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Kim Salmon
My Script
Kim Salmon was the first person I
knew to use the word “grunge.”
Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore
calls him “an inspiration and direct
influence on his generation."
Salmon – founder of The
Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon
and the Surrealists – has always
written his own script. This, his
first “real” solo album, is an
idiosyncratic mix of garage rock,
acoustic guitar tracks and twisted
instrumentals. There’s even a
collaboration with Waleed Aly,
who co-wrote and contributed
lead guitar to
Client JGT683
,
a savage swipe at Australia’s
refugee policies. Kim Salmon
remains compelling. It’s time he
was inducted into the ARIA Hall
of Fame.
(Guilt Free Records) Jeff Jenkins
Hands Like Houses
Dissonants
Rise Records are presently
one of the biggest heavy
labels in the world, seemingly
able to identify the acts which
will fill arenas in years to
come. So it’s a fairly massive
deal when a band from
Canberra are swiftly signed to
their stable. And if there are
arenas begging to be filled
with slick, polished, melodic
hardcore and the young,
enthused throngs it attracts,
then HLH are the ones to
do it. Ambient interludes
and shuddering breakdowns
abound atop Americanised
vocals.
Dissonants
is fairly
safe in its approach to modern
metal but it’s undeniable in its
appeal.
(UNFD/Rise Records)
Emily Kelly
Voivod
Post Society
While fans wait patiently for
Voivod’s new studio album – it’s
scheduled for a late 2016/early
2017 release – the band has
decided to tide the devoted over
with an EP.
Post Society
is a neat
five-track package that builds
on the ideas explored on 2013’s
Target Earth
. Guitarist Daniel
“Chewy” Mongrain continues to
prove his worth as the perfect
replacement for the late Denis
“Piggy” D’Amour, giving his all
without alienating D’Amour’s
legacy. While an altogether brief
excursion,
Post Society
is another
unique take on heavy metal, with
all the post apocalyptic/futurist
imagery Voivod are known for.
(Century Media/EMI)
Simon Lukic
Avantasia
Ghostlights
Having stunned the power metal
world with the first Avantasia
album back in 2001, Tobias
Sammet continues to dig into
what has become a rich mine. His
goal of working with a cast of the
genre’s biggest names was a hit,
creating a trend that continues to
this day. Despite the competition,
Avantasia remains ahead of the
pack due to Sammet’s songwriting
skills and his devotion to melodic
metal/hard rock.
Ghostlights
consists of another stellar cast –
a list too numerous to mention
here – and as expected, is another
slick collection of songs built on
powerful choruses and massive
hooks.
(Nuclear Blast/Caroline)
Simon Lukic
Hilltop Hoods
Drinking From The Sun,
Walking Under Stars Restrung
At worst melodic, and at best romantic, Hilltop
Hoods’ new album is restrung and quite well-hung.
Rereleasing a few of their old tracks as well as
recording some newies, the Hoods have joined
forces with the 32-piece Adelaide Symphony
Orchestra and the 20-piece Adelaide Chamber
Singers Choir for
Restrung
. Under composer Jamie Messenger the group
have truly brought the best of the best of their two previous double-
platinum albums into this new compilation. There’s something implicitly
relaxing about hearing timeless tunes like
Cosby Sweater
and
I Love It
as
if for the first time, re-rendered with new stringy accompaniments that’ll
leave you questioning why they weren’t included in the original recording.
New track
1955
takes you back to the days of wireless radios and
Fallout
-
esque door salesmen, and
Higher
bounces with inherent Hilltop vibes and
tempo; next to the re-presented oldies you're getting a superbly balanced
compilation from the South Australian crew. And how can you go past
tracks that mention Hadoukens? Don’t forget to catch ‘em on tour in April.
(Universal) Alesha Kolbe
17
REVIEWS
MUSIC
MUSIC
Iggy Pop
Post Pop Depression
The much-lauded collaboration of Sir Iggy and
Master Homme is here. It’s not what you expect,
however. A Queens album with Iggy on vocal
duties? Well, kinda – but far more.
Gardenia
sums
up the underlying mood perfectly as any Igster
aficionado will attest; he’s just as cheesy and cool
as he is brutal and punky. A jazzy freestyle groove
through fancy-pants beats and cheeky quips, you can picture them as
the house band for an unsuspecting high school prom. This isn’t a bad
thing, mind.
German Days
is straight off a b-side to
Like Clockwork
, a
swirling kaleidoscope of metaphor and restrained epicness with trademark
Homme stamped all over it; yet Iggy fits into the groove with such ease
and grandeur you can’t help but swim alongside the outlandish floats. This
won’t set the world alight, that’s for sure, but neither did Pop’s
Avenue B
or
Apres
– both of which you should own immediately. Unsure? Ask the
kind assistant in the store to play you
Sunday
– no, demand it. This militant
off-beat '70s/'80s NY disco club underscore to Iggy waxing lyrical is a
f-cking joy. Sold!? Of course you are.
(Caroline) Chris Murray