4/5 stars
Perth’s Fall Electric are somewhere between psych and indie rock, yet neither of those titles do them any justice. Interior is their second record, and as the name suggests it’s an introspective effort.
Both lyrically and musically, Interior is complex and contemplative. The layering of cello, guitar and the vocals of leading man Andrew Ryan are at the core of most songs, and around this the band brings in drums, beat-boxing, heavy distortion, echoes and some very slick post-production courtesy of Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.
The downside to Interior is that the drive to create something unique tends to get in the way, and the intimacy of the cello, guitar and vocals can become clouded by everything else. That said, ‘Air Flows Gently’ is an easy chorus with building strings under a lightly plucked guitar, all held together by a steadily pounding drum and well complemented by distortion and echoes. There’s a lot to Interior and this is what it sounds like when the balance is right.
Throughout the album no ideas are underexplored and the arrangements are tight, and with consecutive listens you’ll begin to hear the time that’s gone into this music. Fall Electric are seriously talented, and Interior is a serious album.
