Tan LeRacoon – We Didn’t Come Here Just To Be Nice LP (La Pochette Surprise)

Punk rock music went through so many iterations that not only gatekeepers and purist can’t keep track of all the subgenres popping almost daily, but also we, music enthusiasts and passionate lovers of the sound, can really embrace the fact with everevolving scene. But there lies the beauty of this longstanding music genre. Punk rock was never meant to play safe, cater to anyone’s taste, or indulge the listening apparatuses of those gatekeepers and purists who think someone invented this genre just for them. Punk rock has that unfiltered freedom to be whatever it may please without any constrictions, always breaking rules and shapeshifting boundaries, and there are artists who fully understand it. Tan LeRacoon is unquestionably one of those artists who were there when punk rock was just a new name in the game, and he is still here today, with his latest full lenght release that shakes all the foundations and rules of the genre. Living through all the significant eras for this genre, he learned that punk rock is more about capturing that fleeting feeling of joy, employing all the brilliant ideas, and channeling them through marvelous songs. He perfectly summed up the essence of punk rock through “We Didn’t Come Here Just To Be Nice,” a brand-new recording that not only sums up what punk rock should stand for nowadays, but pretty much acts as a self-explanatory showcase through its title.

If you look at this record as a newbie to the genre, this may not seem like a punk rock record to you, but if you take a deep dive into the history of the genre, you’ll realize that Tan LeRacoon infused all the vital elements of punk rock and elevated it to completely new heights. Surely, it’s a punk rock record, carrying it that like-it-or-not attitude, all while exploring other styles so vividly, perfectly, and beautifully. Depending of the songs mood or atmosphere, the artist might lean towards those glory days when garage rock and pub rock were considered as predecessors of the genre, or maybe infuse some seventies glam or classic rock through many complex, detailed, lush orchestrations. But then again, you’ll not surely miss all those psychedelic rock or krautrock influences incorporated in almost every tune. He might also be interested in some synthwave and new wave explorations as well, but more subtly, delicately, with more emphasis on a punk rock sound. By exploring so many things at once, Tan LeRacoon creates a captivating, luxuriant, ethereal, otherworldly, beautiful ambiance where punk rock becomes more orchestral and cinematic. And then, out of nowhere, you’ll hear a trumpet delivering jazzy improvisations. A wild move that makes more sense once you figure out that, however different they might be, punk rock and jazz have a lot of things in common then you might think. There are also explorations in dub and cinematic ambient music, with all those reverb, echo, and delay effects roaming around and creating an eerie atmosphere. Wild moves that work quite well here.

Tan LeRacoon fully stacked his latest album with many impressive vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuvers. From his excellent vocal performance that provides emotion, heart, and soul to these songs and commands attention across every verse, chorus, and experimental corner, to impressive guitar work that definitely gives that psychedelic, garage, pub rock, art rock feel to all the pieces stacked here, he crafted a load of soundscapes that will force you to contemplate and listen carefully. The additional synth themes, melodies, harmonies, pads, and all those improvisations delivered on trumpets provide more depth, detail, and complexity, all while contributing to the lush, ethereal, otherworldly allure of the record. The rhyhtm section propells everything to new heights, with all those intricate, warm-sounding basslines lurking around and offering more power to these tunes while the profoundly detailed percussions and incredible rhythmic patterns keep everything together. Every instrument works like a charm here, making “We Didn’t Come Here Just To Be Nice” such a wonderful ride through the expansive sonic universe. Tan LeRacoon’s latest album is something you should consider placing on your radar if you love something more than simplistic chord progressions and straightforward beats. It’s a punk rock record crafted in a jazzy, experimental way, yet it carries that addictive, irresistible, hypnotic drive of art rock, pub rock, garage rock, and psych rock ambiance that keeps you motivated to dive beneath the surface and discover more. Tan LeRacoon unquestioanbly deserves your utmost attention because he created a brilliant album that vividly showcases his tremendous experience, knowledge, creativity, talent, ideas, and musicianship. Head to La Pochette Surprise and secure yourself a vinyl.