By hmcclure | May 24th, 2012
Exciting times ahead for Brisbane’s Mosman Alder, with their debut EP Burn Bright due for release on May 25. Since reviewing the EP’s first single “Raisin Heart” last month, Indie Shuffle has become one of the band’s biggest supporters – so much so that they have given us an exclusive sneak-peak stream of Burn Bright.
The EP itself almost never happened, with Queensland hit by terrible floods during its creation. Thankfully, the band pushed through, with Burn Bright all the more special because of it. Having had to complete odd jobs for studio time, the EP was then finished off by producer Tony Espie (the Avalanches) for mixing. The outcome is five tracks of brooding exquisiteness — but despite the dark nature of the tracks, the EP is oddly elevating.
As soon as you hear the first heartrending chords of opening track “Jasmine,” you’ll be hooked. Lyrically, the EP is storytelling at its best, lead-singer Valdis Valodze stating “I found it more interesting to tell stories.” This imagination is evident in each track. All the facets of the band contribute to Burn Bright‘s beauty – whether it be Valodze’s baritone vocals, the stirring percussion and piano segments, or Robyn Dawson’s violin accompaniment. “Raisin Heart” is still a favorite, but “The Ice Queen of Silver Screen” and especially “These Hands” have been underlined (by me) as highlights. The latter is Mosman Alder at their best, with soaring vocals, despairing strings and hovering guitar erratically shifting throughout.
With a birth at this year’s Splendour in the Grass Festival, they’re also setting off on their own Australian tour. I cannot speak highly enough of this group.
Gush over.