Search - For Against :: Never Been

Just one year after the release of their critically lauded Shade Side Sunny Side album, Lincoln, Nebraska post-punk stalwarts For Against return with their 9th record, Never Been. Formed a quarter of a century ago in 1984, For Against has built a devoted worldwide following among dream pop, post-punk, shoegaze, and darkwave enthusiasts. Never Been marks the second record reuniting singer/bassist Jeffrey Runnings with original guitarist Harry Dingman III, who was a core member of the band s first three albums (Echelons, December, In The Marshes), all recently reissued by Words On Music. Never Been showcases the depth and breadth of For Against's sonic palate alternating angular, foot-stomping post-punk with lush, piano-driven ballads and dark Joy Division-esque dirges, woven together by a few elegant, Felt-inspired instrumentals. From 'Antidote,' an unrelenting blast of one hook after another set against a canvas of raw, wintry ambience, to 'You Fade,' a Closer-inspired composition of bleak lyrics, analog keys, and droning guitars, Never Been is drenched with atmosphere and hummable melodies to spare. For Against's 9th record highlights the continued linkages between the band and the post-punk / Factory Records aesthetic which has impacted their sound ever since their earliest recordings 25 years ago. Signposts: Factory Records, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, Felt.