Tremble Out - Based On Our Situation

Tremble Out

Based On Our Situation
self-released; 2015

3.8 out of 5

By J Simpson

Chances are, when you think of Austin, TX, swaying hammocks and breezy palm trees are not the first things that spring to mind. But with temperatures frequently above 100 degrees, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes are a part of Austin's culture and perhaps even more mandatory. 

Whatever the reasons, the seaside acts as a lasting inspiration for Austin's Tremble Out on Based On Our Situation, the band's first fully realized EP. Tremble Out plays a washed out, shoegaze-inspired dream pop, drenched in reverb. Tremble Out is definitely in the proud tradition of mid-00s dream rock, a la Beach House and My Morning Jacket, but they also bring in elements of experimental, atmospheric slackgaze, like you'd find on the earliest Wavves records, or the whacked out tropicalia of Sun Araw and Ducktails.

So, yeah, not necessarily re-inventing the wheel, huh?

Yes, Tremble Out may sound like bands you've heard before with one important difference - Tremble Out's diaphanous gauze frequently gives way to catherine wheels of intricate, spazzy math rock, like on album opener "The Shore." Too often, dreamy, shoegaze-y music is too distant, too removed - it sounds pretty, and makes for nice mood music, but doesn't convey any heat and passion. And, two, it is too easy to spin meaningless cocoons of irrelevant noise with a delay pedal or two and some power chords. 

There was no impetus towards masterful songwriting or musicianship (which was also part of its charm, being punk rock in its own way). But following in the wake of so many tremendous musicians that have already done the experimentation for you, a band needs to push forward, to continue to refine their sound, for themselves, to find their own unique, distinctive skew on things and continue to push the musical mission forward. 

While Tremble Out makes pretty, graceful, relaxing sounds that are still energetic and passionate, they have also clearly put the work in, being tight, focused and well-rehearsed, as evidenced from the unison guitar riffs of "Materialistic Paradigm" (although I could do without the shout along gang vocals at the end of that one). 

So, whether you're headed to the beach or just need some white sands in your mind, Based On Our Situation is here to help you out. A very promising debut from a new band! 

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