EP: Rest Well In Your Shell ARTIST: Turtle Bay Television
If I say "hot fuzz" you'd probably assume I was referring to the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright masterpiece, and yes, you'd be technically correct, but it's also the perfect way to sum up the brand new EP that dropped last week from dreamy Perth post-punkers Turtle Bay Television.
The group itself has keen kicking around since 2012, finally settling on a consistent line-up in the past few years and steadily crafting their potent concoction of alt-rock, dream pop, shoegaze, lo-fi....and, yep, even horror movies. And now the result of years of writing and gigging has culminated in 'Rest Well In Your Shell', a snappy four-track EP that tastefully covers the ups and downs of life with a comforting haze.
Up first is 'Accountant', a subdued indie pop sparkler reminiscent of a scaled back Strokes, with dark and stormy vocals layered over simplistic beats. 'Eden Beach' jumps in next unveiling warbling melodies and fuzzy guitars that tickle your brain, before leading into the band's debut single 'Horror Movie' - a distortion-happy post-punk delight with swooning theatrical vocals and the occasional noise jump scare (owing in part to frontman Thomas Cockram and some Stranger Things ruminating). Closing out the EP is 'Andrea', a blazed-out number that casually glimmers its way into the hazy horizon - a short but tender track that disappears as quickly as it arrived.
'Rest Well In Your Shell' may very well fall under the more obvious influences like Sonic Youth, The Pixies and a dash of Vampire Weekend, but behind the shoegaze and the fuzz is some deceptively clever songwriting; formulaic and seemingly simplistic but with enough rugged edges to leap beyond the confines of the generic pop dimension. Turtle Bay Television can truly rest well in their own shells because the boys have created something pretty special for their debut - watch this space!
A launch party will be held tonight at The Bird in Northbridge with special guests, Segue Safari, ABACAXUVA and Web Rumours (Em Burrows). Doors 8pm, Tickets $5 on the door.
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BY TIANA SPETER