Pop Filter serves up ‘CONO’ – a blend of droll charm, upbeat energy, and introspective musings.
Pop Filter, an Australian band born from the close-knit ties of friendship, returns with their third album, “CONO,” – out via Virgin/Spunk Records on December 1st.
Comprising members who share their musical roots with The Ocean Party, Cool Sounds and Snowy, Pop Filter has created an alt- pop gem full of original synthy, jangly, low-key goodness.
This is divine indie pop at its best, packed with droll yet upbeat introspective beauty. The album, arriving three years after their last offering, “Donkey Gully Road” (2020), reflects a band committed to nurturing their friendships despite the challenges of distance, work, and family life.
The recording process for “CONO” deviates from the band’s previous weekend getaways. Instead, the album was crafted during weekly meetups in a makeshift studio nestled in an industrial estate in Coburg North, aptly lending its name to the record.
As the band members squeezed into the tiny room, fueled by hot chips, they pieced together tracks that exude unashamed honesty and low-key pop brilliance.
Lyrically, “CONO” picks up where “Donkey Gully Road” left off, delving into themes of place, isolation, purpose, and the lack thereof. Their previously released single “Everything Must Go,” delivered in the lead up to CONO,” is a firm favourite, offering up a sublime exploration of intelligent indie pop.
Pop Filter remains true to itself, presenting reflective and sincere songs that never feel self-indulgent.
Musically, the band showcases a newfound openness, experimenting with varying levels of fidelity and musical stylings that coalesce into an album that feels both cohesive and carefully sequenced.
From a low key voice memo on a mobile phone to snappy garage pop strummers and sparse country-tinged ballads, “CONO” captures the essence of a band that, despite enduring the longest period without new material, delivers an album worth the wait.
Check out Pop Filters CONO Tour Dates below:
Friday, December 15th – Petersham Bowling Club, Eora (Petersham, NSW)
Saturday, December 16th – Franks Wild Years, Dharawal (Thirroul, NSW)
Sunday, December 17th – The Bridge, Dja Dja Warrung (Castlemaine, VIC) *free entry
Monday, December 18th – The Merrie Creek Tavern, Naarm (Melbourne, VIC)
