For fans of Calgary’s former post-punk favorites Women, this past year has marked the point to finally wrap up the reminiscing and return to the righteous path of musical optimism. With three distinct debut releases, a trio of Calgarian bands have displayed their direct inheritance of Women’s gorgeously awkward musical markings: the left field pop melodies of Faux Fur, the bi-polar crash and crooning of Androgynous Mind, and the rhythmically robust stomp of Viet Cong.

Cassette is a remastered re-issue of Viet Cong’s cassette-only tour demo from last year, now available on vinyl courtesy of Mexican Summer. An array of rock roots can be traced through Cassette‘s seven tracks. Mike Wallace’s disciplined drum method offers cohesion for these tracks, providing a steady nucleus for the music’s miscellaneous hooks to spiral outward from. “Throw It Away” begins the EP with strums of 70s punk before immediately involving sinuous lines of guitar pop. On “Unconscious Melody” lumbering bass and drum interplay set the pace until the initial chorus cracks open a can of artfully aqueous guitar melodies. “Static Wall” is softened by its hazy psych pop leanings, indolently floating downstream, potent gusts of vocal harmony occasionally catching the sails.

Viet Cong don’t adhere to a single aesthetic, and thus far they have followed this self-directed path to success. Cassette stands as a rare and rewarding glimpse of a very promising group at their genesis. Only 1500 copies were pressed by Mexican Summer, so if you’re going to act on it, act fast!