Austra "Hirudin" (2020)

After a steady decline from their debut Feel It Break, Austra return with their fourth effort, Hirdudin. Its a resurgence of inspiration spearheaded by heartbroken pains that ripple through the warm mix of soft pianos and electronic instruments tinged in melancholy. As they do, simple song structures and short looping melodies create a glossy and modern, yet 80s Synthpop inspired setting for Stelmanis to flex her remarkable voice, becoming the beacon that makes it all work. Its opening songs remark on this stasis of hurt, after going through a brutal parting. The juxtaposition with playful, uplifting melodies is entrancing as her words walk a dark path.

 Growing past its powerful opening, the album plays with some sparse instrumentals to emphasize the power of Katie's stunning vibrato, almost robotic and inhuman at times, mesmerizer! On the track Risk It she again surprises with chipmunk high pitched singing thats surprisingly catchy, fun and not annoying. The mid-tempo dance groove below livens up the mood and after a couple more songs Mountain Baby is another ear catcher with its stiff yet charming nursery piano melody leading the tone. Not doubt this inclination is played up by the choir of kids singing sweetly in the intro.

On the very first play few I knew the album had come to an end with the arrival of Messiah. It reminded me of The Beast, a very powerful closing song from their debut. The piano and Katie's singing build up this oozing suspense that gets suspended and dissipated as the chords hammer away as airy reverberations and subtle cosmic synths sweep it all up and away. A stunning finale to a reasonable record that's far from perfect but has plenty of emotional out-pour to be embraced.

Rating: 7/10

Favorite Tracks: Anywayz, All I Wanted, How Did You Know, Mountain Baby, Messiah

My Top 10 Music Discoverys In 2017

Its been a difficult list to write up, had to shorten fifteen or so down to ten and that is after I decided to remove artists that featured in My Top Albums Of 2017 post. Its been a hectic year and I think it may be time to tune out from some of the mediocre Metal bands Ive kept up with and dedicate some more time to discovering new sounds! These are my favorite discoveries this year.

(10) DMX

Not a name that's new to me and of course I heard Party Up and other classics plenty of times before but I decided to get through some of these records that dominated the charts towards the end of the record industries stranglehold on music. I'm glad I did so, not the greatest records ever but X has a charm and every album had a couple of great tracks to return to.

(9) Post-Malone

Although I've not been to impressed by his debut album I think Post-Malone shows a wealth of potential as a musician developing a new sound that's really engrossing with over the top relaxing and chilled out vibes. These songs are still growing on me and with a new album is on the way I find myself really anticipating his next move!

(8) Austra

 

The best of this band comes from their debut Feel It Break, the combination of Kraftwerk-alike melodies in simple electronic arrangements with Stelamnis's hypnotic vibrato voice makes for easy going, uplifting music with a strong current of emotional value attached to it. Great discovery but unfortunately It seems as if they might not reach this peak again.

(7) Oranssi Pazuzu

Inching open the Metal horizon even further Oranssi Pazuzu bring dark, abysmal psychedelia to Post-Black Metal with a freighting stroke of genius resulting in harrowing, grisly soundscapes that are completely unworldly. My cup of tea! I still very much love to turn on their seventeen minute epic song from time to time for another trip into the depths of abandon.

(6) Milk Teeth

This is just the right shade of Grunge for my taste, although in this Internet age they may come off like a nostalgia act, Milk Teeth are very much their own band with a strong emotional energy and ear for aesthetic noise that elevates many of their songs with wild noisy energy emanating from their guitars in the songs peaks. The latest release did seem a little turned off from that direction but I'm hoping they can turn it around!

(5) Puppy

Ive had the pleasure of seeing them twice this year and both shows were fantastic! Puppy are an up and coming band pulling in all strains of influence from Metal, Grunge, Hard Rock and Alternative resulting in warm music with fun songs, grooves and dazzling guitar solos from Jack Norten are the cherry on the cake! They are also working on a new record to look forward to in 2018.

(4) Fief

Plucked from the past, this gem of medieval fantasy nostalgia is the most inviting and easy going project to grace my ears this year! It casts its spell instantaneously and paints a pretty picture of garden courts and tea parties in the realms of kings and dragons. A simply wonderful discovery!

(3) Load & Reload

 

Its time to break the rules! Although this section is usually reserved for new bands, I had to put these records in. In a way it felt like discovering Metallica again for the first time, a treasure trove was unlocked in two excellent albums that I had dismissed in my youth, and now I get to relish in the energy they bring. I simply cannot get these albums out of my head! They are wonderful and reflectively a really great direction for the band to evelve in.

(2) Puff Daddy

Everyone who grew up in the nineties knows of Puff Daddy but I had always been put off by his whispering voices on songs he had produced for other artists. Remembering a vivid memory of picking this album up as a child in a record store I decided to check this out and what a treat! This album is the epitome of the late 90s sound which has really grown on me over the years. I adore this record, a real classic!

(1) Danzig

As much as I'm loving the Danzig sound I have to admit my appreciation is partially analytical, I understand whats fantastic about the music but I feel as if I'm playing catch up. It will take some time to drill these songs into my mind but already I feel as if this would of been perfect music to bond with in your youth. I'm on the third record now and its just a great! I've read the first four are where its at so more Danzig to enjoy in 2018!

