While many emerging acts are content to list Radiohead as a likely influence and be done with it, far less are able to live up to that lofty tag. Besides, which era are we talking? The rock DNA-altering Bends/OK Computer Radiohead or the glitchtronica-happy Radiohead of their latter-day output?
Youthful Melbourne quartet Cold Hiker instead plump for an imaginary phase, an alternate timeline where instead of ditching the guitar-centered rock to ‘pull a Kid A’ , the influential Oxford group instead continue to funnel their cornucopia of influences – free jazz, electronic structures, proggy affectations – towards their six-strings.
Enter ‘Phosphenes’, the opening to Cold Hiker’s self-titled debut EP, which takes that proverbial ball and not only runs with it – but creates an entire new sport within the confines of three-and-a-half thrilling minutes.
Against elastic rhythms, a deftly plucked guitar weaves towards an unconventional, but engaging groove as vocalist Miller Upchurch lurches from smooth cooing to wailing. And even, on one grizzled phrase that roughly translates to: “vegetables cry/people screaming on rides” – he sounds impetulant.
Similarly, the musical backing snakes through genre-defying changes with the greatest of ease. Unpredictable yet easy to follow. A manifesto written throughout the EP’s 18-ish minute running time.
Witness as the loping bass and ticking guitar of ‘Matador’ amble through tricky time signatures (that’s 7/4 into 10/8 music theorists) with genuine groove, or how ‘What I’ve Been’ and its emphatic pulses encourage head-nodding, even as its odd timing defies it.
Thanks to some imaginatively neat co-production from the band, their sound has the atmosphere – if not the beauty – of Jeff Buckley at his most wiry (think ‘So Real’ as covered by post-rock pioneers Tortoise). In turn, their off-beat approach to melody and structure is reminiscent of the jazzy affectations of the Tyrone Noonan-led moments of Sydney’s George (RIP).
In fact, ‘Dead Weight’ wears its jazzy influences on its sleeve so proudly, you half expect a sax to make an appearance.
Indebted influences or not, Cold Hiker are an impressively talented bunch who know how to weave their brainy arrangements into a song that hits the heart as well as the head, check ’em out before they pull their own Kid A.
– Al Newstead
