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NEGATIVE SELF

by STRANGE SKIN

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  • Cassette + Digital Album

    INCLUDES 2x2 LOGO STICKER, AND FEATURES EXTENDED OUTRO WITH INSTRUMENTAL "ONE WHISPERED," AT END OF SIDE B

    Includes unlimited streaming of NEGATIVE SELF via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 50 

      $7 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $4 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    5
    releases

    Get all 5 STRANGE SKIN releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of ANY PLEASANT NEWS, NSI, NEGATIVE SELF, FULL TILT, and NOTHING I CAN BURN. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $8.80 USD or more (20% OFF)

     

1.
YOU NEVER LIKED THIS JACKET 03:43
lyrics
FORGOT HOW YOUNG AND STUPID I AM AS YOU LAMBAST ME WITH YOUR WORDS THE CHANGE IS RAPID DOWN THE ROAD MY BROWN EYES BLACKENED BEFORE I KNEW IT MY YOUTH HAD NEVER HAPPENED STOOD TOO CLOSE TO AN SBH WITHOUT COMPLETELY GOING IN BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS OLDER BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS THE END NEWFOUND SENSE OF HUMOR NEWFOUND VITALITY NEWFOUND SENSE OF PURPOSE NEWFOUND IDENTITY NEWFOUND SENSE OF LOSS NEWFOUND LUST FOR YOU NEWFOUND SENSE OF BELONGING NEWFOUND POINT OF VIEW YOU NEVER YOU NEVER YOU NEVER LIKED THIS FUCKING JACKET.
2.
STATUS QUO 05:21
lyrics
RECREATE A NIGHT I’LL NEVER LIVE AGAIN ALL GOOD THINGS, THEY MUST COME TO AN END HURT MYSELF IN REENACTMENT RESENT ME FOR MY ATTACHMENT OUT OF TOUCH, OUT OF BALANCE OUT OF FEAR OF VIOLENCE IN THE FACE OF MALEVOLENCE WE LET GO OF OUR INNOCENCE I HAVE NO RITUALS ANYMORE END OF THE WORLD, SHAKEN TO THE CORE I SOBERED UP SO THAT I COULD SEE A NEW STATUS QUO: GIVE IT TO ME CHAOS RIPS THROUGH LIKE AN ANGRY FLAME EVERYONE POINTING FINGERS LIKE THEY’RE NOT TO BLAME TRUST ME LIKE YOU TRUST THE GUN TO YOUR HEAD AND BY THE END I HOPE THAT WE’RE ALL DEAD OUT OF LOVE, OUT OF HATRED OUT OF EVERYTHING SACRED TAKE IT ALL FOR GRANTED AS IF YOU UNDERSTAND IT THE VIOLENCE THREATENS TO BESIEGE THE FEVER PITCH BURNS IN THIRD DEGREE BUT MAYBE THAT IS JUST WHAT WE NEED A NEW STATUS QUO: GIVE IT TO ME I HAVE GROWN IMPATIENT DEVELOPMENTS NOT RECENT WE'VE ALL BECOME COMPLACENT BELLIGERENT, INDECENT I WANT THE STATUS QUO: GIVE IT TO ME DON’T WAKE ME UP
3.
BROOM OF THE SYSTEM 05:45
lyrics
