Having worn a soul-burned groove in and around Melbourne over the last three years, the swaggering pack that is Money For Rope have finally landed with their debut long player.
They’ve done the hard yards. They’ve played every outhouse and managed to leave their sweat-splashed sounds ringing in the ears of many a punter across the sticky carpets.
With an EP long gone and a snippet-like series of double A-sides to call their own, this was coming. With an honourably forged reputation among all manner of fools and wise heads, the only trick would be dragging even a semblance of their raucous noise off a stage to be mashed into a flat disc.
Not easy, but they’ve done it.
Fronted by the shaggy Jules McKenzie, the quick draw comparisons of Jim Morrison’s wavering calls lent to the MC5 for the weekend aren’t anything to be sniffed at. Instantly, “Common Man” assumes the position as Rick Parnaby’s keys warm the air, owing to a gentler side in time with Michael Cini’s water tight bass powering through the tremolo-pulled Fenders.
All remains calm and tempered until the meteoric clatter that is the opening bars of “You’ll Be Gone” breaks free under the weight of measured chords and the crashing double-drummer attack. Cini’s lines rise throughout, while the wild swinging ‘Oh, come on!’ calls from McKenzie flail about around Carl Russo’s rolling licks.
Rushing to a finish, the armoured assault of all-in wails ends in a heap of low slung arms before rearing again through cracking earlier single, “Misery Lane”.
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Ploughing on, the gems keep coming. “Sail Past Your House” and “Since I Left” stand tall in the mix while the melodrama builds within. Despite the obvious draw of McKenzie’s growls, Money For Rope operate as one, brilliantly, without being lost to a flat blend of murky dirges. That’s something genial. This band has it in spades.
There’s a force and an anger about the closer, “Easy Way Out”, that draws you in further… the crashing montage that you won’t want to let end. In a word: Massive.
Money For Rope play Queenscliff Music Festival in November, and play their album launch on December 1st at Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge, and the Corner Hotel on December 16th. Full dates and details here.
