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With 2015 being such a massive year for new and exciting Australian music I for one found a lot of seasoned acts flying under my radar. I totally missed the release of Cosmic Pyschos’ return to fine form but more importantly I completely missed the boat on the long awaited second album from Art vs Science, a band that I have had an incredible soft spot for since day one.
Art vs Science have come back strong with their sophomore album, but does maturation always mean the band’s sound will be better off?
After countless cover-to-cover playback, their sophomore LP Off The Edge of The Earth and Into Forever, Forever it still remains everything I wanted it to be and more. However when compared to their debut album The Experiment it becomes clear that Art vs Science have seriously developed as artists and that isn’t always a good thing.
Let me take you back to early 2009. I was still in high school, Hollywood was just starting to realise that comic book movies might be a viable investment and only the true political die-hards had heard of the Liberal party joke that is Tony Abbot. It was around then that my mind exploded when I first herd Parlez Vous Francis? For me this track had it all; Rad party beats, a down right silly concept but most of all it was just really fun!
2011’s The Experiment was the celebration of the silly fun synth-rock that made Art vs Science so popular. It played with genre, showcased the band’s experimentation with their artistic influences (Beastie Boys to Bruce Lee) but most importantly it got people out of their seats, jumping round to Magic Fountain like sugar high 10 year olds.
Which is why I was drop-dead excited for their new release and for all my nit picking I am still really impressed. In This Together blows the front cover right off the album with a faux-club beat and creative instrumentation. Tired of Pretending is a serious dose of cool, it’s dirty synth-pop blues reflects the social commentary artfully stowed within smooth lyricism. Bongo Plan gives a heavy nod to the bands history of silly synth rock. Hell, this album even has boppy disco anthems in You’ve Got to Stop and Stars II.
Art vs Science still remain an amazing musical talent and Of The Edge of The Earth showcases all of their growth from the last six years. It is a more mature album and I love that about it, but with this maturity comes a lack of experimentation, and a withdrawal from the ridiculously fun get-up-and-jump party jams that made them such a great band to begin with.
Having just smashed it out of the park at the Falls Festival over New Years my fellow fanboys and girls can catch Art vs Science at Oz Fest later this month or on their upcoming album tour, which kicks off in Wollongong on the 3rd of March.
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