WAITING BY THE PHONE IN CASE YOU CALL NOTHING EVER MADE ME FEEL SO SMALL I WISH WE BOTH WERE MORE DIRECT BEHAVIOR I CAN’T CORRECT MAYBE YOU WENT A STEP TOO FAR MAYBE NOT MEANT FOR YOU AT ALL MAYBE IF YOU PISS ME OFF AGAIN MAYBE I’LL RIP YOU END TO END I’M JUST A BROOM OF THE SYSTEM A USELESS MODE OF EXISTENCE CAN’T HOLD THE TIDE WITH ME ALONE BUT YOU SURE AS FUCK TRY, DON’T YOU? I'M JUST A BROOM OF THE SYSTEM IN A COMPROMISING POSITION THIS WILL GROW TIRESOME ONE DAY UNTIL THEN I GUESS I WILL OBEY PASSION HAS ONLY BROUGHT ME PAIN ALL THE WORLD TO LOSE AND NONE TO GAIN THIS BROKEN GAME IS ALL WE HAVE IT SHOWS THAT NOTHING'S MEANT TO LAST IN THIS GAME OF CHESS AM I THE PAWN? IS IT POSSIBLE TO PROVE YOU WRONG? KILLING FOR SPORT MIGHT JUST RETURN NOW IT'S YOUR TIME TO FUCKING BURN I’M JUST A BROOM OF THE SYSTEM A USELESS MODE OF EXISTENCE CAN’T HOLD THE TIDE WITH ME ALONE BUT YOU SURE AS FUCK TRY, DON’T YOU? I'M JUST A BROOM OF THE SYSTEM IN A COMPROMISING POSITION THIS WILL GROW TIRESOME ONE DAY UNTIL THEN I GUESS I WILL OBEY TAKE ME WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO MAKE ME WHO YOU NEED ME TO BE ONLY WHEN CONVENIENT FOR YOU NEVER WHEN CONVENIENT FOR ME
4.
FULL TILT 03:54
lyrics
TENDER YOUR RESIGNATION NO MORE PONTIFICATION YOUR UNJUST CONFISCATION OF MY CLEAN SATISFACTION GRANTS ME YOUR CONDEMNATION HELL OF MY OWN CREATION FULL TILT, FULL SPEED AHEAD, MOVE ON, DON'T STOP, DON'T STOP, PLEASE DON'T. FULL TILT, DON'T LOOK BACK, TIME FOR THAT HAS PASSED, LONG PAST, IT'S ALL GONE. FULL TILT, DRINKS FULL, DOWN HATCH YOU DRINK UP, DRINK UP, YOU LIGHTWEIGHT. FULL TILT, DON'T FEEL, WON'T FEEL THERE'S NO END, NO END IN SIGHT. COOPED UP TRIANGULAR PRISM BECOME THE MACHINES I CONTROL MISGIVINGS YOU WHISPER IN MY EAR ENSLAVE ME JUST LIKE IN YOUR NIGHTMARES YOU KNEW ME FROM UNDER MY SKIN JUST LIKE THE KNIFE THAT YOU LEFT IN, LOL FULL TILT, FULL SPEED AHEAD, MOVE ON, DON'T STOP, DON'T STOP, PLEASE DON'T. FULL TILT, DON'T LOOK BACK, TIME FOR THAT HAS PASSED, LONG PAST, IT'S ALL GONE. FULL TILT, DRINKS FULL, DOWN HATCH YOU DRINK UP, DRINK UP, YOU LIGHTWEIGHT. FULL TILT, DON'T FEEL, WON'T FEEL I'LL FORGET, FORGET, NO REGRETS.
5.
HURRY UP, WILL YOU? 01:49
6.
CAVING IN 04:08
lyrics
I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE CRACKS THE RUBBLE IS A MAKESHIFT BLANKET MY WORLD IS FILTERING OUT INTO NOTHING MY MEAGER CONTRIBUTION THANKLESS I WASN'T AROUND WHEN THE WORLD WAS OPEN DID NOT TURN OUT THE WAY I WAS HOPING UNREQUITED LOVE, MISUNDERSTANDING ALL IN THE CARDS THAT I WAS HANDED, SO I'M CAVING IN THIS WICKED OLD WORLD NO MORE ROOM FOR ME WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN GOES OUT YOU'LL BE ALL I SEE