Melbourne trio Left at the Avenue arrive fully formed on In Light, a stellar debut heralding one of the country’s most promising new voices.
Left at the Avenue have today (February 2) released In Light, a stunning debut EP brimming with unique guitar tones and tight rhythmic arrangements.
Across five tracks — one of which, Minibar, was previewed last year — the Melbourne trio transcend musical borders with a flair for UK rock and quintessential Australian indie rock.
The project opens with the indie pastiche that is lead single Minibar, an at-times thunderous cut carried by fuzzy guitar melodies and a gloriously raw vocal performance.
At once recalling the likes of The Backseat Lovers and The Front Bottoms, Minibar sets the tone for Left at the Avenue’s wholly unique voice.
On second track Generic (I Know), the trio dip into grittier guitars and more riotous instrumentation, reaching a cathartic release on an sing-along chorus purpose built for a heaving mosh pit.
Left at the Avenue usher in a welcome change of pace on Who Do You Take Me For, which dials down the noise with sparse acoustic strums and vulnerable vocal delivery.
Bare and unfiltered, the EP’s third track showcases the trio’s range and ability to command attention even with simplistic and stripped-back production.
The band’s efforts culminate on EP closer Tremont Cres., a slower cut anchored by subtle percussion and melodic guitars.
Later, groovy basslines and vocoder effects introduce the track’s more euphoric moments, making Tremont Cres. an impressive blend of the tracks that came before it.
In what is a throughline across the entire project, the final track is just as interested in incisive storytelling, tracing Left at the Avenue’s reflections on heartbreak and the substances used to numb it.
It’s a fitting closer for an EP that arrives fully formed, kickstarting what’s sure to be a breakout moment for Left at the Avenue.
The trio — composed of bandmates Henry Parks, Connor Pawsey and Nico Dawe — will celebrate In Light with an EP launch party at the Catfish in Fitzroy, Melbourne on March 1.
Find tickets here, and in the meantime, listen to Left at the Avenue’s debut EP In Light below.
