“All-consuming headlines in your life tend to become footnotes in hindsight”. So writes Brisbane-based STAHR regarding their debut EP: ‘BLIP’.
This dynamic duo seemed to have arrived on the scene a couple of years ago – fully formed – with an intoxicating blend of punchy rock and urgent pop. After a handful of singles and a wave of radio support down under, they’ve channeled that momentum into this 5 track release.
‘Mother Aura’ – The EP explodes into life with an incredibly crisp energy. The production glistens and pops with infectious excitement. It sweeps you along before you have time to think. The guitars have a lovely grit, and the hooks come thick and fast. Grace Harris’ vocal drips with honey and fits the track like a tailor-made suit. Telling the story of a wild night out, it’s full and rich to the very last bar – the perfect start.
‘Loving Friend’ – Lead vocal duties switch to guitarist Sam Syrah on this track. It’s a cool mix of epic pop and sultry rock. Every space is filled with a melodic idea, an inventive sound choice, or a percussive flourish. It all adds up to a poptastic, roar-of-a-track.
‘Isn’t It Fun?’ – A social commentary on making moves from behind your phone, there is a twang – a dusty swagger – that has country DNA. Before long, the chorus brings a harder, slightly chaotic melee of sound. I loved the cinematic storytelling and the track’s wide scope.
‘Be The Light’ – The duo’s conversation continues, and we switch once again to Sam’s vocals. An elegant melody and a masterful arrangement make this track build and build like a classic rock epic. The soaring chorus and the layers of ghostly backing vocals give this a haunting allure.
‘Yours Tonight’ – The gnarly guitar riff gave me distinct vibes of Edwyn Collins’ classic ‘Never Met a Girl Like You Before’ – but this has so much more energy and variety. There’s an unstoppable groove, a staccato motif that crawls under your skin, and a guitar solo that transported me all the way back to 80’s glam rock.
The artwork for ‘BLIP’ looks like a balloon caught in mid-burst – and that’s exactly what this EP sounds like – snapshots of a band caught in the throes of a relentless creative surge. It’s a huge, effervescent sound – high-voltage pop with guts to match its gloss. The alternating lead vocals create a kind of conversation, and the sparkling production, combined with impeccable songwriting, delivers a debut EP that is anything but a BLIP.
If you find yourself down under, you can catch STAHR live in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast soon:
Thurs, April 23 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast
Fri, April 24 – Mirrorball Ministries, Brisbane
Fri, May 1 – The Presynct, Nambour
Written by Grubby
