Unless you’re well into psychedelic rock, the style can be pretty tough going. The melodies can seem quite discordant, and the whole thing can come across as being a little too trippy, music that you have to overindulge in certain recreational pharmaceuticals to enjoy. In Greenthief’s case, if you have the patience and open mindedness to listen a little more deeply, you will realise that there is more going on here than just self-indulgent druggy music, and that the rewards are ultimately great.
One of the things that assists to this end is that the songs are concise and to the point. Relative to other psychedelic rock acts anyway, whose songs regularly wind out to long, tripped out instrumental jams. These guys wear their psychedelic influences quite heavily on their sleeve, and fans of this type of music will find much to love here, but they keep it tight at the same time.
The other cool element that Voyage has going for it is the fact that the songs rock as well, the grooves are fat and the guitars are loud. So this album can be enjoyed on multiple levels, you can indulge in said narcotic substances and chill out to it. Or, down a few brews, turn it up and rock the fuck out. And one can only imagine that the Greenthief live experience would only go further in the latter direction. This is a fine debut effort from this Melbourne trio, and yet more independent local sounds that you are well advised to avail yourself of.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
Best Track: Gypsy
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: EARTHLESS, PINK FLOYD, THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX
In A Word: Spacey
