The
Whitlams have always been like Neapolitan ice-cream
- dependable, bland vanilla; seductive, silky strawberry;
tasty, obvious chocolate. Their recent output is
full of indistinguishable, polite material, whilst
for every pulsating, lively song (think "You Sound
Like Louis Burdett"), there's a mawkish, overcooked
song to turn you off completely (the overrated and
self-important "Blow Up The Pokies"). Such a track
record produces perverted results - a dog such as
"Chunky Chunky Air Guitar" is a highlight in their
back catalogue simply for being so bad. Torch
The Moon improves the average, with the permanent
presence of guitarist Jak Housden, bass player Warwick
Hornby and drummer Terepai Richmond providing an
edge to counter Tim Freedman's overly polishing
influence.
Certainly,
there are times when this band ethos fails, often
spectacularly - the underdeveloped jam of "Gone
Surfing" is interesting only for Housden's impersonation
of The Atlantics, whilst the apocalyptic sound of
"Coming Over" is amateurish. However, in songs such
as "I Will Not Go Quietly (Duffy's Song)" and "Royal
in the Afternoon", the band provides a raw kick
to the songs that should see them quickly become
live favourites alongside "I Make Hamburgers" and
"Thankyou (for loving me at my worst)". The processed
sound and (somewhat forced) groove of first single
"Fall for You" surprisingly works.
Torch
The Moon is a marked improvement on the excess
of Love This City. "Best Work" best exemplifies
this. On first listen, it appears to be another
overproduced, big song. However, the strings are
restrained and there is an understated charm to
Freedman's vocal. Like Love This City, though,
Torch The Moon starts with the most maudlin tracks
and ends with the simpler and more affecting songs
("Start My Cellar Again" and "Breathing You In"
are unfairly hidden).
The
real appeal of this material is in a live setting.
Surprisingly, The Whitlams genuinely rock. Richmond
is an expert timekeeper and Housden can provide
searing solos. The Whitlams, live, produce bombast
that cannot be matched by a string section of any
size. Certainly, this understanding is evident through
Torch The Moon - making it a worthy album
- but there remains a disconcerting and disengaging
polish.
Track
Listing:
1. Cries Too Hard
2. Fall for You
3. The Lights Are Back On
4. I Will Not Go Quietly (Duffy's Song)
5. Kate Kelly
6. Royal in the Afternoon
7. Gone Surfing
8. Best Work
9. Start My Cellar Again
10. Coming Over
11. Out the Back
12. Breathing You In
13. Ease of the Midnight Visit
Reviewed
by Michael Tran
