I’ve been rather interested in a Los Angeles act called Catalog lately. While they have yet to release a full length CD they were featured in the documentary Synthnation, for which they wrote the title track. This little film deals with the Industrial/Electro/Goth scene in Los Angeles and includes appearances by VNV Nation, Combichrist, Babyland, Front 242 and many others.

The rumor mill has been abuzz about the possibility of a deal with Metropolis records on a collaborative effort with acts from the film but as of yet this is still only a rumor. Catalog have the sort of sound that can be difficult to peg. As I listen to the tracks they have up on their MySpace I grow frustrated because I can make references to a variety of influences yet I can’t say they sound exactly like one other act in particular. And the frustration stems from the fact that the music has such an inherent familiarity that I feel like I should be able to point to one other act and proclaim that, “Catalog sounds exactly like __________.” A solid comparison escapes me. And really, I guess that’s one of the best compliments you can give a band; saying they possess that level of familiarity without coming across as a ripoff of another artist.

In one of their old blog posts they mentioned that they were working on a song called “Martin” that was based on the classic George Romero movie of the same name. They decided to include some guitar on the track and managed to recruit none other than Rikk Agnew, the original guitarist of Christian Death, as well as the Adolescents, 45 Grave, Psychic TV, etc.

I really think you should check them out because it seems to me that the chances are good you’ll be hearing a lot more about them in the coming years and they’re planning a full length CD in early ’09 so keep your eyes, and ears, open. Their music has a glam polish to it but maintains a dirty feel. The vocals are unassuming and decidedly understated. There is a Punk aesthetic mixed with a modern Techno efficiency. They would be well-matched on a package tour with DTC faves Kloq. Listening to the material they’ve created thus far leads me to believe that once they hit their stride they’ll be leaving a number of other acts breathing the glittering dust in their wake.

Seriously. You should check them out. Now.