Finding your feet as a band can be a challenging task, one that is made even harder by the well documented joys the world has given its inhabitants over the past two years. Frontman Jakob Armstrong is looking to find his feet, but also his stride in his latest enterprise Ultra Q. Previously being part of previous punk groups Jakob Danger and Mt Eddy, he now leads the line on this ’00s nostalgia addled project.
From the get go on the EP’s opener, “Pupkin“, it becomes clear that Ultra Q are returning the listener to early days of ’00s garage rock. Influences from bands who were considered part of the revival in that era such as The Strokes and Interpol are evident. Jakob‘s soaring vocals quickly fill the ear and throughout Get Yourself A Friend are a consistent strong point. The groove on the drums and quick riffs make the opener a mover and it’s difficult to resist the urge to tap your foot along.
The reverberating bass line backed with a hi-hat stroke roll on the gives “It’s Permanent” its flavour. Jakob’s echoing vocals fit suitably with its backing instrumentals. There is a quaint dream-like feel to the track, invoking thoughts of night gone by. “Bowman” explores the romanticising online relationships, giving reference to David Bowman from 2001’s Space Odyssey. The rapid drums and cute guitar riffs fuel the momentum, the aura of the tracking feeling like that of something Cage The Elephant have historically released.
“Straight Jacket” takes the EP through the motions on this lighters out track. The lamenting nature of this tracks feels somewhat too extended out here, with little to distinguish it from the rest of the pack on Get Yourself A Friend. Thankfully the pace with “Handheld“, the sort of track that would be blasted out from the FIFA 2003 soundtrack. It’s a joyful track that wakes the EP back up perfectly in time for its closer and title track. “Get Yourself A Friend” takes strands from each of its former tracks, leaning most into second track “It’s Permanent“. With lines such as “I’m falling asleep just to miss to your hands” it might be possible to disregard as a run-of-the-mill sad boy track. However there’s something about the track that pulls you in, the sort that you might find yourself quietly singing along to while listening.
Armstrong has certainly found his feet with this sound on Get Yourself A Friend. It’s a solid and well performed EP, which plays into its influences and wears them on its sleeve. For Ultra Q to become a staple of any garage rock or post-punk scene in the coming decade, innovating on this sound and moving away from the well trodden path of the genre is key. However Get Yourself A Friend is worth the time of anyone looking for a pleasant nostalgia trip.
7/10