ADMRLS

After long gestation, Evansville's one-man post-punk band releases debut full-length album, enjoy.

Rob Carter's no different than the rest of us - he's got a demanding full-time job, various interests and a penchant for procrastination. He's human, in other words. All of that goes a long way in explaining why it's taken much longer than expected to produce the follow-up to the excellent Mariner EP, the previous release under his ADMRLS banner. FYI, Carter not only writes all his own songs for the project, he handles the bulk of the instrumental duties and sings every note - he's a one-man show, effectively, apart from studio guidance courtesy of Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording. One listen to enjoy., however, will leave you convinced that ADMRLS is the sound of a full band making a heck of a wonderful racket. It may be Carter's debut full-length album, but it has all the hallmarks of an artist in complete control of his powers, coming off more like an assured mid-career effort.

We first caught up with Carter back in February of 2022. At the time he had a few tracks assembled for enjoy., having recorded with a previous producer, and was busy working with Tyner on the remaining six songs. An end-of-the-year release seemed feasible but as noted earlier, music is hardly Carter's main focus; the project stretched on for months, but that didn't trouble him at all. "I'm not looking to make money - I do this solely for artistic expression," Carter explains. "It's a hobby that I enjoy - if people like it, great; if they don't, that's cool." Now that enjoy. has finally dropped, chances are good that people will be thinking the former. While the Mariner EP leaned more towards alternative rock, this new collection is clearly influenced by the likes of Joy Division and Protomartyr, a Detroit-based post-punk band that Carter truly digs. Additionally, there's a connection to the early 1980's goth movement - particularly evident in the melodramatic, baritone vocals replete with vibrato - along with a few nods to hardcore punk. "I would just classify it as a rock album," Carter clarifies.

Regardless of labels, enjoy. is wildly satisfying, driven by propulsive drumming and the sort of angular guitar work last heard on a Gang of Four record. Thematically, Carter explores different approaches to life - "each song has its own thing," he says. Opening track "Sojourner" pushes the importance of independence, of having your own back. Then there's "Money Shot" and "Marigold," both ostensibly addressing the subject of sex, but also a sappy love song in "Julianne Moore." Elsewhere, "Prize Fighter" is about being wornout by the daily grind, while "Lottery" compares our daily existence to a scratch-off game. The title track, unexpectedly, touches on the value in being exploited; "Hidden Gem," conversely, finds the beauty in life's minute details. The album closes with the wonderfully bizarre "You Win! Thanks for Playing" which notes how certain life decisions can lead to brilliant victories or crushing defeats. enjoy. is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow Rob Carter on Facebook.