Kite Vendor constructs a sonic landscape, experimenting with bright and colorful instruments, and expressive, echo-soaked lyrics set against a hazy atmospheric backdrop.
The self-produced debut, See You At The Equator, features a collection of songs recorded over the last four years that explore the idea of personal growth and change in the face of new ideologies and the struggles with adolescence.
Hailing from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, lead singer and guitarist Kyle Brown explains that “the equator” is a metaphor for the line we walk between the past version of ourselves and the new.
Brown stands at the precipice that connects the past and present to reflect on the journey so far — how he went from early bedroom recordings on GarageBand to working with professionals in a recording studio.
He was heavily influenced by DIY indie artists like Dustin Payseur of Beach Fossils and Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV, who similarly started as solo projects fusing elements of alternative rock, shoegaze and dream pop.
Kite Vendor grew with the addition of Kyle’s brother Jake Brown on bass guitar, James Noonan on drums and Noah Sole on guitar. Together they have performed more than 100 local shows throughout the city.
See You At The Equator adds in splashes of neo-psychedelic and 80s new wave inspired influences to give it a more well-rounded sound.
The album opens with “Glass Library” a hauntingly liminal track that combines the ambience of a Joy Division song with a layered incantation about universal balance.
“Waxwork” was originally released in September 2023, but it’s a real belter. The way Brown’s sultry voice echoes over this jaunty, psychedelic tune gives the song such a wholesome sound.
The band is joined by the dynamic singer-songwriter Cari Scharl, who delivers a captivating performance on the track “Seadust,” adding another layer to this poetic song about stagnation and silence.
“Ventolin” changes up the pace a little. It’s faster. It’s louder. And it’s pretty catchy too. Although the vocals can sometimes feel a little over-saturated by all the distortion, it makes for a much bolder and punchier track.
The bedroom pop-fueled track “Ark” offers a peak at one of Kite Vendor’s earliest songs. Originally released in May 2022, the song really captures the individuality and raw charm of the project.
Despite clocking in at a minute and 40 seconds, I quite enjoy the “Coalcutter” interlude. The layered samples of children talking over the shimmery instrumental jam gave off major Pink Floyd vibes.
“Orbit V” layers the vibrant sound of the cello with Brown’s captivating voice to convey the emotion behind the track, detailing the difficulties of friendship and what happens when people grow apart and realize they no longer share the common threads that once connected them.
The track fits into the broader theme, as the transition into adulthood tends to reveal some of the personal hurdles we must overcome to discover our true selves.
Guest vocalist Sinead Hogan sings the lead on the darker, more synth-driven track, “Faultline,” a deep, brooding song wishing for an end to all pain and suffering in the world.
“Made a wish upon a dying star / Said a prayer into the night from far away. They could die before you learn their names. But we’re all afraid / Don’t be invisible or close your eyes.”
The album is an impressive collection of songs that retraces the evolution of an introspectively aware and thought-provoking new group from simplistic beginnings to where they are now.
Take a listen to “Orbit V” from See You At The Equator below:
Written by Dan Offner
