[CD Review] EMPRA – Strange Condition

empra

Australian alternative rock is going through a renaissance period right now, and while these guys reside very firmly at the accessible end of alt-rock, they still fit loosely into its broad parameters.

And going by this five track EP (four studio tracks, one live), they are putting themselves in a very good position to ride the wave. Not only do they have a Birds of Tokyo level of mainstream accessibility, their sound is, while still driving and energetic, far more bright and chirpy than that of most bands do the alt rock thing. And this only adds further to their appeal.

This EP is kinda easy, breezy and fun. Normally quite a dark genre, this is alt rock that you could actually imagine driving down the beach to, on a warm summer’s day with the top down and the stereo a-blasting. Having said that, the energy inherent in the songs still means they suit a sweaty rock pub late at night. In fact, these guys are very entertaining in a live setting.

Standout track would probably be ‘The Chronicles of Office Politics’, which sounds like odd fusion of INXS and the Foo Fighters. But all five tracks are good, fun, up tempo rock tunes.

This relatively new Melbourne band display serious potential with this EP. Hopefully next they will give us a long player.

7.5/10
Reviewer: Rod Whitfield

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