In-Frequencies #7: Wax Witches, Blank Realm, Cured Pink, Degreaser

Our irregular round-up of some new-ish cassette, CD-R and vinyl releases including Cured Pink, Bleeding Knees Club side project Wax Witches and releases from Negative Guest List, the label/zine run by the late Brendon Annesley. Words by TIM SCOTT.

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Mole House
Hey Come My Way
(7”, Quemada)

This debut featuring Michael, Pat and Carla of Mad Nanna and White Woods starts with a broken down pop song that's similar in feel to early Eric's Trip at their creaky wire screened kitchen door best. Carla's lead vocal has a sombre and introspective tone feel and the music is loose but retains a melody that hides under crisp but basic drumming.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Mole House-Hey Come My Way by Quemada Records

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Pro Team
Our Wasteland
(7”, Midnight Funeral)

Camo shorts and New Balance/Saucony shoes. High kick jumps off stage and floor punches. It's 2001 channelled into 2012 via 2007. Originally released in 2007 on Melbourne's Washed Up Records, Proteam's ‘Our Wasteland’ gets the reissue treatment and it's got the the speedy and shrill vocals ala Civ from Gorilla Biscuits. It's hard to not sound like a bazillion other bands doing this fast hardcore but these Mornington Peninsula guys manage to step out from the herd. Glad it's not an LP though.

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Blank Realm
Falling Down the Stairs
(7”, Negative Guest List)

To be honest I didn't get the gushing praise heaped on these Brisbane guys when they first started out. The early prog and psych stuff I heard was good, but not earth shattering, like so many people in Melbourne wanted you to believe. The two tracks on this new single are a pretty big step up though. They've ditched the drone for prettier pop on 'Falling Down the Stairs' with Sarah's bright synth and Luke's Flying Nun-like guitar. Probably my favourite Aussie pop song of recent times. The B-side 'Exile in the Terrarium' goes back to more psych/bean bag territory. Can't wait for their new LP due later this year.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Falling Down the Stairs by Blank Realm

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Pauline Manson
999/Washed to Oblivion
(Cassette, Goaty Tapes)

I knew a Pauline Manson. I always thought it was weird that somebody in the ’80s would choose to name their daughter Pauline. This Pauline Manson, however, is some of the Taco Leg guys and David West (Rank/Xerox) laying down two sides of a tape one recorded in San Francisco the other in Perth. Fall and Beat Happening comparisons have been made and they are valid. Available for free download.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] 01. Cultural Monument #999 by RIVULETOFSPORES

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Cured Pink/Penguins
Cured Pink/Penguins
(Split 7”, Vacant Valley)

It seems the cover photos of this split have been getting more attention than the music itself. Both the visuals and the music are harsh and confronting. Andrew McLellan (Cured Pink) whips a guitar with a chain, and it’s kind of a violent affair all round. Four minutes of musical smoke eye. Penguins, on the other hand, present more of live rock band feel. It’s still harsh black noise and a wall of guitar.

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Degreaser
Bottom Feeder
(LP, Negative Guest List)

Many track the music of Tim Evans like he’s some kind of musical svengali. From Mouth to Sea Scouts, Bird Blobs to more recent stuff such as Bogan Dust and Coconuts, the guy certainly turns heads. The nine tracks on Degreaser's debut has Evans and band turning out some bleak no wave punk with some elements of psych-y jams. Dark layers of rhythm just sit there. Like your housemate with low self-esteem, leaning on the living room doorway. Familiar but still uncomfortable. Vocals are fucked. There is no tracklisting. Of all the great NGL releases this is one of my faves.

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Unity Floors
Women's Golf
(7”, independent)

Gus and Henry. Two Sydney dudes who met while skating. Quiet, friendly and unassuming who also managed to slip out a 7” late in 2011 that could possibly be the best of the year. Three tracks of buzzing, shouty indie rock. Spin magazine in 1999 would have no doubt described this as “slacker”, and I swear there’s one point in 'Boil the Ocean' where the loose lyrics sounds like a drunken slur. Guitar, drums and sincere lyrics are their only arsenal. There's nothing stripped back about the sound here, though.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Identity theft by unity floors

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Wax Witches
From Hell
(Cassette, Wiener)

Say what you will about Bleeding Knees Club (and I know in come circles the less is better) but Alex Wall steps out on his bones alone to release this tape on US label Weiner, a subsidiary of Burger (Nobunny, Apache, King Khan). Vocals have that high whiney vibe that will have everyone inevitably comparing it to Wavves, but the songs themselves are pretty cool. Would be keen to check his one-man live show.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] WAX WITCHES - EVERYTIME I TRY by Alex Wall

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White Walls
WWI & WWII
(Demo, independent)

Rory, Fuji and Dylan blast an interesting mix of punk, hard rock and older shoegaze that works much like Brooklyn's The Men or like a louder version of Merchandise from Tampa, Florida. Of the two demos (both recorded by Alec McFarlane), WWI seems the stronger. The opening ‘Mt Tone’ has soft and heavy melody; ‘Booth’ is fine post punk; while the 12-minute closer sounds like it could have been lifted off the first Dinosaur album. Could easily make a shitty music magazine’s “Band to Watch” list.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] 01 Mt. Tone by WhitexWallsx

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Chinese Burns
Calculator
(7”, Windian)

Brisbane garage rock enthusiasts are back with their third release; their first for a North American label. Opening track 'Calculator' has a really loud guitar sound and shrieked lyrics about dude who has calculator on his computer – and email? Somebody bothered to make a video for 'Kissfist' but it's probably the best track on the record. Again, really loud and blown-out vocals and guitar. Totally ripping.

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IN-FREQUENCIES #6: Baba-X, Woollen Kits, Rank/Xerox, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys.

IN-FREQUENCIES #5: Dro Carey, Mad Nanna, Circle Pit, Chaos Kids.

IN-FREQUENCIES #4: Pond, NoTV, UV Race, Johnny Casino.

IN-FREQUENCIES #3: Kirin J Callinan, Bare Grillz, Hammocks And Honey.

IN-FREQUENCIES #2: Tough Troubles, Lakes, Brainwaves.

IN-FREQUENCIES #1: Absolute Boys, Pageants, Southern Comfort, Taco Leg.