Losing Stress In Waves

It seems like the port of call nowadays that when a hardcore or post-hardcore act implodes or reaches its final stages, various members branch out into realms totally unbecoming of their past output. Acoustic balladry; obnoxious house; ambient soundscapes - there is no limit to the tangents that have been taken. This is somewhat true for Brisbane act Stress Waves too, seeing as its members converge from the embers of To The North, Quiet Steps and Throes. Yet these bands haven't necessarily been obvious poster children for the hardcore throngs, what with To The North's sonic balleticism and Quiet Steps' evolution from a bile-spitting maelstrom to something more poetic, more refined, yet always potent. Stress Waves feeds off these creative juices, and the three tracks that make up Lost Lustre perfectly frame this. There are elements of coldwave isolation here, as well as more than a bearing resemblance to post punk's melancholic Manchester origins (Errol Hoffman is also in Make More, so that kinda makes sense too). These tracks are almost archaic, however - steeped in Casio simplicity yet awash with ideas, either the product of out-of-time pioneers or a concerted effort to leap into icy waters without reservation. The trio also reference The Cure, Final Fantasy XII and Akira as their influences, and with the blue-tinted urban cover art, the sparsity of the production and the otherworldly textures this approach creates, such disparate touchstones are actually warranted (if a little tongue in cheek).

You can grab Lost Lustre in name-your-price digital here. Hopefully we'll see Stress Waves playing live shows in more regular bursts soon.

Making Less From More Deaths (Or Vice Versa)

 

Some more Tenzenmen releases on the way – Shaun is a demon! – so I'm a little behind. Nevertheless I thought I’d start with a great release from new local group, Make More. The trio have sprung forth from the untimely demise of post-hardcore outfit To The North (vocalist Cameron Gillard is now a part of Little Shadow, another band helped out by Tenzenmen that I wrote about here). They had some tracks put aside for a 7” called Less Deaths that also fell through, so whilst they work diligently on their debut LP, they are offering these tracks to the world for free. Anyone who knows To The North know that the instrumental engine room was one of the tightest and exciting collaborations in the local scene, so the fact that they continue to work on their unique musical relationship is certainly a good thing. And their influences – “coffee, Haruki Murakami, British comedy, Japanese culture, Beijing bands, Superchunk and the Smiths” – regardless of whether they are tongue in cheek or not, are all things that I personally connect with, and I think these three songs are a killer introduction to the new incarnation. I reckon you will too. As soon as I hear more, you will be the first to know – until then, delve into these tracks and let me know what you think!

Make More – Less Deaths
Make More – Immense Breeze
Make More – Monumental Suspense

Trail Of Dead/To The North/Nikko - A Triumvirate Of Glory

Im getting goddamned excited! Texans ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead are playing in Brisbane tonight at the Hi Fi Bar in West End! The band always puts on electric shows, so it promises to be one not to be missed. Ably supported by To The North and SM faves Nikko also, so some serious bang for your buck! The times are -

8.20 - 8.50pm - Nikko
9.20pm - 10.00pm - To The North
10.30pm - 11.40pm - Trail Of Dead

Grab tix here or on the door. DON'T MISS THIS!!!

Trail Of Dead - Isis Unveiled by Superball Music