Review Summary: Bandcamp find of the day
I've gotten into a habit recently. I'll flock to Bandcamp and scour for new releases then pick some at random to listen to. My night started with checking out a few songs from instrumental jazz musician Paul Cherry's new album
Pure Grooves Vol. 1. The closing track on that album is called "Taffer's Goodbye" and I'm choosing to believe that it's about
Bar Rescue getting cancelled. From there, I trolled around until I stumbled upon
Lush Life, the debut full-length by Melbourne-based indie rock band The Belair Lip Bombs. In brushing up for putting some thoughts out, I learned that lead vocalist Maisie Everett stepped away from another project, punk trio CLAMM, so that she could devote her time to this album. I can never reasonably expect what I'll hear when I dive into music that is completely alien to me, but I'm glad I picked this one.
The Belair Lip Bombs are a rollicking rock quartet comprised of Everett, guitarist Mike Bradvica, bassist Jimmy Droughton and drummer Liam De Bruin. Everett also contributes on guitar and keyboards throughout the album.
Lush Life is an interesting and energetic jaunt. Everett's somewhat slurred vocals are drenched in reverb on opening cut "Say My Name", in which De Bruin ratchets things up with purposeful and lively drum fills and Bradvica dials up some driving guitars. "Gimme Gimme"is armed with catchy as hell riffs that serve as the foundation for the track, while Everett displays some scant pop tendencies in her runs and overall delivery. Lyrically, she's courting a muse, and comparing her attraction to them to that of infatuation and drug use. The band never overstay their welcome, like on the short-lived "World Is the One", which glides in on bubbly keys before seguing into a frenetic main hook and outro.
Another relatively brief track, "Stay Or Go" is one of multiple bits on here that tie into the title and broader theme of the album; 'Is the lush life just a big abyss,' Maisie ponders, juxtaposed with her eager proclamation 'I wanna live in the lush life way' on "Say My Name." The copiously pretty "Easy On the Heart" swells with vivacious keys, rhythmic drums and Bradvica's grooving and glistening guitars. On "Things That You Did", Maisie's vocals are layered and again soaked in reverb. Closer "Suck It In" is a mildly tepid, if otherwise pleasant note to end on. Everett reaches for a sweet sounding alto that compliments the tangentially cheerful lyrics. "Take me and throw away the key. I feel like a child again," she gently exhales.
Lush Life is brimming with plenty of life, but it's mostly chilled out and subdued nature borders into a sort of understated melancholy. Some of the passages certainly allude to that sentiment, though elsewhere it's a generally fun and upbeat event. It's too bad they're approximately
10,000 miles away from where I currently reside, because I'd love to hear these songs in a live setting. Everett has a sweet and pretty voice, and Bradvica's riffs are consistently catchy and dynamic. I'm very curious to see what The Belair Lip Bombs do next. Thanks for the cool find, Bandcamp.
