and optometrist looking contraptions. Dr. Sure himself is painted as a crazy scientist character, with his band mates playing his minions. I’ll leave the rest of the plot for you to find out yourself! The song itself also features off beat, angular synth sounds, and short, sharp delays for this two minute, in-your-face track. This one makes me want to throw myself into a mosh filled with other DSUP fans. I love it
Track 2: Collapse
Collapse was released as a single just days before the EP release, giving us fans another sneak peak of the EP. Interestingly, and very surprisingly, the first 30 seconds or so gave me a huuuge The 1975 vibe, which is the absolute polar opposite sound to Dr. Sure’s other tracks. But then, that subdued bass riff comes in, the feedback rises and I’m transported right back into the world of Dr. Sure. This track also includes that wonderful static filled synth we’ve seen in other components of the artist’s discography, and accompanied by those distorted guitar riffs, those components add a heap more depth to the track, bringing into the post-punk sphere the ensemble is used to.
A fair chunk of Dr. Sure’s discography is politically minded material, and this is no different. Mentioning ‘climate versus capitalism’, in this track, Shaw seems to probe at a governmental lapse in making important decisions too late. I think we’re all undergoing some sort of ‘collapse’ right now, and this track fits right in.
Track 3: Stitch Up
This third track jumps straight back into that upbeat feel we got in track one, I can’t help but tap my foot and nod my head. The synth takes charge in this track, giving us strong riffs post-chorus, another emphasis of that post-punk, frankenstein-esque atmosphere the EP has been building. I get a self-development feel from this track, possibly an iteration of this ever-improving lifestyle through times of uncertainty. The nod that we make our own decisions, our own futures, but through that comes mistakes we must manage.
Track 4: Temperature Talk
The longest track of the four, Temperature Talk, is a great wrap up. Kicking off with a harsh, high pitched guitar tone, the guitar seems to follow a hard-rock-esque path, screeching in and out as it pleases. Again, this track has a marvelous bass line - it's subdued, yet totally relevant and necessary to give the track the depth it needs. This track is littered with funky guitar effects, from your typical distortion all the way to your high resistance delays, which reads into the post-future, post-punk genres wonderfully.
Mid song, we are hit with a capturing riff, accompanied by the words ‘pain, pain, pain’. I feel like I’m falling dangerously down Alice’s rabbit hole with this whacky combination of major and minor notes. Dr. Sure also adds in robotic voices, lifting the listener’s concern and even their heart rate within the track.
The lyrics in this one follow Dr. Sure’s political themes once again, particularly our current climate emergency. It’s comforting to see artists using these topical items in their songs, especially when they are so visibly engaged in the protection of our environment and climate, as Shaw is, advocating his almost daily ‘Trash Walk’.
Coming in just shy of eleven minutes, Dr. Sure’s EP, Remember the Future? Vol. 1, is wonderfully executed. It gets my adrenaline pumping as I hop around the house, trying desperately to reproduce the feelings I crave at a live gig. The EP’s title hints at a second volume, so keep your fingers crossed and we might just get lucky in the future. Now, remember, enter the void, remember the future, trust your doctor, and choose your own adventure!