_Only The Sea Slugs - Street Music (16/01/2012)
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Sydney based four piece Only The Sea Slugs are a little different, that much can be said from
the get go. Melding an array of influences, Street Music falls
somewhere in the shoegaze infused rock category right between bands such as The
Cure and David Bowie. Spaced out instrumentation and vocals are to be found
throughout the record, with each of the six tracks (plus two interludes) all
offering something a little different in terms of its structure and melodies.
Opening track‘She Said’ sets the mood for the entire record, with the band putting a clear focus on creating atmosphere as well as melodies. ‘She Said’ is probably the most upbeat number, with Sash Mishevski’s smooth vocals being the clear driving force behind the track, along with the shoe-gaze influenced guitars. The considerably more spacey track in ‘Moonfire’ is without a doubt the record’s best track, with its jangly guitars in the same vein as The Cure intertwining beautifully with Mishevski’s infectious vocals.
The most impressive facet of Street Music is the fact that while there is a large focus on creating an atmosphere, Only The Sea Slugs never loses the inherent pop sensibilities of their music. Specifically, throughout every track there is always a melody to be found that will stick in the listener’s head for days – something that is the sign of a genuinely talented band. ‘Big Sky’ is the perfect example of this, with its simple guitar and drum fills being the highlight of the song, even including its memorable vocal melodies.
Perhaps the only questionable aspect of Street Music is the inclusion of the two interludes, which are seemingly there to specifically fill out the EP for a couple more minutes. However, it is only a minor issue, especially given the quality of the proper tracks. Final track ‘Moth’ is another standout, featuring lightly picked guitar and haunting keys, providing an outstanding end to a great release.
Dark and melancholic, Street Music is perfect headphone fodder for those late night walks home looking up at the stars. By achieving in writing a record that is both atmospheric and spaced out, but also inherently catchy, Only The Sea Slugs clearly have the chops to do well. For anyone who deeply misses Joy Division or is yearning for more releases from The Cure, Street Music will fit the bill perfectly.
Billy Geary
Opening track‘She Said’ sets the mood for the entire record, with the band putting a clear focus on creating atmosphere as well as melodies. ‘She Said’ is probably the most upbeat number, with Sash Mishevski’s smooth vocals being the clear driving force behind the track, along with the shoe-gaze influenced guitars. The considerably more spacey track in ‘Moonfire’ is without a doubt the record’s best track, with its jangly guitars in the same vein as The Cure intertwining beautifully with Mishevski’s infectious vocals.
The most impressive facet of Street Music is the fact that while there is a large focus on creating an atmosphere, Only The Sea Slugs never loses the inherent pop sensibilities of their music. Specifically, throughout every track there is always a melody to be found that will stick in the listener’s head for days – something that is the sign of a genuinely talented band. ‘Big Sky’ is the perfect example of this, with its simple guitar and drum fills being the highlight of the song, even including its memorable vocal melodies.
Perhaps the only questionable aspect of Street Music is the inclusion of the two interludes, which are seemingly there to specifically fill out the EP for a couple more minutes. However, it is only a minor issue, especially given the quality of the proper tracks. Final track ‘Moth’ is another standout, featuring lightly picked guitar and haunting keys, providing an outstanding end to a great release.
Dark and melancholic, Street Music is perfect headphone fodder for those late night walks home looking up at the stars. By achieving in writing a record that is both atmospheric and spaced out, but also inherently catchy, Only The Sea Slugs clearly have the chops to do well. For anyone who deeply misses Joy Division or is yearning for more releases from The Cure, Street Music will fit the bill perfectly.
Billy Geary