Brisbane band Essick are fresh out of the Bedlam Records studio with their debut album Atrium Atrium. What started as a bedroom solo project for musician Ravi Das has now been fully realised after his tragic passing, with the band recording and dedicating the album to his memory and releasing it a year to the day of his passing.
With members also belonging to Twin Haus and Boss Moxi, the musicians in Essick are far from slouches. Opening track Atriums gives off a really nice old Foals vibe that will settle over the entire album. The song itself is anchored by some razor sharp guitars and is a solid opener. Second track Skyes is spaced out and super chilled, the layering of the song so complex yet sounding so effortless. This Bliss is an experimental sounding tune, reaching a climax of quirky drumbeats and a jarring bass line. Brighter Lights mellows it out again, the song beginning with vocalist Andrew McDougall crooning over a lilting synth before breaking down halfway through into what’s almost jazz rock, unexpected but really really slick.
Yakuza and Indica continue in a similar offbeat fashion, the energy each band member brings permeating the album and rarely wavering, the pulsating Tom Morello-esque guitars thrust into the breakdown of Indica are a particular highlight. There’s a funky instrumental interlude in Drop Of Light before the band hit their zenith on the album with Dreez and Ghost Towns back to back. The former is an incredibly punchy Bloc Party kind of tune. The precision of these math-rockers never falters.
The latter is atmospheric but retains an upbeat feel. It was released a couple of months back with a great music video showcasing Brisbane’s creepy as shit abandoned mental asylum. Drummer Brock Weston really drives the song here; the whole thing eventuating in a crescendo of shouted vocals over klaxon-sounding synths. It’s beyond nifty.
Penultimate track Blue Light keeps the atmosphere, the grungy guitars working their way through the outro are a sweet touch. The band go out with a bang with Octophant which, aside from being an awesome cross between an octopus and an elephant, is another solid song in the vein of Bloc Party, the duelling vocals over the chorus as well as a breakdown punctuated by some really angular guitars rounding out what has been a top notch debut.
The early Foals math rock similarities are abundant throughout, but the band avoid devolving into mundanely formulaic and instead have put out an album that is energetic, offbeat and so easy to listen to. It was a sublime experience listening through such a heartfelt tribute to a fallen brother. Although they’re rather elusive in a live setting due to their busy schedules, keep an eye out for a follow-up tour and check these guys out.
Atrium Atrium is out now via Bedlam Records.