New on my radar but with constituent ingredients from other Naarm/Melbourne bands, Season 2 have just released their debut album ‘Power of Now’ and it is a stunning introduction to a delicious brew of classic indie pop.
‘Power of Now’ exudes a pop maturity that is both melodic and bold.
Opening track ‘What For’ canters along at a breathless pace with shard-like guitars and deadpan harmonised vocals delivering a pure pop bounce that thrills. ‘Becomes A Dream’ continues with the frenetic delivery and a certain louche insouciance inflected with a joyous carefree air. The guitar riff sets an arching reference point throughout the day-glo pop melodies.
‘Abundance of Power’ slows the pace a little but is no less intense with a muscular rhythm section, call and response vocals and scaling choruses. The observant vocals are über cool and slightly dispassionate that flows into the next track ‘Looks The Same’.
‘Tugging at the Cable’ is a pop masterclass with its delicious soaring melodies that sticks to you like glue: anthemic and cinematic, the unashamed antipodean accent adding a certain ingenue to the delivery.
‘Videos Are Gone’ is underpinned by an ambulant bass before the dappling guitars enter with the layered vocals adding a filigree of gold. There is an unhinged element, almost catering out of control but held by the steady percussion.
‘Lucky’ is another whirligig of a track with the deadpan delivery above the fairground organs and pattering rhythm. The vocals in ‘In The Pits’ is inflected with an element of melancholy, with an antithetical bright bouncily breezy instrumentation, while ‘Holiday’ and ‘Nothing Affair’ have an angular delivery and a joyous whirl.
‘And Again’ is a punchy deadpan finale.
‘Power of Now’ has a fine genetic source code – anything from eighties bands like X-Ray Specs to The Passions via Tom Tom Club through to strong antipodean elements of the Flying Nun Dunedin sound, epitomised by bands like The Chills and The Bats and Australian bands like Pel Mel and The Particles. It is pop of the purest variety, a certain low-fi naivety with a fey delivery that is nervy, fresh and vital. This is a stunning and enticing debut.
‘Power of Now’ is out now through Upset The Rhythm (UK) and Spoilsport Records (Australia) and available through the link above.
Season 2 are:
Claudia Serfaty: keys, vocals
Freya McLeod: guitar, vocals
Matt Powell: guitar, vocals
Charlotte Zarb: bass, vocals
Carolyn Hawkins: drums, vocals
Season 2 will be launching the album on 22 May at Bell City with @the_shifters_101 and @tb_the_director.
Feature Photograph: Sian Stacey
