It’s hard to believe San Cisco’s eponymous debut album was released back in 2012 after two successful EP’s the 12 months beforehand. The infectious indie rock outfit from Perth sound like they’ve hardly missed a beat on Gracetown’s lead single RUN. The unmistakably “breathy” beat makes it feel thoroughly unique, while frontman Jordi Davieson’s high vocal range is impressive.
Just as their debut felt much more polished and featured less ‘shouty’ vocals than their EPs, so too does this latest release. The production is clearly first rate and the record benefits from what appears to be a lengthy and well considered recording process. The next song, Too Much Time Together, is reminiscent of Franz Ferdinand’s Live Alone in terms of lyrical content – the gist is two people in love but deal with domestic duties and overexposure too soon, which ends up destroying the relationship before it has a chance to succeed.
San Cisco’s effort is much more enjoyable and manages to sound rather upbeat despite the song being essentially the soundtrack of an unimaginably awkward conversation. Snow brings the tempo down somewhat to begin with, but brings back the fun vibe before long to keep the overall lighthearted feel of the record alive. Despite this relaxed and upbeat feel present across the disc, it’s often despite the lyrics being darker at various stages, makes for a rewarding juxtaposition.
The young quartet have certainly grown their songwriting abilities and this sophomore release should appease existing fans whilst earning a swag more.
BY ALEXANDER CROWDEN
