INTRODUCING: THE FLAG AND “OFF MUSIC”
BY NICK SYLVESTER

Let’s start with clarity, and reassurance: The Flag is not another Black Flag reunion band. 

The Flag, which is the artist Ted McGrath’s latest musical project, works in a tradition of New York I only know as 'off music'. A classic sound, turned inside-out. Monk was off. Liquid Liquid was off. Talking Heads were off. Rap was so off! Velvets--a thousand miles off. Even the Strokes were off, if only because *nothing* was off about the Strokes. 

His voice reminds me of weirdo New York crooners like Alan Vega and David Byrne and Sal Principato, though I find him more lovable. Rhythmically the music is very much indebted to stuff like Suicide and Liquid Liquid and On The Corner. Heavy stuff but again: Ted is the people’s champ. “Alpha 60 Punch Out” is the a-side. It’s built off an irresistible full-spectrum percussion loop that propels the song through six or seven distinct movements. On the flip is the introspective "Neighbors": a maximum-delay guitar number about a specific NYC rite of passage known as Getting Mugged.

If you’re playing Brooklyn Noise Bingo at home, this whole release--a teaser for what we hope will be more soon--is a gold mine. Ted played in These Are Powers and Antimagic, and his iconic messy visual style regularly appears on show posters and album covers around town. Jeremy Scott recorded both songs at Civil Defense right before Hurricane Sandy knocked him and many other friends of ours out of commission. Sarah Register of Talk Normal mastered both tracks at The Lodge, and gave them their impossible spread across the stereo field. “Alpha 60 Punch Out” b/w “Neighbors” is available digitally worldwide and on limited edition cassette at the GODMODE shop mid July.

THE FLAG
“Alpha 60 Punch Out” b/w “Neighbors”
Digital/Cassette
GM027. 2013.

Vocals, Loops, and Guitar by Ted McGrath
Additional Drum Programming by Nick Sylvester
Additional Percussion: Ryan Crozier 
Trumpet: Eleanor Logan 

Recorded by Jeremy Scott at Civil Defense, BK
Mixed by Nick Sylvester at The Wood Room, BK
Mastered by Sarah Register at The Lodge, NYC.

Songs and Sounds by Ted McGrath
www: theflagisaband.com
twitter: @tedmcgrath
press: nbs at entergodmode dot com


The Flag - Alpha 60 Punch Out - GODMODE - 2013

Alpha 60 Punch Out

The Flag - Alpha 60 Punch Out

Neighbors

The Flag - Neighbors

somewhere between thinking and feeling

you can send us tunes here: god@godmodemusic.com