Covert contracts rule our world: manipulative relationships, encoded social norms, opaque technologies. With a covert contract, the trick is that the agreement is only known by the person who makes it, says Ali Carter, singer and bassist of Philly post-punk trio Control Top. The other person is oblivious. Consent is impossible. A void of communication opens up a world of misunderstanding. In an era of such impossibilities, Control TopCarter with guitarist Al Creedon and drummer Alex Lichtenauerrip open space for catharsis. Their explosive songs are a synthesis of varied interests and backgrounds: Carters innate sense of new wave melodies, Creedons sirening noise guitars, Lichtenauers feverish hardcore drumming. On their debut full-length Covert Contracts, out now via Get Better Records, the songwriting is fully a collaboration of Carter and Creedon. Carters voice thumps and screams and deadpans while her driving, hooky basslines play out like guitar leads. Creedon, also the bands engineer and producer, balances composition and chaos, equally inspired by pop and no-wave. Covert Contracts by CONTROL TOP