Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Home
  • Bands
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
275K Likes
13K Followers
201K Followers
Subscribe
Post-Punk.com
Post-Punk.com Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Bands
  • Featured Articles
  • Reviews
  • Video Premiere

Scam Avenue’s Self-Titled LP Channels Dreamy Vintage Pop, Chanson, and Radiant Synths—Watch the Video for “Tides”

  • November 4, 2021
  • Alice Teeple
46
0
0

“Cry, cry to me…”

Taking inspiration from the icy sexuality of 1970s fashion photography, 1960s French chanson, the Factory scene, and the 70s documentary feel of Cassavetes, NYC’s Scam Avenue beams out of the ether with a mesmerizing video for their radiant synth track, “Tides”.

Devery Doleman (La Laque)’s effervescent, crystalline vocals echo out over a pulsing, atmospheric intro with a four-on-the-floor disco beat, the phantoms of Studio 54 and Danceteria rollicking their way through the heavens. Backed by Lawrence Kim on guitar/vox, Julie Rozansky on bass/vox and Nate Smith on drums, the band’s pulsing synths collide with guitars, transcending the sublime and the melancholy. “Tides” began life as an instrumental by drummer Nate Smith, to which Lawrence added a vocal melody and lyrics.

Directed by renowned art photography duo Ioulex, the video was shot guerrilla-style in the Chrysler Building, evoking Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdain, and Dustin Pittman’s documentary photography of Halston.

“From the first lyric of the track and its accompanying synthesizer pulse we thought of a tidal swirl of water, of being drawn into a maelstrom,” says Ioulex. “The city grid forms a kind of vortex of ambition, the drive to succeed. It has an intrinsic rhythm, like the visualization of a dance beat in the song; it can appear bright, or relentless and hypnotic. The 70s dusty documentary footage of New York and the early 80s time lapses in Koyaanisqatsi informed the color palette of the video. Anonymous grids of windows and eyes are washed over by waves of blue hue. In this abstract, isolating setting, the camera happens upon the candid confessions of an inconnue, perhaps an actor or a showgirl, waiting for her Warhol screen test.”

Watch the video for ‘Tides” below:

In 2014, lead singer Devery Doleman answered a Craigslist ad posted by guitarist and principal songwriter Lawrence Kim.

“I fell instantly in love with Lawrence’s demos,” she says. “With their immaculate melodies and perfect hooks, it’s like they were dreamed more than written. I knew I wanted to sing them.”

’Scam Avenue’ is a nickname for a street in the neighborhood where Lawrence and Devery first met. “It was taken from a blog detailing the shenanigans of a man who ran various shady schemes from his dilapidated building,” she explains. “At one point he chased a neighbor down the street with a chainsaw.”

Shows followed, as well as the critically-acclaimed Mercury EP. Their sound was evolving rapidly, and soon they felt a need to bring others into the mix. Lawrence reflects upon this transition:

“I knew Nate (Shy Child) from playing with him in bands, and Julie (The Art of Shooting) was recommended to Devery as ‘a ringer who can harmonize like crazy.’ When they came on board, it totally changed the dynamic. Our sound opened up, and there was a greater sense of interplay that can only exist between people playing instruments live. All of a sudden, we were a band.”

The culmination of several years of writing, experimentation, and recording, finally led to the release of the ethereal synth elegance that it Scam Avenue’s full-length debut.

On the album’s heartrending themes, Lawrence Kim explains: “I had been in a relationship with someone and it came to an end. That was the inspiration for about half of the songs on the album. In addition, I had already been working on some other songs, which were in various stages of completion. So the album wasn’t conceived as a break-up album, but it could be viewed in that way. Each song can be seen as an expression of some aspect of that central theme.”

The album starts out strong with the hypnotic vintage synth pulses and drumbeats of “Fever’s Fade”, led by Devery Doleman’s dreamlike vocals. “To the Quick” is brimming with lovelorn vintage pop romance, weaving a shimmering sound that merges the past with the future.

“Destroyer” is a beautiful duet led by Kim, with backing vocals by Doleman, evoking Slowdive and Mojave 3. “Jailbird” is drum and bass meets classic Europop. leading into the next track, and lead single “Tides”.

“Remaining” is a haunting and thoughtful synth ballad. “The Bells” is a funky pop looped melody driven by sonorous pianos, and drums, which gives the effect of a beautiful summer daydream.

“Constellation” is a warm, swirling, and effervescent synth reverie that swells with an effect-laden vocal duet. And the album’s closing duet, “Echo” is an acoustic guitar-led plaintive exercise in the unbreakable resolve of hope and the heart to find love again in the end.

Scam Avenue’s self-titled debut album is out now.

Order Here

Follow Scam Avenue:

  • Bandcamp
  • Soundcloud
  • Spotify 
  • Website
  • Instagram

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via:

  • Patreon:

  • or directly via Paypal:

  • Or by using our new Contact form here:

 

Total
46
Shares
Share 46
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Scam Avenue
Alice Teeple

Alice Teeple is a photographer, multidisciplinary artist, and writer. She is not in Tin Machine.

Previous Article
  • New Releases
  • Singles

Youth of Killing Joke Unveils New Remix of Crass

  • November 4, 2021
  • Oliver Sheppard
View Post
Next Article
  • Album Streaming
  • Bands

Listen to Philadelphia Electronic Pop Artist Keely Sibilia’s New Album “Death of a Romantic”

  • November 4, 2021
  • Alice Teeple
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

Uni and the Urchins Bring Sinful Sensuality to their Video for “Amazing Grace”

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 26, 2023
View Post
  • Video Premiere

Los Angeles Synth-Pop Trio Nuovo Testamento Burn like Fire in Their Video for “Heat”

  • post-punk.com
  • January 26, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Song Premiere

Dreamy Synth-Pop Artist Maraschino Debuts Romantic new Single “Angelface”

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 25, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Tour Dates

The Sisters of Mercy add Second Date in Los Angeles and Headlining Concert in Las Vegas

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 25, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Concerts
  • Festivals
  • Tour Dates

New Order Announce US Live Dates This March

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 25, 2023
View Post
  • Song Premiere
  • Tour Dates
  • Tourdates
  • Video Premiere

Berlin-based Post-Punk Outfit ERRORR Debuts Video for “Innocent” Starring Gloria De Oliveira and Henryk Gericke

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 24, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Concerts
  • Festivals

Cruel World 2023 Announces Siouxsie, Love and Rockets, Adam Ant, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Gary Numan and More

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 23, 2023
View Post
  • Classic Bands
  • Tour Dates

Clan of Xymox Announce North American Tour Dates for 2023

  • Alice Teeple
  • January 23, 2023







Post-Punk.com
© Copyright POST-PUNK.COM 2022
Uni and the Urchins Bring Sinful Sensuality to their Video for “Amazing Grace” 1K 5
Los Angeles Synth-Pop Trio Nuovo Testamento Burn like Fire in Their Video for “Heat” 504 2
Get your tickets for TSOM in Vegas and LA at Midnight PST. 1K 9
Fear of a Black Planet... 5K 56
On this day in 1987, The Smiths released their single "Shoplifters of the World Unite". 2K 12
On this day in 1979, Bauhaus recorded "Bela Lugosi’s Dead" 9K 39

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via...
  • Patreon:
  • Directly via Paypal:
  • Or by using our new Contact form here:
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT