This band originally hailed from Townsville, Northern Queensland before relocating south to break the Melbourne indie scene. Holy Coast is The Broken Needles’ second studio release after the promising debut Terra Nullius and with a few new inclusions to the lineup, their sound has really matured.
The contrast of elegant strings and gutsy steel guitar riffs are perfectly balanced with the raw and often sorrow-filled vocals of frontman Michael S. Galloway. The instrumental introduction, Sunrise Over Cape Cleveland Lighthouse, comes in with a drunken steel guitar. It sounds like something you’d hear on a Tarantino soundtrack. The Great Divide is a slow burner of surprising depth. Galloway’s dark baritone voice brings immediate similarities to Nick Cave.
Bound to Fade incorporates the female vocals of Laura Morgan to haunting effect, telling the story of a doomed relationship. It’s the first single from the album and easily the best track to come from the band so far. The dynamic is reminiscent of Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan’s collaborative efforts, with a backing guitar that echoes Urge Overkill’s cover of Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon.
Postcards from the Hadal Zone has some great duelling guitar work but sounds a little tinny. The echoing-effect is obviously intentional but sounds more like a live recording taken with an iPhone. Cemetery is very grim, with harsh vocals and an ‘80s post-punk vibe, while Headstream has a sweeping country feel, incorporating both steel guitar and mandolin for the backing. The Slow Drift uses steel to different effect and reverts back to the post-punk melancholy feel.
Q-Ball starts slow and ends slow, sounding more like a drunken serenade than an accomplished song. Unfortunately, it’s not the strong finish it should have been.
BY CHRIS BRIGHT
Best Track: Bound to Fade
If You Liked These, Then You’ll Love This: ISOBEL CAMPBELL & MARK LANEGAN, NICK CAVE
In A Word: Raw
