Post by thesoundmonitor on Jan 6, 2004 23:00:48 GMT -5
IRON ON
The Understudy EP
(Ruth Street) RUTH03
This four-piece from Brisbane have come up with a sneaking gem of an EP – the kind that seeps into your subconscious long before you realize you’re hooked. Displaying a rare innocence, Iron On follow in the traditions of Archers of Loaf, Screamfeeder, and Sonic Youth with their pop saturated indie-rock.
Opening with the shoegazer-inspired ‘Ruddy’, the band ease into your world with Kate Cooper delivering naïve, hesitant vocals. The sweetness enveloped in her voice adds to the simplicity of her lyrics (“The air-conditioning was up way too high”), without ridding them of depth. The song builds in intensity with the jangle-riffs becoming more dominant and gang vocals toward the end.
Track 2 (‘Best or Less’) would be the stand out with ‘other’ vocalist Ross Hope taking over, though just as nervously as Cooper. Again the naiveté in the lyrics adds to the innocence without detracting from the depth; “And what if what you’re looking for, doesn’t even exist?” And like ‘Ruddy’ the song begins all mellow-like with a little cute guitar melody, but develops into a raging maelstrom of emotion and observation by songs’ end.
‘Old Cat’ sees Cooper take the spotlight again, though this track is more consistent in its charged energy, allowing the rhythm section of Nicola Phoenix (drums) and Ian Rogers (bass) to really show their wares.
Likewise with ‘Everything Takes Too Long’ with Hope back on the mic and Cooper backing him up with shouts of “Just about”. The tune takes a mid-length breather before spiraling back into the driving riffs backed with a good deal of fuzzy noise.
The EP finishes off with the slower, sweeter ‘Sleep In’ with Cooper again regaining centre stage. Perhaps the weakest of the five tracks, it is well placed and serves as an appropriate come-down following the chaos that preceded.
In summary, Iron On’s debut entry into recording can be viewed as a successful jaunt, with a mix that suits the style to a ‘T’, a perfect balance of moods and ultimately great quality in the songcraft.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www:ironon.live.com.au
Label website: n/a
Buy this album: www.rockinghorse.net
The Understudy EP
(Ruth Street) RUTH03
This four-piece from Brisbane have come up with a sneaking gem of an EP – the kind that seeps into your subconscious long before you realize you’re hooked. Displaying a rare innocence, Iron On follow in the traditions of Archers of Loaf, Screamfeeder, and Sonic Youth with their pop saturated indie-rock.
Opening with the shoegazer-inspired ‘Ruddy’, the band ease into your world with Kate Cooper delivering naïve, hesitant vocals. The sweetness enveloped in her voice adds to the simplicity of her lyrics (“The air-conditioning was up way too high”), without ridding them of depth. The song builds in intensity with the jangle-riffs becoming more dominant and gang vocals toward the end.
Track 2 (‘Best or Less’) would be the stand out with ‘other’ vocalist Ross Hope taking over, though just as nervously as Cooper. Again the naiveté in the lyrics adds to the innocence without detracting from the depth; “And what if what you’re looking for, doesn’t even exist?” And like ‘Ruddy’ the song begins all mellow-like with a little cute guitar melody, but develops into a raging maelstrom of emotion and observation by songs’ end.
‘Old Cat’ sees Cooper take the spotlight again, though this track is more consistent in its charged energy, allowing the rhythm section of Nicola Phoenix (drums) and Ian Rogers (bass) to really show their wares.
Likewise with ‘Everything Takes Too Long’ with Hope back on the mic and Cooper backing him up with shouts of “Just about”. The tune takes a mid-length breather before spiraling back into the driving riffs backed with a good deal of fuzzy noise.
The EP finishes off with the slower, sweeter ‘Sleep In’ with Cooper again regaining centre stage. Perhaps the weakest of the five tracks, it is well placed and serves as an appropriate come-down following the chaos that preceded.
In summary, Iron On’s debut entry into recording can be viewed as a successful jaunt, with a mix that suits the style to a ‘T’, a perfect balance of moods and ultimately great quality in the songcraft.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www:ironon.live.com.au
Label website: n/a
Buy this album: www.rockinghorse.net