The rampant rise of psychedelic worshipers from the West was bound to cause a ripple effect across the Eastern seaboard.
It was only a matter of time before we’d have a slew of followers trying to veer into the slip stream of Tame Impala and Pond.
While most will falter and drown in their self-induced sea of reverb, others, such as Sydneysiders Dead Radio, have the potential to rise above the rip tide.
The band’s debut, Crystal Moth, is assured and accomplished, a fine effort considering their lack of experience in the studio.
Indeed, any act that overindulges in reverb runs the risk of sending the listener to sleep if there is no imagination in the solos and bridges.
Thankfully, Dead Radio avoids this trapping.
Opener ‘Moon Over Dakota’ works as a prime example. Exploding in colour as it progresses, the track plants itself in the subconscious via a deceptively strained riff following the chorus.
Unfortunately ‘Hunters’ doesn’t fare as well, mainly due to a lack of structure and, in particularly, an uninspired backbeat.
It proves the only misstep on the EP.
‘Tokeloshe (New Sound)’ revels in its many layers and could’ve worked just as well as an instrumental given the muted vocals.
‘Scotch’ is similarly spaced out and possesses a slow but menacing wall of sound that threatens to explode at will. It’s also the key cut off the release that lifts the band above being only ‘promising’.
At times the EP does induce a sense that we’ve heard it all before. Nonetheless, for the most part, Dead Radio proves a handy side companion to those Aussie acts currently conquering the globe with their warm and fuzzy overdubs.
