The fifth single in the Retrograde Single Series features a trio of ’80s-inspired alternative pop.
“No Exit” draws inspiration from Honolulu band Oriental Love Ring, whose track “Damage” on the compilation “No Place to Play” is itself influenced by the post-punk bands coming out of the UK at the time.
“Blood Money” draws a big influence from Duran Duran’s The Wedding Album, but Eponymous 4’s Greg Bueno found the first demo did a poor job of capturing what he wanted from the song. He gave it another shot 20 years later, throwing in a bit of Shiina Ringo into the mix. The result combines Japanese traditional instruments with hip-hop beats and classical strings.
“The Nature of Things” draws its inspiration from Information Society, but numerous demos on older equipment didn’t survive Greg’s scrutiny. As with “Blood Money”, he tried again when technology became better and cheaper, and the track finally achieved what it set out to do.
Originally released in 2015, the 2025 reissue recognizes “Blood Money” as an A-side in its own right and now shares top billing with “No Exit.”