Austra "Future Politics" (2017)

Perfect timing! Right as I'm catching up with Austra's first two records, "Feel It Break" and "Olympia" the Canadian trio release their third full length after a four year gap. Not much about the bands sound has developed, even singer Stelmanis gives a routine performance of powerful vibratos between strong yet soft and moving vocal lines. If only wrapped in a touch more reverb, her voice will still win me over every time. "Future Politics" has its charm but only in doses. The bass and percussion has the most notable progression, deeper textural sub synths and thumping bass kicks are frequently occurring as a stylistic backbone, reminiscent of House and Dance, driving an interesting tone that works well. Moving away from the organic approach of "Olympia" the sequenced drum kits find there moment on the prominently House tracks, but feel a bit lifeless on the quieter songs.

The track listing feels split, in one instance they find an easy chemistry with these Dance numbers, steady beats with a thudding drive for easy synth sounds to glide over. The dominant theme of simplicity charms in this setting but the lack of depth in the melodies leaves the record feeling sparse on its other half, a set of quieter tunes breaking up the flow. Most the songs are comprised of short, repetitive melodies and short sounds arranged to a consistently 4/4 beat. Its often Stelmanis who comes to the rescue, making a great hook on the title track and captivating with pillow soft whisper like vocals on the dreamy "Beyond A Mortal". Ultimately she masks some of the underwhelming instrumentals, a pleasant but not riveting album from a band who I believe can to far more interesting places than this.

Favorite Tracks: Future Politics, Utopia, Beyond A Mortal

Rating: 5/10

Austra "Olympia" (2013)

Following up on the Canadian trio's darker leaning debut "Feel It Break", we arrive two years later at "Olympia", a measured refinement of style that steers the ship to a slightly brighter, broader appeal, while still retaining the core of their identity. Its a fitting follow up, no leaps, tricks or wild cards in store, just another collection of short songs where the synths lighten up in tone and dazzle with chirpier, friendly melodies.

Even though the instrumentals are rich with layers of complimenting melodies and a memorable tunes, it is singer Stelmanis who once again becomes the focal point of the emotional narrative, crowning the songs with her infectious hooks that hit with magnitude as a sublime energy and character resonates through her empowering vibrato. She carries on where the last record left off and bar a few sharper ideas its a predictable performance, one that's unsurprisingly indulgent as the melodies flow around her swooning vocal lines.

The biggest progression felt is the instrumentals, tuned for a brighter ear the record feels a little looser and organic in reflection of "Feel It Break". The drums especially, including bongo arrangements and less electronic kits. With a lighter pallet of sounds the band often resonate short Neoclassical melodies over pulsating dance baselines. Soft strings, flutes and plucked strings illuminate these cohesive moments of indifferent styles that otherwise sound odd on paper. Its very much a more obvious extension of what came before it.

"Olympia" is a strong record, however the bands approach to songwriting limits what feels like an obvious potential for them to do much grander music. Short, verse, chorus song structures and a lack of theatrical progression leave the songs contained within the walls of repetition that doesn't expand on the magic of Stelmanis' voice. The last album had a stand out track "The Beast" where convention gave way to inspiration and that is what I was hoping for more of. Even where potential feels disappointing this record is fantastic and very enjoyable, one I'll return to often.

Favorite Tracks: Painful Likes, Home, Reconcile

Rating; 7/10

Austra "Feel It Break" (2011)

The ambiguous, symbolic, dark symetrical album cover may conjure impressions of an artsy Black Metal project but alas, no stretch of extremity is to be found here other than its sheer wonder. Austra are a Canadian Electronic Art Pop trio illuminated by the dazzling vocals of Katie Stelmanis who's voice resonates on a deeply emotional level. Her singing is strong in presence, consistent in tone and dazzles with a stunning vibrato, executed with mesmerizing precision in speed and evolution as it expands its ferocity with mechanical precision. She steals the show but the instrumentals are of merit too.

Forming the rhythm section, programmed drums take on a measured position between more organic samples and sturdy dance kits. The base kicks thud and the hi hats are a little less intrusive, setting the tone for atmospheric Synthpop with a sturdy backbone. Around it layers of moog synths and baselines come in and out of focus with temperament for the power of each melody, not trying to constantly output sound and allowing the songs the expand and contract, which they do, however it is always Stelmanis's voice that takes the limelight as the various melodies play of her lead.

With a deliberate and balanced sound it remains rather consistent in tone and structure, nothing too adventurous emerges from the formula and the songs go through the motions in typical formats with a great selection of drum kits and playful melodies to compliment. Short sweet and repetitive, the tracks consist of melodies in tuneful arrangements that make for easy digestion. Its poppy but artistic and its mood despite a bright exterior feels as if something more sinister may be over the horizon.

For me the album grows stronger as it progresses, the song "Loose It" has a very pop friendly vocal hook and sweet charm about it but as progression takes place the flow seems to loosen up a little. More indifference is to be found in aesthetics and melody as the music starts to resonate emotionally. There are moments where her voice is "enhanced" for lack of better word when reverbs give it a different edge and she delivers some breath taking singing on "The Choke" and more so on "The Beast" which sees the album out on a chilling high with goosebumps and all as she hits the most powerful notes of the record over a troublesome piano.

A great debut record that really highlights the beauty of Stelmanis's voice and its fair to say this will be one of my go to records for a long time. I have to thank my friend Lord Lovidicus for introducing it to me. I should also mention that Fever Ray came to mind in my first few listens. Although distinctly different in style and tone I can't help but think the band would be fans of her work. Loving this one, looking forward to picking up their second release and anticipating a third for 2017!

Favorite Tracks: Beat And The Pulse, Spellwork, The Choke, The Noise, The Beast

Rating: 8/10