The highly anticipated offering from Annandale’s favourite sons, Sticky Fingers, is a testament to just how far a young band can come in three years.
Co-produced by the band, Caress Your Soul opens with a delightful reverse-reverbed soundscape into the bouncing “How To Fly” driven by bass man Patty’s fast-walking riff.
“Clouds and Cream” is a lyrically up-tempo track that would not have been out of place on an early Arctic Monkeys record, and the groove of “Australia Street” emanates a flow that truly resonates with the romantic feeling of summertime in Sydney’s inner west.
The unapologetically titled “Sex” blends some very nice layers of vocal delay, and its lyrics remind us that indeed it is “nice having sex.” The title track saw success charting in Triple J’s Hottest 100, and it remains a stand-out on the album.
“Freddy Crabs” is the longest track on the record, and the beautifully panned piano tracks couples nicely with tremolo effects to deliver a spacier vibe through echoed vocals.
What is most impressive about Caress Your Soul is its obvious attention to arrangement, and in particular, the effort put in to the quality of vocal tracks really shines.
For a group so young, Sticky Fingers have crafted a work of layered complexity, yet delivered it with the raw edge that youthful enthusiasm permits (and their live show backs up).
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“Kiss The Breeze” stands out late on the record mainly due to the talent of percussion player Beaker, and the beautifully flowing chorus which is perhaps the prettiest on the album (delivered under a subtle layer of phonograph effects).
It’s difficult to describe exactly the signature sound of Sticky Fingers. You’d come close by blending one part psych-pop, with hints of rocksteady reggae, and just a sprinkling of British indie sensibility.
This is a debut record worthy of the attention it has piqued both overseas, and much closer to our beloved ‘Australia Street’ back home.
