Umpire "Now We're Active"

UMPIRE

Perth has had a strong history of Pop bands especially from the 80's onwards with bands like The Stems, Peppermint Drops, The Marigolds, The Stolen Picassos, The Palisades, The Summer Suns, etc... These bands were followed in the 90's and 00's by groups like The Chevelles, Wash, The Rachels, Joe Algeri, Superscope, etc... The latest in the pop lineage is Umpire whose members have history in bands such as Adam said Galore, O, Mukaizake and they've just released their debut album "Now We're Active" on Hidden Shoal.

The album contains all the trademarks of a good pop release with a major factor in it's sound is the crystal clear production of bassist Simon Struthers work at Forensic Audio.Strong melodies, darting in guitars, strong hooks and enough grit to provide an enjoyable listen.

My knowledge of contemporary Indie-rock is non existent so I wont even try to compare them to other bands. The label press release that comes with the promo I received mentions that the band "formed in 2006 as a studio songwriting and recording project where ... opportunity to utilise the studio as an instrument, developing their songs without the pressures of playing as a live band". Normally you see such references of the studio as an instrument in electronic/experimental music, but it suits Umpire as you can see they have put a lot of thought into the music and how it sounds.

The highlight track for me (pretty much liking it the first time I heard it on RTR) is "The Canyon". It's opening line could be the mantra of this blog especially when it comes to me reviewing: "I can't articulate all these thoughts zigzagging through my head, there's no exit" covers all the ground I mentioned above and is a mini epic clocking in at 5:19 and being the longest track on the album. "Streamers" is another highlight, but I'm not sure if this is the same version that came out on their self titled ep in 2009 that got the band attention with JJJ and won the band the WAM (West Australian Music) award for song of the year in 2009. "Green Light District", the lead out single which can be picked up for free here has a very summery and fresh sound reminding me of The Go-betweens, not musically but in that care free feel that they had on songs like "Spring Rain".

Hidden Shoal  states "the album's ten tracks bring progressive rock influences, indie-pop sensibilities and shades of math-rock into explosive collision, then shape them into songs that are at once epic and intimate". If this description and the free track above tweak your fancy then you should check them out (especially for "The Canyon"). The Australian release was June 2, while Internationally it sees release on July 14. You can pick it here and here and check out the video below.



"Now We're Active"