You Really Need To Hear Spilt Cities Debut LP, 'life, on hold'

Recommended if you love Brand New, MewithoutYou, the production behind Band Of Horses' records, Circa Survive's instrumentals, and a hint of Modest Mouse. 

I'm not so far gone in terms of being a jaded cynic that I cannot be impressed and blown away anymore. Because I still get an excited, near-euphoric wave wash over me when discovering a genuinely good band for the very first time; whether through someone's recommendation, at a live show, via my emails, or just stumbling upon one during my internet travels. And I'm sure all of you know that feeling very well: that head-over-heels adoration that strikes you immediately after ingesting a great band's music for the first time. It can be such an invigorating experience too, and whether or not I come to write about said discoveries via KYS is irrelevant; just listening to and enjoying the music is the most important factor at the end of the day. However, I really needed and wanted to talk about 'life, on hold', the beautiful, expertly-crafted debut LP from Perth's Spilt Cities, who I had such a heart-warming experience of discovery with recently.

'life, on hold' is quite a personal, emotional, and lyrically honest tale; one that deals with both carefree youth and ageing adulthood, where you were versus where you're going, the state of one's own mental health, and the general experiences and fleeting moments that life creates for us all. Outside of the actual music, however, a fitting personal touch comes in the form of the record's front cover (found below), showing an old family photo of vocalist Shaun Rodan's younger brother as a child, dressed up as Gotham's caped-crusader with three of his friends; epitomising this record's sense of romanticised nostalgia for when shit was so much simpler and easier in one's life.

As for their simple-yet-intricate balance and incredibly spacious, natural sonics, Spilt Cities merge subtle yet layered post-rock sensibilities with an intimate indie rock/emo sound, with well-written and well-delivered guitar and vocal melodies above and dry, upfront anchoring drums and driving, crispy bass lines below. All with a comforting, dynamic sound that makes for a highly engaging listen; one that's void of gimmicks, filler, and unwise brashness yet is chocked full of earnest, heartfelt and contemplative tunes.

On an external spectrum, this WA group effortlessly captures the wonderfully authentic rock sound and engrossing mood that fellow Aussies acts like Ceres, Have/Hold and CREO create in their respective works. Yet Spilt Cities are so much more than just a lazy comparison to a handful of peers. Sure, they're nothing actually new, but they didn't need to be to make something truly special with their debut full-length.

The utterly haunting album opener 'Ephemeral' exceptionally echoes what the likes of Sorority Noise did so damn well on 'No Halo' earlier this year, with just as lush instrumentals and these rose-tinted yet self-aware lyrics for a time long gone by. 'Sharing Lungs' builds from this widescreen expansive sound of deep guitar layers and massive reverb to a narrower, more upbeat pace that races the track towards a fitting end. The tangible emotion felt behind the clean guitar chords and driving choruses that bolster my personal favourite 'Keep Quiet' (a song which borrows heavily from the songwriting book of Brand New but in the best possible way) are practically second to none. The dramatic mood of the remorseful 'Dash, Be Quick' is as forthcoming as the band could ever get lyrically, reminding one to think hard about their life ("It's only in my dreams, I rarely see what my friends need/Too lost in my own mind../I am breaking ground, I'll see what I have left without/I am willing to change..."). Elsewhere, the swaying ambient guitar lines that underpin a truly terrific vocal refrain of "We tore the blinds down/starving for light" on the sonically evolving mid-album standout 'Long Grass, River People', a song that's just crying out to be played live!

A little later on, the four-piece takes their sweet but perfectly paced time in creating a lovely, sweeping post-rock soundscape on the album's longest piece, the simply heartbreaking 'Lovers'. Hell, even the very brief instrumental interlude of 'Saturate' and the acoustic self-loathing 'Tired Of Ourselves' are smaller but vital piece of this record's impact and flow, as is the gloomy instrumental piece, 'Post-Career Depression'. (A name which is a fate destined for most of us, sadly). Which suitably flows into the bright, and earnest wayward adulthood tale on 'The Drifter'. And when the defiant, sky-scraping choruses of album closer'No End, No Beginning' wrap up, a retrospective and quieter bridge section morph into a grand finale where the quartet rocket away with crashing drum fills and washes of pedal-looping and feedbacking amps.

Look, I am just awestruck by this amazing album and this band's vast songwriting abilities. Sure, they haven't recreated the proverbial wheel, they've just made the best use of said wheel that I've heard in a long fucking time.

Honestly, I am struggling a little to put a lot of this into the proper words. As much as a cop-out that probably is, just know that no matter what specific points of this record you may land on, Spilt Cities outdo themselves nearly every step of the way. Whether or not they intended it, Spilt Cities' debut record establishes the clear difference between what is genuine, loving music and what is shallow, intentionless music that was made because someone wanted a mere taste of fame and glory, instead of trying to create something actually worthwhile and interesting. 'life, on hold' is the former and then some!

Please go stream one of my personal favourite Aussie records from 2017 below. Maybe it will connect with you in the same way it did for me. Or maybe not. But there is only one way to find out...

Buy 'life, on hold' here. Trust me, you won’t regret it! Spilt Cities will be launching this brilliant LP in Perth on October 21st and will be touring through Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne later in the month. All dates and info here!