Kamtin Mohager accesses his inner fanboy on the Chain Gang Of 1974’s latest, Wayward Fire. By Brian Baker
Kamtin Mohager’s work is a sonic crazy quilt that straddles genres without belonging to one. Take “Stop,” the opening track from Wayward Fire, Mohager’s sophomore album as the Chain Gang Of 1974; initially a Brian Eno bedroom demo channeling the Beatles’ Rubber Soul, the song exhibits flashes of ’80s synth pop and swells of proggy bombast, then sneaks in a sly sample of Fleetwood Mac’s “Never Going Back Again.”
“Stop” and the nine tracks that follow are indicative of Mohager’s attention deficit love of all music. “When I was younger, I listened to early emo, skate punk and pop-punk bands,” says Mohager. “I would go to ska-punk shows and mosh my ass off. My live energy is from that time in my life. When it comes to music, sonics and emotion, it’s all over the place. Pulp, Stone Roses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Tears For Fears, early ’90s alternative rock. I’m a massive Secret Machines fan. My favorite artist is Ryan Adams; you won’t hear it in my music, but I love the guy. I think the Horrors are the best band in the world right now; they know what the fuck they’re doing.”
Wayward Fire and its predecessor, White Guts, were accomplished primarily by Mohager with limited accompaniment, but he tours with a full band that may be documented in the studio soon. CG74’s flexible structure plays into Mohager’s musical vision.
“I’ve always viewed this band as something that will never sound the same on every record,” says Mohager. “It’s not only music; it’s something you’re doing in life, and you constantly want to progress in life. The band started as grungy, trip-hop-influenced post-punk, and transitioned to a heavy electro phase. Every musician has one moment they’re embarrassed of. That was my moment.”
Mohager’s electronic album, Mad Paranoid, never came out (“I have a copy on my laptop and I’m going to keep it that way…”), but some of its tracks rolled over onto White Guts. A few of White Guts’ tracks then showed up on Wayward Fire, but that pattern ends now.
“I’m very excited to do my new record because it’s going to be a solid group of new songs,” says Mohager. “No more mismatching all that shit.”
