STACK #201 Jul 2021

MUSIC REVIEWS

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The Goon Sax Mirror II

Quivers Golden Doubt

Darkside Spiral

Hiss Golden Messenger Quietly Blowing It M.C. Taylor is Hiss Golden Messenger, who records and performs with a revolving collection of musicians. While the world was spinning out of control in 2020, Taylor went looking for peace, resulting in an album reflective of his life of the past five years. It’s country Americana with soul grooves and an amazing songwriter’s self- reflection of his place in it all. It was written and arranged at his North Carolina home, and recorded in his hometown of Durham with a group of musicians including Buddy Miller, the Goldsmith brothers (Dawes), and his oldest musical buddy Scott Hirsch, amongst others. If this is the kind of album that comes from having too much time, taking timeout should become a habit.

Brisbane trio The Goon Sax re- emerge with Mirror II , on which the wide-eyed innocence of their first two records is replaced with an underlying world-weariness felt across the whole record. Sonically, a darker edge that was flirted with on their second album We’re Not Talking is fully actualised, the band taking experimental detours from their pop sensibilities to cover previously uncharted territory. Drawing on the everyday, they tap into feelings that are universally relatable, holding on to the lyrical depth evident from their early work. The wider scope of experiences, coupled with the array of new sounds, makes for a revitalising listen, suggesting The Goon Sax have a great deal of continued evolution ahead of them. (Chapter Music) Holly Pereira

On their second record, Melbourne quartet Quivers burst straight out of the gate with the euphoric Gutter of Love which boasts the dazzlingly poetic line “After all the serotonin’s gone, can you still fall in love with someone?” Multi-layered guitars drive the album’s narrative which is largely existential and unashamedly lovesick, though also peppered with anxiety and uncertainty. Lead singer Sam Nicholson’s voice possesses a charming warmth, while accompanying backing vocals add vitality to the band’s sound. Very much belonging to the indie rock canon, Quivers have also perfected a quintessentially Australian sound, evoking the sunny climate – particularly on track Laughing Waters – in a way that feels effortless. (Spunk) Holly Pereira

Darkside’s one-and-done full-length Psychic in 2013 offered a glimpse into the psychedelic mindspace of Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington. It was near downright gaudy compared to the weightiness of Jaar’s recent work, which has generally tempered his provocative arrangements with an almost grim emotional presence. Maybe that’s why they cracked this lid once again. Spiral is practically riotous, wriggling with lysergic groove like it’s been locked inside too long and desperate to get out. Single Liberty Bell signposts it with its country strut, but alongside the swagger of Lawmaker and the eight- plus minute spy thriller soundtrack of Inside Is Out There , this is some of Jaar’s most fun output and a welcome return for Darkside. (Matador/Remote Control) Jake Cleland

(CookingVinyl) Denise Hylands

FEATURE ARTIST

Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth Utopian Ashes The union of punk savant Jehnny Beth of Savages and Bobby Gillespie of the era-defining Primal Scream is formidable – a coupling you didn’t know was needed until seeing their distinctive profiles together. Though it's a phrase often overused, this is a match made in heaven, as these two great musical minds complement each other to the highest degree. Luscious soundscapes introduce listeners to the record but the cinematic grandness of Chase It Down is more an outlier than the norm. Utopian Ashes is imbued with a striking sincerity, and while it’s a lot less rock than you’d expect from two of the genre’s most recognised figures, the pair have not skimped on quality. (Sony) Holly Pereira

Prince Welcome 2 America The material on Prince’s latest posthumous release, Welcome 2 America , was written during the Obama presidency and recorded at Paisley Park Studios in 2010. The Prince Estate has released the following statement issued by The Purple One that same year: “The world is fraught with misin4mation. George Orwell’s vision of the future is here. We need 2 remain steadfast in faith in the trying times ahead.” Prince’s final album, HITnRUN Phase Two (2015), contains different versions of two standout Welcome 2 America tracks: When She Comes and 1,000 Light Years From Here (which appears as Black Muse ’s coda, so you won’t find that song title within HITnRUN Phase Two ’s tracklist). Welcome 2 America ’s title track is a spoken-

couplet that only Prince himself could convincingly deliver (“Just wait and see/ Shoo-bee-doo-bee”). During the Soul Asylum cover ( Stand Up And B Strong ), Prince’s guitar solo further cements his virtuoso status. Closer One Day We Will All B Free is a prayer for humanity, with its jaunty pace and cheeky riffs offsetting truthbombs: “If George Washington never told no lie/ Maybe we’d all be saved.” We’ll never really know whether Prince intended this shelved album for release but, let’s face it, even his works in progress reign supreme. (Sony) Bryget Chrisfield

word, social-commentary soliloquy (“Land of the free, home of the brave/ Oops, I mean/ Land of the free, home of the slave...”) over minimal instrumentation: sinister bass, crisp finger snaps, occasional guitar outbursts and dramatic backing vocals. The musicianship on display throughout this record is breathtaking, particularly backing vocal contributions from New Power Generation singers Shelby J, Liv Warfield and Elisa Fiorillo. Hot Summer boasts punchy percussion and a rhyming

18 JULY 2021

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