[gtranslate]
News

PREMIERE: How do you ensure creative control over your act? For RESD it meant writing and performing an entire EP by himself

RESD. Don’t know what it stands for? That’s okay, it’s music, you don’t need acronyms, and it’s the sound that comes forth which propels the name.

RESD is Sydney based producer and songwriter Paul Carpenter, and his EP No Oxygen is his response to Sydney’s flailing live music scene, or at least the bureaucratically objected one.

resd no oxygen

A soldier in the war for Sydney’s music scene, RESD have presented a twisting EP that keeps listeners guessing at every sonic corner.

With a muted live scene comes insular behaviour, with insular behaviour comes uncontrolled landscapes with widescreen sonic sweeps built upon a diverse influence base.

Sound too full on? Probably, but when one takes a harder look at everyday life, sometimes things sneak up on you, and that’s exactly what RESD has done with No Oxygen.

Opener Right Thing is reminiscent of Radiohead’s 2011 album King of Limbs, flattering in it’s imitation. While that’s certainly not uncommon amongst modern artists, the song is a minor misstep in placement on an EP that goes on to prove something deeper.

We Run starts with the same alternative feel but begins to introduce Carpenter’s darker side. There’s a lingering electronic influence that permeates the track but never quite releases. Playing to the standard pop structure, the beefy undertones do compliment Carpenter’s eerie falsetto in a palatable way.

As the EP progresses that languid feeling of yearning and a love lost begins to creep in, and its You and I that really helps reel in any possible doubts and turn them around.

The song is layered with an arpeggiated, ominous riff paired with a sparse, affected beat that works together to create a haunting, dystopian feel. The overall composition and production of the track brings the EP in to an engaging and heartfelt creation.

RESD has delivered us a slow burner that wears its influence solely and unashamedly on its sleeve. As the wick burns to an end, the coupling of title track No Oxygen and Should I Wait hold considerable weight, the latter being undoubtedly the strongest, most cohesive piece on the EP.

Every instrument has it’s place and most importantly, the long-awaited groove truly shows it’s face.

No Oxygen hits just short of the mark, but then again who are we to say what Paul Carpenters attempted mark was. The take home point on it all is this EP left us wanting to follow an artist who has given much to the live scene and is exploring different terrain.

Be patient with this one and the rewards will come.