I'M STILL SIFTING THROUGH THE MESS THAT I MADE CAN'T TRACE MY STEPS AND FIND WHERE IT FELL APART NOTHING I SAY WILL KEEP YOU HERE WITH ME JUST KNOW YOU FILL A STRANGE PLACE IN MY HEART, AND I'M CAVING IN THIS BRAVE NEW WORLD NOTHING LEFT IN ME I'M FACING THE DARK ALONE LONELY PLACE TO BE PLEASE DON'T WAKE ME UP PLEASE DON'T PULL ME OUT I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH ME
7.
SNOWING IN APRIL 05:09
lyrics
IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT YOU OUGHTA KNOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH ENERGY LEFT IN ME INCONSEQUENTIAL PLEASURE YIELDS ME PAIN BY THE TIME THIS ENDS I WILL NOT BE THE SAME BUT DID TIME PASS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? THERE'S NOTHING LEFT IN TEMPTATION BECAUSE IT'S SNOWING IN APRIL. THOSE THINGS I SAID BEFORE CAN'T BE TRUSTED, NO NO THEY HAD THEIR WAY WITH YOUR HEART AND GOT AWAY, NO NO JUST THINK OF ALL THE SHIT I SWEPT ACROSS, NO NO AND TO THINK I CONVINCED YOU TO STAY, NO NO BUT DID TIME PASS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? MADE YOU PROMISE YOUR AFFECTION BECAUSE IT'S SNOWING IN APRIL. BUT DID TIME PASS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? DAYS HAVE GONE BY, DESPERATION WHAT DID TIME SAY WHEN YOU TOLD HER "I CAN'T DO THIS. THIS IS OVER."?
8.
I NEVER KNEW YOU 07:11
lyrics
IT WILL NEVER BE THIS EASY AGAIN HOW BADLY I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END INERTIA CREEPS AND DAYS DISAPPEAR THE UNHOLY THING REVEALS ITSELF TO ME AND NOW IT'S TOO LATE TO CHANGE, I'M SHACKED UP NO ONE LOOKS FOR ME BUT I KNOW MY PLACE I CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS BUT IT WON'T LET ME GO DUST HANGS THICK BY THE DOOR, NOTHING IS LEFT OUTSIDE EXCEPT TO FEEL YOUR EMBRACE, DESIRE I CAN'T HIDE DRUNK ON HARD TRUTHS, CONFRONTED WITH SOFT FLESH THROBBING MUSCLES PETRIFIED, I GET MORE BUT I WANT LESS STAY FOR A MOMENT, BREATHE THE AIR WITH ME I NEVER KNEW YOU OR WHAT YOU'RE ALL ABOUT BUT IF WE STAY TOO LONG WE'LL BE TAKING IN FUMES THE FIRE WIPES THE SLATE CLEAN, KILLS EVERY SHRED OF DOUBT THE HEAT OF YOUR BODY KEPT ME GOING THIS FAR I'M BEGGING YOU TO HURT ME, MY DESIRE FOR SCARS CAN'T TELL WHERE MINE ENDED AND WHERE YOURS BEGAN: OUR BODIES, OUR STORIES, LINKED INFINITE TIMESPAN I CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS BUT IT WON'T LET ME GO STAY FOR A MOMENT, BREATHE THE AIR WITH ME I NEVER KNEW YOU OR WHAT YOU'RE ALL ABOUT BUT IF WE STAY TOO LONG WE'LL BE TAKING IN FUMES THE FIRE WIPES THE SLATE CLEAN, KILLS EVERY SHRED OF DOUBT

