Handcuffed - Hans Handsome by Peak Life published on 2022-04-21T04:26:18Z Bordeaux-based, Australian artist, Mark Gage, is no newcomer to the scene. His now defunct band, Foreign/National, saw widespread acclaim from Sydney to LA, São Paulo to London, racking up millions of streams online and sporting international touring dates alongside King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Now he places his new project, Hans Handsome, front and centre with ‘Handcuffed’ – a punchy, political banger. ‘Handcuffed’ begins with a blend of programmed, industrial percussion and organic drums. A saturated Moog synth holds down a metronomic, kraut-rock-esque bass groove, alongside the scratchy tone of a broken Telecaster. The drums open up momentarily, before baritone vocals enter, and the rhythm section tightens back up - relentlessly driving the song towards its climatic finale. Sonically, the song moves between post-punk, techno and kraut-rock, drawing inspiration from artists such as Kedr Livanskiy, Mt Kimbie, Neu and New Order. Lyrically, the track explores the 2015 European Migrant Crisis, and speaks of Gage’s frustration regarding the indifference and apathy with which western governments responded. ‘Handcuffed’ is the first single from the upcoming EP, ‘Feeding From The Trough’. It will be available worldwide on Friday, April 29th through Peak Life Records. EP release date TBC. Genre Post-Punk