Words by Claudia Middleton
I am genuinely upset at having to write a review of a band whose members are so much younger than me and have already accomplished more than I probably ever will. Càbãnå is a Melbourne-based indie rock band made up of eighteen year olds Avi and Nushi and 17 year old Gab Strum (AKA Japanese Wallpaper). Their self-titled EP has arrived just in time for Summer, and will undoubtedly be played at countless beach/house/pool parties over the next few months.
Lead single Done as Dinner is all about the instruments. Opening with a beat that is almost sparkly in sound, the sweet melody of drums and guitar are so distinctive, yet they work together so fluidly. This is one of those songs that feels familiar and I’m sure I’m not the only one that finds that strangely comforting. Think Phoenix/ Last Dinosaurs and you’ll know what I mean.
You can’t help but get swept up in the catchy beat of From the Floor. While I’ve never taken too much notice of drums, specifically, the drum rhythms in this track are insane – you can’t not pay attention to them. The same goes for the synth which makes this the perfect summer dance song.
Teach Me How to Swim is without a doubt a roadtrip song and if you’re going anywhere this summer it should definitely be on your playlist. The beat continues to build right towards the end with what sounds like at least 10 different instruments, all meshing perfectly together. This is the perfect soundtrack to any lazy summer day filled with a trip to beach, perfect waves and cold, cold beverages.
Final song Attic Us, is a lyrically beautiful way to end an incredibly impressive debut EP. The synth and guitar are so on point, so all-encompassing, that you almost cant believe that all that noise comes from only three people. The riff of Attic Us is ridiculously catchy and contrasts beautifully with the heavy guitar throughout the rest of the song.
My only issue with this EP is that it’s left me feeling that four songs just isn’t enough. Hopefully we’ll be hearing much more from Càbãnå in the not so distant future.