There is something quite fresh about Sydney duo Fishing. They inject an urban groove flavour into their sound that has equally absorbed the rich influence of the likes of Arrested Development, The Fugees, Massive Attack, and dare can it be said, The Rockmelons, with the zeal of a religious convert.
Recoup is a brilliant start to the record. Understated choirs and smooth grooves abound. The diversity of Fishing is abundant. Pity they could not put their finger on the pulse of a more fetching moniker. Swimmer has the trademarks of Peter Gabriel lite methodology but in a simple and thrilling way.
Elsewhere, Fishing have the imprint of another duo mining a similar resource, The Pet Shop Boys, although they are more experimental as evidenced by Nineteen/Boy Wunder and Racer. Purveyors of a quiet revolution, these are songs of restless quality mixed with capable mellow mindwarps like Choy Lin and Chi Glow. Dystopian beats hum alongside crazed disorientation.
Your Mouth plays tricks with the senses as ‘80s singalong euphoria flicks the switch on the inner glitterball, and the urge to dance is immense. The variety breaks the chain of the possibility of hypnotic repetition becoming entrenched and cross-pollinates with radio friendly conditioning.
A sensible work ethic underscores Watersport as future-retro beats combine to make Fishing difficult to categorise with ease. The title, Shy Glow, is an apt way of describing this record which blossoms into something quite welcoming and endearing.
BY BRONIUS ZUMERIS
Best Track: Recoup
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: PET SHOP BOYS, THE FUGEES, MASSIVE ATTACK, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
In A Word: Irresistible
