STACK #224 June 2023

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Jack River Endless Summer

RVG Brain Worms

FEATURE ARTIST

As the title suggests, Jack River’s second album sounds like a party. “All these people on the street,” she sings, joyfully, “I don’t know them, they don’t know me. And now we’re dancing…” But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a darker side to this Endless Summer. Every party delivers a hangover. The title is also a reference to climate change. As Jack River sings, “It’s real life, baby.” But she’s able to sugarcoat some serious subject matter, elevating the listener out of their everyday concerns with sweet, ’60s-tinged pop. Jack River (real name Holly Rankin) is that most powerful of pop artists, capable of conveying a message – all wrapped in magical melodies. As she declares in the opening track here, “I won’t let you down.” Dancing as the world burns; It’s the end as we

Melbourne’s RVG re-emerge revitalised on their third record, pushing the boundaries of their commanding and emotive post punk whilst sounding stronger than ever. Vocalist and lyricist Romy Vager’s talents have only grown since the band's last offering (2020's celebrated Feral ), her delivery oscillating from heartfelt on Tambourine to acidic on You’re the Reason . The band also introduce an exciting dynamic with the arrival of more prominent synths, with both Squid ("Don't go back in time/ It's not worth it!") and Nothing Really Changes distinctive additions to the RVG stash thanks to this element. Brain Worms is a new chapter for the band, a stylistic shift that brings a changed energy whilst retaining the spirit that makes them so compelling. (Ivy League) Holly Pereira

The Teskey Brothers The Winding Way

The Teskey Brothers’ third studio album opens with a song called I’m Leaving . The recent departure of bass player Brendon Love and drummer Liam Gough adds an extra poignancy to its lyrics: “I know we gotta make some changes,” Josh Teskey sings. There’s a sadness at the heart of the song, mourning

what’s lost – the end of the innocence. “Oh, take me back to them old times, where I didn’t have a care,” Teskey sings with more than his usual ache, as he remembers “all the good times we shared... so many good times and memories.” Working with American producer Eric J. Dubowsky (Flume, Chet Faker, The Rubens), there’s a sense of renewal here – “We’ve only just begun,” Josh sings in the clever cover of The Zombies’ This Will Be Our Year – but also the uncertainty of embarking on a new adventure. Though they might not be the focal point for fans, removing the rhythm section – as Colin Hay would attest – changes the nature of a band. But the last men standing, Josh and brother Sam, remain committed to the cause. “I won’t be running out any time soon,” Josh declares in Oceans of Emotions . And credit to the soul brothers for their ambition, as exhibited in London Bridge : “I’ve been lookin’ high, oh so high, baby.” Will this be their year? What will be will be. One thing is certain: we’re not in Warrandyte anymore. (Ivy League) Jeff Jenkins

know it, and I feel fine. (I OHYOU) Jeff Jenkins

Ben Folds What Matters Most

King Krule Space Heavy

FEATURE ARTIST

DZ Deathrays R.I.F.F. DZ Deathrays have more or less resigned from making music exclusively for the creatures lurking in grimy dancehalls, and that was even before the release of R.I.F.F . With a renewed point of focus, the trio’s creative juices are now channelled towards coalescing that trademark dance-punk hybrid they have concocted and placing it within a lusher parlour

"But why shouldn’t I be allowed to sing a nasty cussing song one day, compose a piano concerto the next?” Ben Folds asked in his 2019 memoir, A Dream About Lightning Bugs . The American artist – who’s almost an honorary Aussie, having called Adelaide home for seven years – admits that when it comes to making music, he follows his interest as much as his instinct. Folds’ eclectic path continues on his first studio album in eight years. For the most part, it’s a meandering, mellow affair. He’s not really rockin’ the suburbs, though Exhausting Lover is quintessential Ben Folds piano pop, with a storyline you won’t forget in a hurry. A cautionary tale for every would-be rock star, Folds sings about a careful-what-you-wish for groupie encounter, where “every kiss is a jam band solo”. Classic. (New West) Jeff Jenkins

On his fourth studio album, Archy Marshall expands his King Krule universe across 15 spacious tracks which shine bright with the musician’s lo-fi charm. The album’s mellow opener Flimiser is punctuated by sharp flourishes of guitar, Marshall’s croon as inviting as ever. Pink Shell exemplifies the Englishman's unique take on punk-jazz fusion, combining grimy basslines with saxophone before That Is My Life, That Is Yours , and Tortoise of Independency demonstrate the softer side to the project. Hamburgerphobia gives a clear nod to '90s trip-hop, while the stirring duet between Marshall and Punjabi-American vocalist Raveena completely envelopes the listener within its breezy arrangement. (XL/Remote Control) Holly Pereira

of delectable pop melodies and indie-rock splendour. But rest assured, their music is still imbued with that ‘springtime of your life’ exuberance, and R.I.F.F. remains a palpable touchpoint to those filthy, ‘cyberpunk’-style thrills the group cut their teeth on during their nascent, formative years. That’s not to say that DZs are incapable of conjuring up those pulsating, dystopian-style electronica bangers we've come to know and love (the ones that sound like they've just been scraped off the bathroom floor of a nightclub at 4am – see Paranoid ). But with a flick of the metaphoric switch, R.I.F.F. can clean itself up, button its shirt and fill the daytime slot at a summer festival (check out Hope for the Best, King B and Eat You Up ). You'll still find spade-loads of debauched fun ( Tuff Luck and Shadow Walk ), but there's an undertone of maturity that has seeped into their songwriting DNA (either intentionally, or because of natural progression as musicians). What's important is that all these motley parts fit together as neatly as LEGO blocks, and that’s in spite of DZs doing away with the instructions altogether. (DZ Worldwide) Alex Burgess

88 JUNE 2023

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