The Chain Gang of 1974 – Wayward Fire review

I’ll be the first to admit that I expected a group when I listened to The Chain Gang of 1974′s June 21 release, “Wayward Fire.” I didn’t get what I thought I would in terms of the number of people involved, but I can’t complain about Kamtin Mohager whatsoever.

Mohager uses his lyrics and funked up background beats and musical overlay to make listeners think… and move their feet.

Should I just break into how awesome “Hold On” is. Sure, it’s an 8-minute and 10-second song, but it’s worth it’s length. The if the shikka-shikkas in the background weren’t enough for this total dance track, the base beat’s has a deep tone that complements Mohager’s vocals on the song.

The song is definitely have-a-good-time-in-the-club dance worthy, but it’s not mindless. You wouldn’t put it on and tell your friends, “the beat is cool, but don’t listen to the lyrics!”.
“Your love is all I have to hold on to,” the chorus says.  All of the elements of this song are hypnotic to me in a way that made me listen to it twice.

OK: three times. It’s so peppy and hopeful (a stark difference from the album’s opening track, “Stop”) and I promise I can hear a little bit of Passion Pit in the chorus,too.

“Stop” has a message, a hip hop-inspired beat and is a story of the times.  ”These kids are violent creatures, victims of television love…” That’s deep, but the song isn’t depressing. It’s just truth. A widely recognized truth that appeals to the ears by way of the musical stylings, but also  provokes thought.

Depeche Mode is one of Mohager’s influences, quite obviously. But even, if nostalgia music makes you ill,  Wayward Fire is still worth listening to for the art rock and new wave infusion.

’80s synth-pop will burns on through Wayward Fire, but not entirely as over-the-top.