Tropical Fuck Storm - A Laughing Death In Meatspace

Tropical Fuck Storm - A Laughing Death In Meatspace

I think if there was one more thing needed in 2018, it’s for everyone to lighten up for an hour and just have a laugh. 2018, meet Tropical Fuck Storm (TFS). Drawn as I was to the hyperbole of their title, the Aussie quartet have also released one of the more intriguing albums of the year, saddling themselves in the same vein as IDLES in that they write angry songs you can be happy to. Self-proclaiming to make “weird music for people who are sick of the same old shit.” Intriguing. Weirdos, stand up and be counted, the hymns are about to begin.

Haphazard and, most importantly, different, TFS seems more akin to an avalanche than an orchestra. On Soft Power, floaty female backing vocals drift in an out, a juxtaposition to the organised chaos occurring between the lead vocals, guitar and drums, while You Let My Tyres Down is an anarchist anthem, dripping in nihilism, substance abuse, and menacingly curled lips.  But most striking right off the bat is the vocal style implemented. Less singing and more ‘cheap larger fuelled shouting/conversation match’, TFS spoken word delivery has hints of the modern punk scene in it, but with their own unique twist. A mix of malicious and matey, they add to their distinct aesthetic, one that seems to demand that you care about nothing except for not giving a fuck.

Desperately funny, the lyrics mostly draw on inspiration from the putrid in their lives and are a glorious accompaniment to the shredding sludge of the acoustics. Gloriously repulsive, like that six car pile up you just can't tear yourself away from, despite the danger posed to your own personal wellbeing. You just need another hit of the disdain.

The type of band who will rob your gaff and stick the heating on for you coming home, there an almost fuzziness to their anger, a relatability in their dedication to doing nothing and being nothing except for themselves. A Laughing Death In Meatspace is an absolute joy and should be on the playlist for weirdos everywhere.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stayne - Parachute

Image
Stayne - Parachute Derry singer/songwriter Stayne makes a highly anticipated return to the ‘new releases’ column with ‘ Parachute ’. A self-described pop artist who brings “something a little different,” his newest single pulls no punches. On his latest, the ‘I slay ’ performer tackles everything from alcoholism, spirituality and needing someone to hold on to a 'human parachute.’ Know to fuse his lyricism with introspection and self-worth before sending them out into the world, Stayne’s newest is his best so far. The warm gruff vocals of the walled city resident flow into range, telling a tale of victory and failure. A stripped back arrangement of keys and ghostly strings help elevate the vocal message, ultimately committing addition by subtraction. Wallowing in a more subtle sound than would be expected from pop allows Stayne to bring his voice to the forefront, giving lines such as “I’m a whole different man when I’m holding a beer” a new gravity. With this being
Read more

Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows + Baleful Creed - 10th February 2019

Image
Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows + Baleful Creed - 10th February 2019 As I make my way down fountain street, my breath materialises in front of me. As it dissipates into the night, a low rumbling grows. It’s emanating from the top floor of local music hostelry Voodoo, which plays host tonight to a contingent of hard rock fanatic and headbang enthusiasts. The scuzz is palpable as I make my way through the door. First onstage is Belfast’s own Baleful Creed . The heavy rock quartet, known for their weighty riffs and ruthless demeanour, are having some fun tonight onstage. While sticking to the meat and bones of their gruff sound, we are treated to some wavey psychedelic blues in between licks. These deviations don’t last however, and it’s not long before pounding drum fills are shaking my back wall table and gruff, leathery textured vocals are searing the paint of the wall. Ripping up the stage with a prehistoric sound steeped in the blues (a wild harmonica appears for a moment),
Read more

The Hunna - Dare

Image
The Hunna - Dare  Hertfordshire four-piece The Hunna have returned with their newest endeavour Dare, an album that screams “all filler no killer.” Most bands struggle with their second release and The Hunna are no exception. Just as Arctic Monkeys were the first ‘youtube’ band to make it big, The Hunna shunned the circuit for Facebook presence, which worked very well for them as regards to their fanbase. Unfortunately for the rest of us, this did not translate into good music. While I appreciate there are very few Alex Turner/Paul Weller types in the world, Dare is sonically and nigh unforgivably boring even in this era of repetition and dishonesty. There is a formulaic, synthetic feel to the album that sounds not only tiresome but outright disingenuous. Music is amazing because it's organic and primal, it comes from a place of sweat that travels ‘from heart to limb, to pen’ (Bryan Fallon, Handwritten, 2013). This is where the magic comes from, but Dare sounds more akin to
Read more