To be completely honest instrumental music hasn’t always been a fancy of mine. Unless there are words for me to get wrong or phonetically sing to, there wasn’t enough appeal. Lately that opinion has changed thanks to a few Aussie bands like sleepmakeswaves and Majora. Sometimes lyrics can be a distraction, and the true magic of a tune lies in the instruments. And that’s something confirmed by Melbourne’s Squarehead with their two tracks Citamenic and Handmedown.
A storm of instrumentals explode on Squarehead’s new two-track release. Unpredictable and epic, Citanemic and Handmedowns is one hell of a ride.
Squarehead was formed back in 2011 by budding producer Tobimaru Yamamoto. Initially it started as Yamamoto’s outlet to explore bass-looping projects, but has since evolved into a far more raw act with the addition of Billy van Duuren and Zac Timpano to make up the band. They released their debut Fables in 2013 and have since become a staple of the Melbourne music scene. The band have been on a bit of a hiatus for the last year and a half, (or if you want to be Chris Martin, consciously uncoupled) but are ready to re-enter the fray with a dazzling two track release. A pair of instrumental tracks, these are two jams of epic proportions. Each is loud, complex and busy, making for an engrossing listen. Squarehead are back, and they definitely want you to know about it.
Moody and spacious, Citamenic crashes through the speakers with woozy charm. It swelters with some guitar lines while the cool keys trickle down gently. Then there’s the bass, all attitude and no fucks given, just chilling out by the jukebox with a leather jacket and ciggie hanging nonchalantly from the mouth. And that saxophone, oh man, it takes it to a new level that explodes with colour. A concept track with a lot of raw energy, it assaults your psyche without remorse and with plenty of swagger.
Meanwhile Handmedown is far more energetic from the beginning. A funk groove twists like spaghetti around a fork. It feels like the song is it odds with itself. Those of you with a keen ear will pick up the sound of a hang drum, a field recording Yamamoto recorded while trekking through Peru. There’s a blissful feeling evoked by the pretty guitar lines and chanting voices. However, the rabid synths tell another story of hardships.
Squarehead will be launching their sweet new tunes in the new year on Saturday 16th January, at The Toff in Melbourne. If you’re in town that day we highly recommend you get down for the show.
