Earlier in the year, Perth muso Dan Cribb announced his departure from punk act The Decline. Focusing on more singer/songwriter-type material, he has assembled a backing band and released As We Drift Apart into the world.
Comparing this release to his last uncovers a massive graduation in sound. Whereas his debut EP The Memories Last relied on acoustic-driven tracks and more intimate instrumentation, As We Drift Apart sees Cribb take full advantage of his backing band The Isolated, turning these songs into full-on ’90s punk rock tunes. Some of the erstwhile personal touch is lost in the translation, but the melodies are still there and perhaps even brought to fruition. The whole album is reminiscent of punk bands who are focused on melody, such as Lagwagon, Alkaline Trio and Blink-182.
Cribb’s vocals are definitely the highlight – they have a tone that conveys energy and emotion. This is especially true on Fall Apart; when he sings, “I know I can see it’s not easy/ It’s killing you/ It’s killing me,” the conviction is clear. Kisschasy frontman Darren Cordeux lends his voice to Let’s Move To New York, which is one of the album’s shining moments. Cribb has taken the sound on his debut EP to the next level, making everything bigger in the process.
BY SPENCER SCOTT