about

A POSITIVE REVIEW OF NEGATIVE SELF

From Ma Nguyen of Divide and Conquer Music:

Strange Skin is an industrial/post-punk/noise rock group based in Grand Rapids, MI. The band has previously released their EP Nothing I Can Burn in early 2020 which was a collection of songs that fed heavily into distortion and reverb, often to the point of being excessive. Their latest LP Negative Self similarly attaches itself into distorted effects and noise, though to a lesser degree of chaos. The band says that this album is less noisy and angry by comparison, though the band keeps their edgy dissonance an ongoing riff on this album. Delving into emotions that range from frustration, loneliness, remorse to lividity and numbness, the various moods on each track play off each other to come together in Strange Skin’s weirdly eclectic vision. Catering to the industrial, goth, punk and noise rock crowd, what is noticeable from the get-go is the band’s focus on synths. The juxtaposition of noise level and soothing retro quality to the vocals are great for fans of industrial and new wave alike. The band blends these genres together to create a sound that is solely their own.

With no hesitation, Negative Self gets started with “YOU NEVER LIKED THIS JACKET,” where oscillating beats and synths rapidly make their way on this track. The sound is noisy and busy. The chaos eventually makes way for some distorted vocals that are nearly buried by the music. Yet once they enter, you can definitely hear the retro and new wave influences. The vocals are soothing and have a calming effect to them. They immediately change up for a grittier and more robotic flair. The sound becomes very industrial, nearly heading into metal avant-garde territory. Rapid beats set the pace to “STATUS QUO.” Slowly sounding off are some soft vocals. As keys chime in, the vibe is mellow. Once the epic guitars arrive, the sound becomes more hard-hitting. The glitch-y electronic riffs make for a very busy and noisy backdrop. Glitch-y electronic riffs arrive toward the start of “BROOM OF THE SYSTEM.” The beats are arresting and really grab your attention right from the get-go. The industrial, metal vibes are also evident. The heavy riffs give a hard rock edge to this song. This felt like a gritty and hard-hitting direction the band is taking here. The vocals shouted out points to a punk-fueled and grunge vibe. The noise is complete with reverb and distortion. Some bouncy beats and airy guitar riffs make up the sound on the start of “FULL TILT.” In the punk rock spirit, the vocals are shouted out with great enthusiasm. Some feedback gives this track an edgy finish. The melodic chorus adds some light energy to the song. I loved the flavorful and melodic guitars here.

Ominous sounds and some moody beats greet the start of “HURRY UP, WILL YOU?” More eerie vibes rush in, keeping the ambiance gloomy and somber. A lot of atmosphere could be heard. Glitch-y electronic riffs and airy synths surround the sound. This is a short instrumental interlude. On “CAVING IN,” more bouncy beats add some structure to this track. As gradually the vocals and guitars arrive, the vocals really stand out here with some retro synths giving the song a very new wave flavor. The sparseness of this track gave it a raw edge. On “SNOWING IN APRIL,” some percussive beats join in as some rumbling bass accompanies alongside. The sound is moody and somber. This felt like a serious-sounding song in the new wave vein. The vocals really flesh out this retro-styled sound. Some warbling background vocals sound like it is being sung underwater. This overall adds to the mood of the piece. Percolating beats at first sound out on “I NEVER KNEW YOU.” A wall of synths drenched in reverb makes an entrance as do some character-based vocals. The metal and industrial-inspired riffs are obvious from the get-go. The album finishes with this gritty closer. The level of noise here is ridiculous.

A home recording, there is no doubt the lo-fi-ness to this album works in the band’s favor. The lo-fi quality added an undiminished rawness to the LP that overall points to the band’s live sound. Recorded during Michigan’s lockdown due to COVID, it is undeniable the band had in mind to perform these experimental riffs on the live stage once the pandemic lifts its restrictions and we are once more allowed to attend live shows. The band’s busy and often chaotic sounds fuel these tracks and you can’t help but notice the amount of experimentation that filters through these gritty, uncompromising compositions. There is definitely no holding back with the Strange Skins, as they keep the distortion and reverb coming. A solid undertaking, I look forward to hearing more from the band.

www.divideandconquermusic.com/indie-music-album-reviews/strange-skin-negative-self

credits

released March 19, 2021

STRANGE SKIN 2020: RYAN FABER & GABE GARDNER

WRITTEN + PERFORMED + RECORDED BY STRANGE SKIN
ADDITIONAL VOCALS ON 'SNOWING IN APRIL' PERFORMED BY DANIRA
'YOU NEVER LIKED THIS JACKET' MIXED BY BEN GREENBERG
TRACKS 2-8 MIXED BY RYAN FABER
MASTERED BY BRAD BOATRIGHT AT AUDIOSIEGE

ART DIRECTION + DESIGN BY MARGOT PIASKOWSKI
PORTRAITS BY NATHAN HYDE

STRANGE SKIN ARE RYAN FABER AND GABE GARDNER

FOR SCOUT AND PATRICIA

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STRANGE SKIN Grand Rapids, Michigan

INDUSTRIAL/NOISE/POST PUNK FROM WEST MICHIGAN.

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