-The Astronomical Calamities Of Comet Jones is the debut album from The Gametes: a Brisbane four piece who have been causing a bit of a stir locally with their their mix of energetic post punk and bizarre humour. It’s not necessarily the easiest thing to do, but the band have done a good job of capturing both those aspects on tape.
The record is a science-fiction themed concept album. Which may be an unusual choice for a debut full-length release, but then The Gametes do seem like an unusual group of guys. It’s also not out of sync with the band’s image, which is a kind of concept in itself – they wear work uniforms and present themselves as the front for a power-hungry corporation called Takiyama Corp. The Gametes have cultivated this image over a couple of years of live shows, videos and hilarious social media posts.
The album narrative is easier followed with the assistance of the track by track notes I was given, but essentially it involves the protagonist Comet Jones giving up his family and life to go into space as the Earth’s interstellar diplomat. On arriving at his extra-terrestrial destination he is lured in by the local inhabitants and the mysterious “man of thumbs” to give up his sleeping hours in the name of increased productivity. It doesn’t end well for Comet Jones.
Musically, the reference points are post-punk – the herky-jerky rhythms and band concept of Devo, the surf-rock silliness of the B-52’s, the themes of technology and alienation of early synth-pop, the corporate rhetoric of Public Image Ltd..
Through the jokes and weirdness, I get the feeling that, possibly, The Gametes are trying to make a serious point. The themes of Comet Jones giving up his entire life for his journey and then efficentising himself to insanity is all of us living under capitalism – allowing ourselves to be commodified as workers. New technology like smartphones and cloud storage mean that, like Comet Jones, we never sleep from the cold productivity of work.
The band’s self-image as representatives of a corporation reminds us that even when we go out to shows or listen to music we are not free of this process. The music we dance to is ultimately still measurable in monetary terms. Our recreation can exist because it makes money for concert venues and promoters. When we click 'like' on the latest witty Gametes online status, someone is selling off our interest. The Takiyama Corporation brand on The Gametes is a reminder that art is not pure, it isn't removed from the process of commodification that dictates our lives.
The Astronomical Calamities Of Comet Jones then is a product to be exchanged for money like the others that line our department store shelves. So are you and I, and many of our interactions. The thing about this consumer object though is that its creativity, intelligence and humour brings a refreshing new breath of air to a music scene that can risk following the path of Comet Jones, semi-consciously sleepwalking itself to a productive yet demoralising end.
- Andy Paine.