Adelaide’s PLACEMENT Shake Listeners Awake with New Single ‘Inertia/Heavy Lids’

“When we get in a routine we can become zombie-like and shut down.” – Myra Ellen Amos.

Malia Werle, the vocalist for Kaurna/Adelaide’s indie math punk outfit Placement understands the above stated quote by the multiple Grammy-award nominee better known as Tori Amos, all too well. In fact, it is the inspiration behind the quintet’s debut single ‘Inertia/Heavy Lids’ from their eagerly anticipated debut album Insect due out later this year on vinyl through the Clarity Records.

Having supported the likes of Superchunk (USA), Quicksand (USA) and DZ Deathrays, as well as releasing their Lost Sun EP in 2021 via Endless Recordings. The band is set to levitate to the next level with their full-length dropping later in 2025.

The striking song begins with a raw garage indie outburst that rattles the listeners and forces their attention through the five-piece’s delightful disquiet. After these energised mere 14 seconds, Placement then navigate their way to an exquisite emotional indie-alt-rock sequence where Malia begins to truly shine with her insightful poetry. Commencing with a Patti Smith inspirited spoken-word mellowness, the track follows an incredible intricacy but continues to elevate into a This Town Needs Guns’ driven math-rock marvel enhanced by Stu Patterson’s striking saxophone additions.

“Sleepwalking we’re awake, but so bored. We don’t, don’t even want it anymore.” Malia Werle resolutely remarks before the marvellous musicians revamp the single into a garage dream-pop direction, similar to Aimee Mann collaborating with Virginia’s Turnover, but an impressive injection of Australiana is awesomely administered. Ms Werle pushes her vocal prowess into a spirited angelic croon, waking the witnesses from their habitual daily lives that seem to be transcending into inertia. As she describes:

“This song speaks of desire, motivation and slipping away into the sleeping reality of inertia. We may begin full of emotion, full of passion and vigour, but somewhere along the way are we just doing what we’re doing because it’s what we have been doing?…The power of habit and ritual is strong, the inertia of daily life can propel us through a lot, past a lot…eyes glued shut with sleep while we stumble through the things we know.”

The single concludes with a remarkable rapture of all instruments and the lyrics: “You had It coming, again and again and again and again and again… You had it coming.” Perhaps with the idea that people are expected to fall into this cyclical trap of repetitiveness and living inertia. So be aware of what routine may develop and become awake to what excites you!

As the late great director Jeff Baena said: “Zombies sort of typify this ambiguity, that they’re not dead and not alive.”

Don’t be a ZOMBIE!

Words by Will Oakeshott @TeenWolfWill

Insect will be released via Clarity Records with vinyl versions coming later in the year. Pre-order right now here

Stream ‘Inertia/Heavy Lids’ here

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