On their sophomore album *The Gloss*, Montreal trio Cola builds on the minimal yet electrifying post-punk foundation they established with their 2022 debut, *Deep in View*. Featuring live, roomy captures of their straightforward guitar/bass/drum setup, occasionally enhanced with synth patches or subtle atmospheric sounds, Cola’s group chemistry once again drives their music. Tracks like “Albatross” and “Pallor Tricks” channel the dissonant tension of prime-era Dischord Records artists, with guitarist/singer Tim Darcy’s spiky vocals interwoven with unexpected Mellotron flutters.
The standout track “Pulling Quotes” features steadily pushing drums, a single-note bassline, and a cool, disaffected melancholy that shifts from punk edginess to early-2000s rock revivalism, reminiscent of the melodic sensibilities of the Strokes’ early albums. “Keys Down If You Stay” finds a middle ground, blending post-punk uneasiness with experimental, jazz-inflected songwriting. This track uniquely combines the band’s strengths, merging spacious playing with Television-like precision, transforming anxious street scenes into wide-open clearings. The extended closing track “Bitter Melon” creates a hypnotic atmosphere with its repetition and lingering, dematerializing rather than concluding, as its structure falls away piece by piece until only incessant amp buzz remains. This final gradient shift encapsulates an album where intrinsic energy is palpable, yet deeper complexities emerge in the ever-changing details.
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