Like those artists before them, Porter Block often aim to capture the defining spirit and mood of particular moments in time with their projects. Their nostalgic-tinged guitar pop songs call to mind the golden age of classic rock, and new single, ‘Gift Or A Curse’, is no different in this respect, as Porter Block reflects on the fickle nature of this complicated world.
With their homage to new wave (neo-new wave, if you like), and power-pop, Porter Block continue to travel the path of the human condition, examining the very human desires for connection, and understanding. This was very evident in their 2020 release, ‘Clean Up The Living Room’, which was released during the Covid-19 global pandemic, and in their most recent album, ‘Sometimes Sunshine’, which reflected on relationships gone wrong. With a new album about to drop, Porter Block’s focus is laser sharp, as they forge a trail where other musicians rarely venture.
In ‘Gift Or A Curse’ the cynical narrator contemplates their existence with the lines, “Life feels so mechanical, like the turning of a screw”, before continuing, “One bad word the wrong way, it all comes crashing in on you”. Nothing is guaranteed; nothing is certain. Life happens, and while we can get philosophical about it all, we ultimately don’t hold all the cards in our hands – so we should make the very best of it.
With sprightly percussion and upbeat piano, as well as powerful guitars, ‘Gift Or A Curse’ is reminiscent of the music of of 80s English rock bands, The Jam, and Squeeze. Porter Block continue this trip down memory lane with their music video, which will remind viewers of the clip for ‘My Sharona’, by The Knack. Sure, it dates from 1979, but it was a definite contender to belong in the next decade. We see the members of Porter Block with their instruments on a stark white stage, a soft light on each member as they perform together, their instruments and vocals in perfect harmony.
You can lose yourself in the nostalgia of the video for ‘Gift Or A Curse’ below, and find out more about Porter Block and their music online on their official website, YouTube, and Instagram.
