Melbourne band AlithiA has just landed in Europe for a tour before recording their first full-length. I discovered them at Progfest and after a brilliant short set decided to review their EP from 2010 “A Realm O’Null” for our ” Echoes from the Past” series because it was too good not to have on our books.
Although not used at Progfest the full live set has in the past included costumes, theatrics and video images that are controlled and edited in real time using a custom built guitar, which takes it a step beyond what most bands with light shows are doing.
The band label their music as Astral Space Core, which “taps into the chakra and connects the cosmic consciousness of its listener”. I’m still not sure exactly what this means but it sure taps into something, probably even more so with a some mind-altering drugs in your system.
Taking a large dose of ethereal shoegaze and electronica and mixing it with psyche and punk the four progressive rock songs on the EP engulf you in their flowing technical wave of sound. Largely instrumental with passages of vocals there is no single focus or star of the show but this makes it far from directionless and there is always some sound either caressing you or grabbing you by the shoulders and screaming with despair into your face.
Melody is important and generous, taking you on one long adventure in each track rather than throwing a few hooks your way and repeating them over and over. The dynamics extend to both sonics and timing as tracks like ‘WTFJ?’ build to a dramatic and angst-filled crescendo before pulling right back. Then before you know it the intensity peaks once more, vocals handing to guitar for a few phrases as keys, drums and bass keep their hands firmly on the leash. You can almost smell and feel the tension- the releases of energy explosive and sparking with emotion and it’s clear they bring a lot of their very high-energy stage presence into the recording studio.
This 25 minute EP is a neat and tidy package just the right length for the songs on offer which really feel like four movements of the one piece. If you want something you can have on in the background but also sit down and really escape into, then this will do the job.
You can stream the songs from the EP on AlithiA’s facebook page.
Posted by Gilbert Potts.
