To try and pinpoint the sound of Perth’s The Chemist, one could perhaps imagine the foursome rising out from a misty, muddy swamp, infused with the soulful spirit of jazz. After meeting in music classes at University, the tracks they have laid down since 2010 are symptomatic of a group discovering their own unique voice and honing their craft; at one moment it’s stripped back and reflective, in others somewhat sinister.
A cohesive and distinctive direction for their debut Ballet In The Badlands was clear for the Melbourne leg of their Australian tour launch, which included support slots for hometown kindred Abbe May.
Following Perth soloist Peter Bibby and Melbourne garage outfit Ocean Party, The Chemist’s set showcased tracks from the debut. A strong start was provided by the menacing, toe-tapping single “Silver And Gold,” followed by a quick transition to the equally powerful “Heaven’s Got A Dress Code” with frontman Ben Witt’s groaning guitar solos, played expertly as if an extension of himself.
Witt’s ability to explore the full capabilities of his instrument continually impressed through the night, his guitar scratching, leaping and whining any which way he wanted it to. Likewise, the microphones used enabled a coarse, foggy, other-worldly aesthetic that contributed heavily to the sultry and unique darkness of the set.
The Chemist are by no means a one-man band though. The addictive, oozing rhythms provided by drummer Chris Wright and bassist Hamish Rahn settled the crowd into a groove for upbeat numbers like “Stripped Paint,” as well as creating a wonderful complexity in the compositions. Alongside the gothic tinkerings of keyboardist James Ireland, The four-piece are a carefully constructed outfit completely attuned to the subtleties of music writing.
Ballad “December” presented an exposed tenderness that had not yet been present in the set. This sensitive piece competed somewhat with the Friday night boozers in the room, but the sweeping Australiana sentiment was nonetheless there.
The night was also an opportunity to sample a new song that proved quite a departure from what the group have produced so far. Schizophrenic in its rhythmic change-ups and hiding a melody that the audience needed to search for, this fresh track was confusing but also exciting in showing the endless possibilities for The Chemists’ future direction. It will be very interesting no doubt to see what they come up with next.
