The Sea Shall Not Have Them Again

In November 2012 I had just finished off a year of putting on gigs under the Sonic Masala banner with the album launch for Gold Coast-based instrumental duo The Sea Shall Not Have Them. That album, Mouth, was one of my favourites of that year, a totally underappreciated post-rock-metal-whatever piece that held considerable heft seeing that only two men were responsible for that racket. Since that show they have gone on to support both Russian Circles and Pelican, and have now released new EP Walking Through Walls/Elim. The two track release clocks in at 24 minutes, so there needs to be a lot of time invested in this - but God is it worth it. I have to say that this is not only the best thing that TSSNHT has done - but it's the best release of this ilk I have heard this year. It is a perilous task nowadays to craft instrumental rock without it sounding in any way derivative. The two songs here - the fourteen minute behemoth 'Walking Through Walls' and the "minuscule" ten minute 'Elim' - focus on building a cavernous atmosphere, bleeding out the nuances and emotions, with a delay and slightly dulled production that shaves the edge off the band's precision. This is an imminently good thing because most "post-rock" bands in this day and age focus so much on precision and production values, that there is no mystique involved - it is all contrived and obvious. The chimes in 'Walking Through Walls' gives a Mono delicacy - there is a patience here at building the layers, rather than a join-the-dots necessity to drag a tune out minute after minute. 'Elim' has a more sinister bent but is nonetheless patient in doling out the atmospherics. And when the catharsis arrives, it isn't in an explosion of noise and theatrics (and don't get me wrong, I love that when it's done right - that's why Mogwai is my favourite live band) but a controlled roar that never loses focus. This isn't about ticking boxes. It is a little grandiose - the piano in the last element of 'Elim' in particular - but grandiosity is welcome when the foundations warrant it.

Grab Walking Through Walls/Elim here.

Frankly, I Do Give A Damn!

Just as the media ruckus that was BigSound dies down, a festival rears its beautifully deformed head. It's here, the Frankly! Its a Pop Festival. Starting at 5pm, expect to see some avante garde pop rock in the form of LA Vampires (Not Not Fun Records' Amanda Brown, who co-curated this boutique festival), Wet Hair (Shawn Reed of Night People Records' band, pictured), The Twerps, Pikelet, Angel Eyes, Blank Realm, Miko, Ytamo and so much more! It all at the Brisbane Powerhouse - you can still grab tickets! Support a truly unique festival, right here on our doorstep.

Wet Hair : Echo Lady by destijlrecs

Frankly...I Do Give A Damn...

Talk about a stellar lineup… The 2011 Frankly! Pop Festival (held in Brisbane as part of the Brisbane Festival on September 10) is gearing up to host a slew of hip bands courtesy of the focus on Los Angeles hypnagogic pop label Not Not Fun. Whilst previous acts to grace the stage have included High Places, Xiu Xiu and Crayon Fields, curator Lawrence English has garnered the NNF quartet of LA Vampires, Wet Hair, Angel Eyes and the awesome local band Blank Realm to be a part of the innovation. Also along for the ride are members from the Japanese psychedelic pop subculture such as Oorutaichi, Miko and Ytamo, as well as ambient pop queen Pikelet and the ace Twerps.

Lawrence says of the festival, "We're constantly surprised by the amazing ways artists are taking the tried and true formulas and seeing what can be cooked up with a little experimentation here and there. The 2011 line-up is an exciting addition to the festival's legacy. In 2010 we proved that there's more to pop music than people might expect," said English. "Pop can be experimental, interesting and thought-provoking and Frankly! is about bringing together the world's best to remind folks that there's a whole galaxy of sound out there and some of it is pretty damned exciting."

Frankly! Festival is being held at the Brisbane Powerhouse September 10. You can grab tickets here. (NB – this is the same night as Russian Circles, Brisbane peeps! Choose wisely…or go to both!)

LA Vampires - Streetwise
Angel Eyes - Loosing Grip
Miko - Yoake
Pikelete - Hallway Master
Ytamo - Alice
Blank Realm - Full Moon Door
Twerps - She Didn't Know
Wet Hair - Echo Lady
Oorutaichi - Futurelina

A Rogue Signal

Rogue Sounds are an Orange County collective who plumb the sonic depths to create a whorling rock sound reminiscent of the likes of Russian Circles - and since those guys have been kinda quiet of late, its good to have the new guard on board. Being their first official release, Transmission is in EP fit to bursting with heavy distorted riffs, allowing space for softer passages before spiralling out over the abyss once more. Overall though it is a very controlled affair - nothing is untoward, nothing feels on the verge of implosion, explosion or erosion. And in some ways that is a disappointment - I feel that Rogue Sounds can go above and beyond if they are willing to let the music lead them, not the other way around. Anyway, time will tell. Either way Transmission is a nice introduction, out now.

Rogue Sounds - Transmission

And an added bonus - a track from Rogue Sound's demo 2680 -

Rogue Sounds - Dusk