Melbourne based synth art house psychedellic party band seem to be making a name for themselves around their local circuit and ‘Let Music & Bodies Unite’ marks a slicker approach to their output. It is as if the imprint of other local contenders Architecture in Helsinki has had some effect and synth punk is busily dissolving disco balls everywhere in an intelligent outpouring of indie enthusiasm for electronicia.
It has an brief, 1.14 min intro number ‘LM & BU’ that acts as a brooding sound experiment as if a gateway between worlds. Then it is all straight up electro funk complete with shakers, a fairly intelligent lyric which is repeated and vocoded and effected, then a secondary chorus is added. Taken all in all it aims fairly straight for the pop charts, even with its indie sensibility. ‘Fat Monk (Extended Mix) is a long building synth and vocal restrained floor mover with some melodic effects that suggests the band have been listening to School of Seven Bells quite a bit. ‘Beat inside you’ takes a drum programming approach to track composition, with a few instances of depth charge effects, then an onslaught of synth attack and the chorus. It is quite a floor mover but has all the impulse of a pop song and some of its inevitable drawbacks. ‘Home (No)’ is the party animals anthem and I suspect will resound with many people who go out clubbing, no doubt it goes down well as the final track for their sets. ‘HDRD’ lets their noise makers off the pop leash briefly before the impulse of the driving four on the floor with guitar flourishes and intricate melodic lines takes over, the stabbing piano lines are a great flourish that invoke the euphoric joy of early acid house. ‘New Pills’ finishes the album, guitar and dulled warped drum, then strong guitar lead epic floor action.
Rat vs Possum are definitely going for the prize, a guaranteed party action for indie exuberance and shall no doubt be a staple for this years summer hedonism. While there are still a few issues with the recording of their sound in parts it has been improved greatly over the last album and if the progress of this bands suggested trajectory is indicated by the difference I expect my town to be awash with posters of their exploits as the machine of joy marches on.
Innerversitysound
