The Love Junkies have been following a pretty solid formula in making cool tunes. Play musics, sing words, then at a time previously agreed upon with fellow music making fellows, step on whatever pedals you have, bash your skins and strings like there’s no tomorrow and scream your freakin guts out. Like we said, it’s a tried and tested method but a whole album, let alone a career based on this one trick is reserved only for those who do it best. Oh, and Violent Soho.
The Flight Test EP might just prove that Perth grunge rockers The Love Junkies aren’t just a one trick grunge pony.
The Perthians have just released their Flight Test EP, which proves that they can do a lot more than make their fingers bleed as much as their audiences ears, the five track release seeing them expand into territory reserved for more pretentious balladeers. Intro and Storm Troopers are indie anthems that warble and quirk like a Flaming Lips song, and until about halfway into Chemical Motivation, you get the feeling that the loud/soft grunge worshipers might have permanently changed direction.
Thankfully, one minute in to Chemical we are treated to a fuzzy, throaty Cage The Elephant chorus, which bears a distinct resemblance to their earlier stuff, yet still surprisingly soft for what fans expect from The Love Junkies. Oh, and that tremolo bar. So sweet.
Likewise, the EP ends on a familiar stringbasher, aptly named Blowing On The Devil’s Strumpet. I actually don’t know how apt the title is, as I have never blown on a devil’s strumpet, nor am I even sure what a strumpet is. Gloria To My Dysphoria is perhaps the most stark departure from what we know the Junkies for, utilising – get this – a piano. If you told me back in June last year that the same band that released Maybelene would release a piano ballad and that I’d enjoy it, I’d call the men in white coats to come take you away.
The kids are currently on tour with Calling All Cars, the dates of which are below. Pick up tix from Oztix and check out Flight Test on bandcamp.
Wednesday, 23rd April
Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Thursday, 24th April
Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday, 26th April
Republic Bar, Hobart
Wednesday, 30th April
The Crowbar @ Charles Sturt Uni, Wagga Wagga
Student Only Event
Thursday, 1st May
Transit Bar, Canberra
Friday, 2nd May
The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Saturday, 3rd May
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
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