HOWLING BELLS
Strange Life (Nude)
The problem with putting out a stunning debut is that the pressure is ratcheted up on bettering it second time around. After their self-titled 2006 LP seduced hearts and minds with its dusky, cinematic melodrama, Howling Bells dropped two duds before coming closer to recapturing the magic with 2014’s Heartstrings. Another decade on and the UK-based Aussies are back with a fourth attempt to ditch the albatross – and once again it falls short.
Sure, the watery guitar washes and fuzzy rumble of lead track and first single Unbroken hint at former glories; Sacred Land bristles with the anger of prime PJ Harvey; The Looking Glass offers a flattering reflection of Marissa Nadler before boldly opening out; and Chimera’s sweetly shimmering chorus is a showstopper. But ultimately there’s too much forgettable fluff, too many tossed-off lyrics and a swagger-rock stinker (Sweet Relief, which is anything but).
According to Melbourne, everybody there’s “in a band / That sounds a bit like Dirty Three”. If true, (1) life is indeed strange, and (2) I’m moving.
words BEN WOOLHEAD
