by Solkyri
This Sydney trio have been making music together for close to seven years. Stable mates on Birds Robe Records with among others Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, sleepmakeswaves and Meniscus, Solkyri more than hold their own in this exalted group with this release.
Are You My Brother? following on from their indie released EP of 2011 No House, is a big step up. With a melodic, almost indie-rock feel melded into the mix this is post-rock of the highest order, and not afraid to push the genre’s boundaries . The tracks on Are You My Brother range from the nearly 14 minutes of the excellent opener ‘His Ghosts Will Invade Puerto Rico’ to the two and a half minutes of ‘Oklahundt’, showing the band aren’t afraid of long or short tracks.
Hannah Cameron’s vocals and lyrics on the middle track ‘Home’ makes a break from the, cinematic at times, instrumental tunes. With three horn’s and three string players on five of the nine tracks this album has a sumptuous and full sound you wouldn’t normally expect from a debut release. Are You My Brother? and Solkyri themselves it seems have been touched by Sigur Ros, Mogwai and maybe a little Radiohead.
The final track on this album ‘Threads of an Old Life’ has a life of its own, with a very Celtic feel. Once I got passed the Waterboys, there were many fine indie Scots bands who would love to call this track their own, banjo and all. Somehow Solkyri make it work in this context.
Nat Carrol’s ‘old man and the sea’ artwork on Are You My Brother? fits this album so well, right down to the anatomically incorrect row boat, a little off centre like the album.
Chris Pearson
Pojama People
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