Labels: civic duty – Magic Hour Recordings
Review by: MH
These two records feature 8 different emo, screamo and post hardcore bands from Australia. Capeweather kick off the first 7inch – disc green. Don’t worry, the vinyl is black – no bright coloured vinyl here, it’s just the label that’s coloured. I meant to see Capeweather in Brisbane a few weeks ago but somehow didn’t make it. This song is right up my street with lightly twinkling guitars and vocals that hint at desperation and don’t really fly off the handle until the end when everything comes crashing down. It’s a little less on the screamo side than the other stuff I have heard by them and just confirms that I should have got my act together to see them the other week. Independent Thought Alarm share their name with a band from Norwich. Their track “Landscape Theory” is frantic and fast – much more in the screamo vein. Nebraska open side B and have been quiet since that 7inch a couple of years ago but they serve up “Jejune” here. They don’t disappoint – this track rides the crest of a wave and is not drastically dissimilar from the sound on that 7inch although this one is pacier. Word has it there may be a full length in 2014. I cannot wait to hear it. Weightless are another band I am familiar with having been suitably impressed by their” Self Adjustment” LP. The song here (“Wilson”) is about a dead friend and it brings the sadness levels up a notch – “Remember the promise that you made me make to you?/ Well I kept it and sang at your funeral”. Great song – it is up to the quality of their LP but adds more of a lofi sound to the mix.
Disc red now. Carbs’ track is more post hardcore and is pummelling compared to the quieter and more downbeat Weightless track. It’s a belter. Then comes the find of the compilation for me – Zita Grimm from Sydney. Great name – can’t find much about where they got it from though. The opening to this track sounds a lot like a Lumber Lung song and then the vocals come in – everything is desperate but the guitars are pretty and there is a great twinkly breakdown towards the end. The only bad thing about this song is finding out that the band has been defunct since 2012. On the other side you have Laeirs up first. I wonder how you pronounce it. I have enough trouble with the names of places around here like Mooloolaba and Mudgeeraba. Their song is more screamo and probably the most vicious on these two records with a hefty crunch to the guitars and abrasive vocals. Treehouse then close things out with “Death Weight” which I know from a tape they put out a while back. It’s a 5-minute+ lumbering, rumbling thing with murky production and off-key vocals buried deep in the mix and makes for a strong finish.
I was familiar with a few of these bands before but all of them are worth a look and I’m already looking up everything else these bands have done. If you still hanker after that 90s emo sound you will plenty of interest on here. The two labels who put this out have done great things in getting these bands on a compilation and putting together such a fine release. It looks the part too. Inside the cardboard pack with a black and white drawing on the front there is a booklet with artwork and lyrics, and the two 7inches come in two stitched canvas sleeves.