This compilation of unreleased tracks marks ten triumphant years for Sydney band Dappled Cities. The band’s singles are often boisterous, showy affairs, but the opening and title track (the one specially recorded song to feature here) is low-key in comparison and thus works well as an introduction to a set of mid-tempo, often quite subtle art-pop gems.
With the days of singles being released with B-sides fading, non-album cuts can get lost in the archives, so a compilation like this can reveal a whole new angle to a band through songs that would otherwise have never seen the light of day. With ‘hundreds’ to choose from, the band have whittled it down to 14 songs and the result is a work of quality that’s on par with their previous albums.
In amongst well-crafted songs that must’ve been difficult to keep off the final releases are a couple of scratchy, lo-fi demos of album tracks, which provides a nice contrast to the band’s usually well-polished production. Their early days as Dappled Cities Fly could have perhaps been better represented. 2003’s Cramps is on hand to show their rattly, less synth-soaked sound, but what of the wistful, harmonious Die In Your Eyes or something from 2003’s charming Chameleon Girl EP? Too many good outtakes to choose from – as far as problems go, that’s a pretty good one for a band to have.
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
Best Track: Many Roads
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Codes and Keys DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, At War With The Mystics THE FLAMING LIPS
In A Word: Bountiful
