Review by: Victoria Nugent
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Brisbane garage rock band Buick Six are back with their third EP, Costa Mesa Sun, named after a Californian destination close to the hearts of frontman John Ryan and his bass playing brother Griffin.
After 2008’s The Buick Six and 2009’s Common Arms, the band laid low for a while as they evolved towards a different kind of sound, introducing analogue delay pedals and harmonic vocals from drummer Nick Morrison. A high school friend of mine long ago instilled into me the belief that singing drummers are awesome, and often present in bands of true quality. |
It’s just one of many things working in the band’s favour, with Costa Mesa Sun showing off lashings of talent as well as willingness and ability to develop their sound (a skill not to be underestimated).
Opening track “Lights (Are A Hoax)” is a fantastic mix of simmering ambiance, sweeping guitar riff and tight rhythms. The song starts with an instant of haunting dinosaur noises before launching into cascading guitars and solid vocals with raw rock energy.
Second track “Sooner or Later” has a darker, more fervent energy balanced out with a hint of keys and pop style backing vocals. In an age where most contemplative yet rhythmic songs end up featuring on a television show, I’m pegging this one for Slide. (A teen, indie music based Skins-esque drama set in Brisbane for those not in the know) Underground Brisbane band? Check. Clever instrumental layering? Check. Straightforward, catchy choruses complemented by wordier, moodier verses? Check.
“Days and Nights Apart” is all melancholy edgy rock with its restraints serving to make certain parts stand out even more strongly. A haunting instrumental bridge (with just a hint of husky vocals) serves to make the final chorus that much stronger, before dropping right back to stripped down guitar for the final notes
“Into a Daze” melds dreamy delay and crisp vocals with strong drums (including an energy building thrumming rhythm segment) to create a solid, laidback track.
“Why Do You Feel?” starts with whirring effects pedals over guitar until John Ryan’s vocals come in mellifluously with Morrison’s harmonies added to great effect. It’s a song teaming with lush instrumentals and experimental effects and a thoroughly mellow way to round out the EP.
It always feels a tad cocky to try to predict the next darlings of the Brisbane indie scene, because there’s so many talented bands to make it a difficult task. Therefore I won’t do that with Buick Six but I will say they have immense potential. The tracks are well written, the music well executed and the name memorable…. all these factors make this a band to watch.
Review by: Victoria Nugent
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