Kicking off their debut album with an already-popular single, Strange Talk are definitely headed for big things in music this year. The lads from Melbourne released Cast Away earlier in 2013, and followed it up playing a bunch of shows to eager audiences last month.
Starting with synthy eponymous track, the album effortlessly sounds like the soundtrack to warm summer nights with a bubbly, chilled vibe mixed with upbeat dance music.
“Falling In Love” showcases a slow build up to an explosive chorus, with a smooth drop to a steady, pounding bassline.
“Picking Up The Pieces” is more relaxed. It sounds like the kind of thing you’ve heard before, yet somehow manages to retain that essential piece of originality to win you over.
A contrast in the form of a stringed instrument intro is served up in the synthy electro fuzz of “So So La La”, and then contradicted with the more simple, catchy track “Take Me As I Am”, with its delicious layers of noise and more pensive lyrics.
“Climbing Walls”, a crowd favourite, has an alluring bass riff, but it’s almost lost underneath the guitars and frantic pop-beat.
The reminiscent, slow “Come Back Home” serves up the typical emotional dose of nostalgia, and also manages to showcase the talents and creativity of all of the musicians involved through strong guitar riffs and sentimental vocals.
The good vibes bounce straight back with pop-ballad “Morning Sun”, only slightly hindered by the repetition of the same line of lyrics throughout the entire song.
Rounding off the album is “Wanted (Dead or Alive)”, a warped jumble of electro gunk that can’t help but sound like a modern, electro version of The BeeGees.
The four-piece were thrown in to the public eye when single “Cast Away” was put forward as single of the week on iTunes late last year, subsequently causing a mass download from curious musicniks across the globe. This lead to their album being eagerly anticipated by many, and it doesn’t disappoint.
It’s just so goddamn enjoyable.
