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.