Omni’s “Courtesy Call” Is a Jagged Post-Punk Spectacle

The Atlanta post-punk group Omni have released their latest single, “Courtesy Call,” off their forthcoming Sub Pop debut, Networker, out next month. As a nod to their influences, the song comes with a VHS-style video depicting the group jamming through their riff-heavy piece while staring blankly into the camera—uncomfortable as it is impressive.

“Courtesy Call” stands in angular contrast to Omni’s lead single, “Sincerely Yours,” which displayed a clear emotional drive behind the music. “Courtesy Call,” on the other hand, is cold and stoic with its distant societal commentary. In his deadpan delivery, singer Philip Frobos sings, “We have this funny routine / The obvious will be right with you.” The penetrating strums of guitar draw comparison to Gang of Four while Frobos’ half-spoken vocals fall in line with Television’s Tom Verlaine. It’s not difficult to picture these guys playing at CBGB alongside their predecessors.

The faux-vintage video for the song shows the group stiffly playing their instruments while standing uncomfortably close to each other. Their faces hardly change from their serious expressions, though the goofiness of their collective persona is obvious. During a melodic guitar solo in the song’s middle, a graphic reading “Intermission” scrolls past. The whole thing is pretty irreverent, poking fun at their influences as much as it worships them.

One of Omni’s post-punk revival contemporaries, Scott Munro from Preoccupations, explains their sound as one that’s influenced by the ‘70s but also allows them to maintain their own artistic direction:

Omni and Nathaniel Higgins have done a stellar job of reigning in their diverse influences into a cohesive record by curating their sounds into a tight package that leaves you just on the cusp of understanding where the band is coming from, while still feeling like you’re hearing something totally fresh.

Networker will be arriving on Sub Pop Records Nov. 1 and can be preordered on Omni’s Bandcamp here. You can listen to “Courtesy Call” below and check out the band’s tour dates further down. You can revisit the details of Networker right here.

Omni Tour Dates:

October
23 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement
25 – Chicago, Ill. @ Empty Bottle
27 – Toronto, Ont. @ The Garrison
28 – Montreal, Que. @ Bar Le Ritz
29 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Baby’s All Right
30 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Sultan Room

November
02 – Washington, D.C. @ Pie Shop Bar
03 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Kings Raleigh
04 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Earl
10 – Kortrijk, Belgium @ Sonic City Festival
11 – Hamburg, Germany @ Molotov (Sky Bar)
12 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Loppen
13 – Berlin, Germany @ BERGHAIN KANTINE
14 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko
15 – Le Havre, France @ Mc Daids
18 – Paris, France @ La Boule Noire
19 – Lille, France @ La Bulle
20 – Brussels, Belgium – Le Botanique
21 – Colmar, France @ Le Grillen
22 – St. Gallen, Switzerland @ Palace St. Gallen
23 – Lyon, France @ Sonic
25 – Brighton, U.K. @ The Hope & Ruin
26 – Bristol, U.K. @ Rough Trade Bristol
27 – Manchester, U.K. @ YES
28 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Mono (Glasgow)
29 – Leeds, U.K. @ The Brudenell Social Club
30 – London, U.K. @ Oslo

December
03 – New Orleans, La. @ Gasa Gasa
04 – Austin, Texas @ Barracuda
05 – El Paso, Texas @ The Monarch
06 – Tucson, Ariz. @ Hotel Congress
08 – Boise, Idaho @ Neurolux
09 – Seattle, Wash. @ Tractor Tavern
10 – Portland, Ore. @ Mississippi Studios
11 – Arcata, Calif. @ The Miniplex
14 – San Fransisco, Calif. @ Rickshaw Stop
15 – San Diego, Calif. @ Soda Bar
16 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Lodge Room