As the well-worn saying goes, perfectionism is the enemy of progress, and not more is this deeply felt than in the creative realm. The truth of it is that what’s deemed as “perfect”, only really comes from your own perspective and so by changing your own thoughts and pre-set expectations, you can evade this toxic process. This is the idea that Atlanta-based five-piece Pterocat navigate in their latest single ‘Anti’, which is a mesmerising mix between dream-pop, shoegaze, Brazilian jazz and psychedelia.
The whole track rests on an unctuous, slinking bass line, over which all the other elements are carefully constructed. Intuitive drum patterns and melancholic guitars work together to create this subtly psychedelic scaffold. Adding to this track’s textural complexity are those dreamy, New Romantics-esque lead vocals that rise and fall along with the fluid rhythms and psychedelic melodies.
Throughout ‘Anti’, you’ll notice how the track ebbs and flows, surges forward and recedes, rises and falls. This arrangement, combined with the repeated commands, “redo”, “retouch”, “undo”, “delete”, and “erase”, delivered in both English and Portuguese, reflects the exhausting cycle of pursuing perfection.
As the first glimpse into Pterocat‘s forthcoming album, Slow Blink, this shimmering, multi-genre number really displays the undeniable chemistry between the band’s primary songwriters Thaïs Dahas and Colby Granger. In whatever way you battle with perfectionism, you’ll no doubt find reassurance in ‘Anti’.
You can also listen to ‘Anti’ in our Outsiders Club playlist.
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