Hygiene - Public Sector (Album Review)

 

Hygiene - Public Sector

(2011)

My copy: 2011 press by La Vida Es Un Mus

A couple of decades too late to be the British Beat Happening and a handful of decades beyond the initial wave of punk that they emulate, London’s own Hygiene debut with a quirky lo-fi record that focuses lyrically on the boredom of everyday life.

The first half of the record stumbles in finding its personality, beginning with the crackling guitars of “Polytechnic Street” and Nathanial Weiner’s mostly incomprehensible vocal hooks. Still, these lads have an understanding of melody and manage to squeeze catchy moments from simplistic structures. “Done Before” is a charming exercise in repetition with lyrics that find themselves oddly ingratiating. There are times where the guitar seems to wish it were pulling off a highly technical solo, but ends up being more interesting for remaining somewhat subdued. The off-key singing with tambourine and stabbing guitar on “O-Level Girl” feels unnecessary. 

With “National Front Tea Party” the band displays some further songwriting skills, with some rapid-fire chord changes though the actual structures are still base level. The actual sound is totally lo-fi, which may fool the unsuspecting into believing this was an early 80s recording. The punk production works well when the guitars blast away with noise, such as on “T.S.G.” where guitar sirens trade blows with quieter bass rumbling. “Desirable Places To Live” tries the same syncopation method as the last but is less effective. “Things To Do” is another punk song that is made worthwhile by the cheeky lyrics that focus on mundane tasks and antisocial behavior. 

The album reaches the height of its intrigue with the final run of songs: “Post Office Tower” for its blistering assault of both guitar and vocals in tandem, “Office Job” for its stilted riffing and humorous premise and the six-minute “Passion For Administration” for being subversive and patient. The most impressive is the final of the three, with a nervous bassline and slow pace filled out by job interview dialogue in their most unconventional punk effort.

It is clear that the gents of Hygiene share a loathing of corporate banality, and the low quality production serves to reinforce the idea that none of these guys have jobs. The lackluster sound does, however, serve the aesthetic of lyrics and writing, which is to say it probably would be strange if this were an ultra-hi-fi experience. Whether you’d like to view their style as true-grit or a desperation to mimic idols from a time long past, Hygiene do have a sense of melody - and Public Sector would feel much more impactful had it been trimmed to a five song EP.