(Pop Crawl/Lonely Composer)

Captivating local DIY pop

Considering the amount of moronic dance and blank folk music that makes it way onto Australian alternative radio, it’s almost criminal that the engaging pop of groups like Swaying Buildings continues to be ignored. The Brisbane band’s second record, Bloom Beside The Freeway Moon, is both meticulously crafted and undeniably charming. Focussing on the self-conscious narratives of vocalist Marco Ilinic, the group relies on jangly guitar chords and neat lead melodies to convey a wide assortment of moods. For instance, the outstanding Different Now, which expresses a heartfelt sense of loss, is counterbalanced by the optimism of the upbeat Future Now. The influences are clearly apparent here, the group’s melodic pop songs falling somewhere between Teenage Fanclub and The Go-Betweens (indeed, one could easily confuse the chorus of Meet Me At The Door with the iconic Streets Of Your Town). While some production issues, particularly surrounding Ilinic’s vocals, occasionally tarnish the mix, Bloom Beside The Freeway Moon is a fine record that in an ideal world would be dominating the airways.

DARRAGH MURRAY

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