STACK #152 Jun 2017

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Cable Ties Cable Ties Melbourne’s Cable Ties might sound like they bear a torch for the '70s NewYork tradition, but their debut record makes stylish a flavour of punk that’s gone somewhat out of style. Being driven, as they are, by ethos and a clarity of purpose isn’t enough; it’s that, but also a deceptive discipline for songcraft that made any of Cable Ties’ predecessors stick through the decades. Vocal slamdancing reminiscent of X-Ray Spex’s Ari Up, a rhythm section that trades Stooges gnashing against Verlainean noodling, and personal-political screeds that embody the anger of the world better than any handwringing thinkpiece, mark Cable Ties as ascendant icons – and none too late. (Poison City) Jake Cleland

Jim Lawrie Slacker Of The Year The War On Drugs’ universally celebrated Lost In The Dream has defined this decade of grandiose country-rock such that any record in the same vein seems doomed to comparison. But it’s a rich vein to mine, and Jim Lawrie, who’s been writing intense-yet-intimate rock songs for about 10 years, shows just how deep it runs on Slacker Of The Year . Lawrie tunes his misery to chugging muted chords, evoking the physical heaviness of trying to move during some particular pain. The sumptuous melodies that gave his blues a soaring lightness on previous record Eons are anchored here by an omnipresent gloom. Slacker Of The Year is gut-wrenching. No comparisons necessary. (Barely Dressed/ Remote Control) Jake Cleland Hazel English Just Give In/ Never Going Home Instantly likeable Australian ex-pat Hazel English’s Just Give In/Never Going Home is the rose-tinted, sun-kissed, bittersweet, indie-pop album you’ve been waiting for. Now residing in San Francisco, Sydney-born English has added six new tracks to her her 2016 EP, and the new material slots in perfectly. While NGH told tales of trepidation in her new surroundings and the weariness of chasing a dream, Just Give In is English coming into her own, realising those dreams as a reality. There are highlights aplenty ( Birthday ’s shimmering power pop, Fix ’s jangling chords and dreamscape vocals), but That Thing is an obvious stamp of intention, with a deeper bassline, glittering synths and increased confidence. (Inertia)Tim Lambert

Big Thief Capacity Big Thief are the kind of band that stop you dead in your tracks. In the follow-up to their debut album Masterpiece , a haunting guitar on Pretty Things serves as a stunning opening, with lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s voice full of unfiltered, heartfelt emotion as she sings of deeply intimate moments. Shark Smile and Capacity are more electrified than we’ve previously heard the band, while Coma features some gentle acoustic guitars as Lenker’s vocals take on a tranquil quality. Meanwhile, Mythological Beauty has an uplifting melody but the lyrics suggest a darker narrative, with phrases that creep under your skin. Big Thief possess a fragility that genuinely resonates, and makes their music an unforgettable listen. (Spunk/Caroline) Holly Pereira Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, James McAlister Planetarium If you’re making an album about the solar system, you need an all-star team. When acclaimed composer Nico Muhly was asked to produce an ambitious new work, he knew who to call: friends and fellow visionaries Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner and James McAlister. Working together they produced a song-cycle that explores each corner of the observable universe, and the hidden regions of the human heart. Initially presented as an immense live performance in 2012, complete with orchestras and light installations, Planetarium has now been translated into a studio album, no less powerful. Lyrical reflections on the history and present state of humanity are embedded in sombre ballads, orchestral rock songs and reflective electronic tracks. (Remote Control) SimonWinkler

Apes Stranger Than Strangers Melbourne foursome Apes' debut has been four years in the making, honed by live shows into something sweet and sharp like a bloody smooth mustard. These tracks feature beautiful washes of shifting colour with a sandy, fizzing ride cymbal never far away; many start with a nonchalant simian lope that turns menacing or melancholy with frontman Ben Dowd’s voice developing a serrated edge. Stand-out Tomb sees deep piano coming in just a half-beat early, giving a really propulsive vibe to its wheeling synths; If You Want It evokes a romantic City Calm Down feel with glittering electric guitar details, while Dimension ’s climax is cherry-proof the guys are more than capable of thrashing out a heavier rock riff. A lot of thought has gone into this gorgeous debut – check it out. (MGM) Zo ë Radas Lapalux Ruinism Lapalux makes electronic music to make you feel. There's always an impact – however subtle or sharp – in the melodies, textures, beats, or quiet interludes. There's also an underlying restlessness, a desire to push further into the technical and emotional possibilities of synthesised sounds. So it is with Ruinism , which represents an artistic breakthrough for the musician and a breaking down of his traditional working methods. Tracks are made with instruments and drum machines for the first time, the sounds then recorded, sampled, manipulated, re-built and blended. It's an approach that mirrors Lapalux' interest in ideas around creation through destruction, and yields some of the most affecting and absorbing music of his career to date. (Inertia) SimonWinkler

Leah Senior Pretty Faces Leah Senior is the kind of artist best enjoyed alone, indoors and cozy on a cold winter’s day, allowing her exquisite folk sounds to melt your heart. The depth she achieves with just her voice and a guitar on Where Have You Been? is astonishing, while the subtle strings on Pretty Faces and Jenny are stirring. You Were Not Fit For The Day is wonderfully evocative as Senior spins an observational story, her double-tracked vocals inducing chills. Black Limousine notably shifts the pace of the album as Senior's backing band joins the fray, to potent effect. With a spellbinding voice and a delicateness to her music that is nothing short of awe-inspiring, Senior is truly something special. ( Flightless/Inertia) Holly Pereira

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JUNE 2017

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