Light Body is the second EP from Perth psychedelic rockers Blackmilk. Opener The Nanosecond is the lead single, and it’s a solid slab of Australian alt-rock. There are glimpses of chugging psych rhythms and riffs in the choruses, but it’s wrapped up in ponderous radio-friendliness and overly earnest, vaguely political lyrics. Maya is more down-tempo, with a throbbing bass and organ pulse that carries the verses, but flees before the predictably big chorus. The oscillating guitar and twinkling organ in the instrumental outro struggle to win the song back, but to no avail. Running On Empty is really shooting for Bends/OK Computer-era Radiohead, and does pretty well with its spacious, delayed guitar noodling and subtle harmonies. The Cosmic Giggle has a stomping drum and bass rhythm to begin with but, again, the obvious alt-rock choruses quickly smother the more interesting parts of the song, which highlights why Blackmilk are such a frustrating band. There’s so much here that should be awesome, but they’re woefully formulaic – almost lazily so. The needlessly obtuse verse/chorus/verse/chorus structures rob the songs of the otherworldly vibe they otherwise portray, while the lyrics (and their precise delivery) lack immediate imagery. It’s not a bad EP, nor are Blackmilk a bad band, but the difference between a good band and a great band is in the details. Experiment a little, boys, we can handle it.

JAKEB SMITH

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