New Impressionists are a generation of musicians reacting to their impressions of what
rock music was when it was still the most viable genre (1950s-90s in all of it's forms from
shoegaze to noise to
rockabilly). Some might incorrectly call this reaction
post-rock, but that would imply somehow being past or being "over" rock music. Though New Impressionism is different from traditional rock music, it is not about being past or "over" anything. Far from it, the unifying theme is a musical reflection on what New Impressionists perceive the reasons and influences of rock music to be, whether it be
concious or sub-concious. Some may even go so far as to live their lives as rock musicians were supposed to have, and to emulate the song structures and instrumental tambres they dabbled in. However, New Impressionist music can actually be quite different or strange, as New Impressionism is about a reaction, not about directly copying - it is an impression of what rock music was, not a
snapshot of its exact reality, though some artists do get literal in their reactions and interpretations.
The Black Lips,
showcasing New Impressionism,
emulate the recording style and song structure of
garage rock and the antics of punk heroes of the past.
