There’s an awful lot to like about this talented Sydney outfit. The lads have already garnered a reputation for constructing impressive live shows, they just scored triple j’s Feature Album, and they recently made the news when one member got himself mysteriously trapped between two doors. But hey, any press is good press.
Their debut album, The Positions, confirms the band as one of Australia’s most exciting and talented new acts. It’s a powerful mix of drum-heavy rhythms, varied instrumentals and raw vocals from lead singer David Leaupepe. At over seven minutes, Vital Signs is a surprisingly lengthy opening track. It kicks things off with a pounding drum beat and slowly builds toward an uplifting tempo change. The inventive percussion and guitar work keeps things interesting. Poison Drum is reminiscent of early Kings of Leon and also catchy as hell. The Diving Bell is much slower in comparison, adding keys and new amp effects to keep it fresh. Restraint & Release commences with a heavier riff, complementing the darker vocals and broody lyrics. Magnolia is much more uplifting, with a melodic keyboard backing and trickling guitar.
Kansas opens with a simple string backing behind Leaupepe’s vocals; it’s a fairly unexpected yet welcomed change of pace. They add classical piano to Knuckle White Dry, which makes for very easy listening. Radioface offers something completely different, and could have easily been used in the soundtrack to an uplifting ‘80s drama.
The album finishes strong with Stamboska, a slow-building rock anthem, and The Overpass, which is more in line with what we heard at the start of the album. All in all, it’s a tight package from a band on the rise.
BY CHRIS BRIGHT
