(Shock)

Old hands, new gloves

Like an odd sock, Victoria’s The Fauves are that band who disappear for eons only to pop up in curious places, reminding you that they were once masters of idiosyncratic Australian guitar pop with catchy sing-alongs such as Dogs Are The Best People and Surf City Limits. You could probably assume they still are, being that they’ve played together for 23 years, have notched well over 1000 shows, and have (according to their PR), ‘outlasted several generations of rock journalists’. But cynics might wonder if they can still reach the peaks they once traversed over a decade ago. Thankfully their 10th full-length record, Japanese Engines, immediately dispels any such scepticism, levelling preconceptions from the start with a fine innings of chiming, melodic pop gems. Japanese Engines begins assertively, the lovely descending arpeggios that meander through the chorus of Don’t Say When and the upbeat optimism of Ride On Woman, reminding us that the band still have the knack for constructing intelligent, amiable melodies, echoing the best work of The Lemonheads and Guided By Voices. But while the songs may be upbeat, the themes are much more serious than many would have expected. The particularly touching Flag Of Convenience discusses the calamity of being in an unbalanced relationship (“wearing my plastic smile / while you fucked other guys”), whereas the contemplative ballad The French is reflexive, the older, more mature Fauves seemingly questioning their role in the world. Overall, this is a convincing effort, made more enjoyable by the band’s talent for writing engaging lyrics. Indeed, Japanese Engines could be the record that finally stops fans of Australian guitar pop crying into their pillows each night.

****

DARRAGH MURRAY

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