Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Underground - Wise Up

8/16/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Underground

Wise Up
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

By Mikhail Schilkey

There is a heady sort of minimalistic ambition inherent in approaching straight-up rock—let alone with elements of prog, jazz and electronic rock—from a predominantly acoustic perspective. Sure, many a rock album will have a couple of acoustic tracks thrown into the mix, but very few structure their most energetic songs around the acoustic guitar and natural, instrumental sounds. The latter is the case with Underground's latest EP. On Wise Up, the Aussie rockers, bring a powerful sense of pulse and drive, balancing roots rock energy with math-y, technical tendencies that seldom lean on effects or production beyond the sound created by four guys and their (mostly acoustic) instruments.

The album's opening, self titled track aptly captures the streamlined juxtaposition between acoustic instrumentation and electronic energy that define Underground. The opening riff rings and rattles with aggressively strummed guitar, a line that carries throughout the song like a synth backbone to a Depeche Mode song. But that's the thing about Underground, for as much as they can carry the feel of an electronic act like Depeche Mode, that same riff also sounds strikingly like one of the driving slide-bass lines from the great lo-fi, blue-indie band Morphine. 

The thing is, Underground themselves don't sound altogether very much like either of those bands
--rather, they're aggressively acoustic, with perfectly strained roots-rock vocals.  So, while the track follows a familiar rock formula (intro, verse, chorus, bridge etc.), it also superimposes characteristics you'd associate with other genres, resulting in an an exciting yet approachable sound.

While the track “Wise Up” is among their more straightforward rock songs, elsewhere the album finds the band showcasing technical elements of each instrument. “When I hear Your Name” contains a math-y, almost post-rock riff that involves a tight drumbeat punctuated by gaps filled with a guitar alternating between sharp strums and tech-y descending riff. Much like the rest of the album, the song is tied around a predominant riff that really gets flushed out by the different treatments in the different parts of the song. The drums really shine through on “Like Old Times,” while “Run On” finds clear, wavering vocals against steel guitar on the albums most anthemic track. “Payback” opens with break beat-y drums and a complex, understated bass-line reminiscent of Pinback. The album's rounded out by “Price I Pay,” the EP's most rockin' track, featuring a ripping electric guitar riff front and center.

As much as Underground does feature a more prominent use of acoustic guitar than most acts of this energy level, it's hardly a gimmick or constant throughout. One thing I noticed is that even when they use electric instruments or distortion, it's always done with a degree of restraint. You'll find no wall of sound here, and if you listen even half-way close you'll be able to distinguish each individual instrument and part.

​That's what really makes Underground impressive: a certain mindfulness of the product as a whole, yet an appreciation for each individual component. There's never a ton going on or a bunch of overdubbed parts—it has a live feel while still conveying an encompassing sense of scope.


As always, that probably has something to do with the recoding style. The album was tracked over the course of three days, mostly live, at Tender Trap Studios in Melbourne, with mixing duties falling to Lachlan Wooden and mastering responsibilities left in deft hands of Eddy Current. As good as any live band can sound, any music aficionado knows that capturing and conveying that can be a monumental task in and of itself, so credit where credit is due there.

Ultimately Underground manage to take some tried and true rock formulas and, through prominent use of acoustic instruments, manage put enough of a spin on them to come up with something truly energetic and exciting.
bandcamp
youtube
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact