The Creases – Tremolow (Album Review)

Posted on August 3, 2017 by KaydanHowison

The Creases – Tremolow
Released: 4th August 2017

The Creases Line Up –

Joe Agius – Vocals
Jarrod Mahon
Aimon Clarke
Gabe Webster – Drums

The Creases Online –

Brisbane has spawned a raft of great music in recent memory, ranging from death metal to industrial to whatever Osaka Punch say they play — now the city is hoping to add indie rock as another notch on its belt with The Creases debut album Tremolow.

The Creases recall the slow and easy rock of the 80s and 90s; tinges of synth and simple choruses practically fall out the album if you were to shake it. Throwing out strong The Smiths vibes, along with some sonic influences from Alan Parsons Project, the young quartet form a cohesive and enjoyable sound that is perfect for a lazy afternoon laying on the lawn and staring at the clouds (believe me). Oftentimes, the sound will lull you into a dozy state that allows you to really enjoy the simple allure of it all.

A lot of singles were taken from the album, but this is very much to their benefit, as it maps a relative timeline of their nature as a band. Early tracks from a previous release, ‘Impact’ and ‘Point’ are the weakest tracks on the album, possibly because they were written at a spatially different time or dynamic. Whatever the reason, they strike a chord of mismatch with the rest of the album, chiefly in the bass lines, which fail to have the boppy, rolling characteristics that underly the rest of the tracks. This is remedied by the wonderful ‘Everybody Knows’, filled out with a group chorus and a bridge that would make even the staunchest of military men break out a smile, this track is more indicative of the direction of Tremolow.

The bass is a huge driving factor for the album, often being the most prominent sound next to Joe Agius’ crooning voice and the irresistible drumming of Gabe Webster. The rhythm section is by far the most compelling aspect of the band, making me think of a softer Foals, as they both share the same creative simplicity in supporting each track with a strong bass line and drum pattern. Single ‘Is It Love’ is the perfect example (and perfect track in general) of how these elements work in concert. There feels like a lot of space between the instruments, giving each in turn their moment to shine, not to mention allowing the guest brass section to add another layer of catchiness into the mix. No single thing feels extraneous and that’s important, everything is required, necessary and catchy.

Unfortunately, there a few drawbacks about the album, most of which happen in the later half (starting with ‘Impact’ and ending with ‘Do What U Wanna’) that cause a lot of lethargy. I suggested that you listen to this in a largely non-threatening, easygoing environment because if you pay too much attention, the choruses tend to blend together and actually detract from some of the really interesting instrumentation that occurs in verses. The choruses have a habit of being simple chord progressions, which I understand are there to induce familiarity, but end up just being bland and overly uninspiring. Luckily enough, all the energy and creativity that is at the forefront at the start of the album returns for the last two tracks ‘Were Young’ and ‘Something’s Gotta Break’.

Overall, it’s an album that slips easily into your relaxation schedule and is the modern incarnation of good lounge music. The Creases have shown not only the reason why their quick rise to popularity was realised, but also that they have no intention of slowing down any time soon. Tremolow is undeniably catchy and oh so smooth.