The Arsonist

Disguises is the debut effort from local lads The Arsonist. Full of glistening pop gems it takes you through a deluge of infectious synth sounds, thumping drums and striking powerful bass chords that blend perfectly with some outstanding songwriting.

A bare bones piano combined with a funky, driving drum beat, bring forth the first single and opening track Breakdown. Here the urgency of Nick Di Lena’s vocals are laid bare with great results and are well supported by the equally talented Louis Rendle O’Shea and Tim Collins, “I can’t do this anymore, So bless your heart for trying, She’s a shadow of what I knew, I must regain my fire”.

Closer begins slowly before weaving together an array of rhythmic, pulsating beats, which balance perfectly with the smooth, soulful vocals of Di Lena and O’Shea. A sparse, almost out of place piano briefly appears around the halfway mark, to give the song a gentle haunting touch. In Easy Lover the funky and mesmerising drumming of Steve Judd blends effortlessly with a bar-room piano to have you guessing where these clever arrangements will lead to next.

Holding On To You is able to successfully push the acoustic guitar above a canyon of pop rhythm that once again fuses effortlessly around the soaring vocals of Di Lena and O’Shea. The title track Disguises pulls you into the night with a killer chorus that follows you to sleep, “I thought I’d seen it all, Until she had my back up on the wall”.

Judd’s drumming instinctively shines in the atmospheric Antimatter. Taking on a more expansive journey, the layered, repeating vocals brings this highly accomplished EP to a close.

With all songs produced and written by the band, it’s obvious this talented quartet from Perth have, with their debut effort, created something special.

Continuing to move full steam ahead, we can expect a new single to be released in December, with the EP to follow in February 2014.

AR - Suburban Murmur

Disguises is the debut effort from local lads The Arsonist. Full of glistening pop gems it takes you through a deluge of infectious synth sounds, thumping drums and striking powerful bass chords that blend perfectly with some outstanding songwriting.

A bare bones piano combined with a funky, driving drum beat, bring forth the first single and opening track Breakdown. Here the urgency of Nick Di Lena’s vocals are laid bare with great results and are well supported by the equally talented Louis Rendle O’Shea and Tim Collins, “I can’t do this anymore, So bless your heart for trying, She’s a shadow of what I knew, I must regain my fire”.

Closer begins slowly before weaving together an array of rhythmic, pulsating beats, which balance perfectly with the smooth, soulful vocals of Di Lena and O’Shea. A sparse, almost out of place piano briefly appears around the halfway mark, to give the song a gentle haunting touch. In Easy Lover the funky and mesmerising drumming of Steve Judd blends effortlessly with a bar-room piano to have you guessing where these clever arrangements will lead to next.

Holding On To You is able to successfully push the acoustic guitar above a canyon of pop rhythm that once again fuses effortlessly around the soaring vocals of Di Lena and O’Shea. The title track Disguises pulls you into the night with a killer chorus that follows you to sleep, “I thought I’d seen it all, Until she had my back up on the wall”.

Judd’s drumming instinctively shines in the atmospheric Antimatter. Taking on a more expansive journey, the layered, repeating vocals brings this highly accomplished EP to a close.

With all songs produced and written by the band, it’s obvious this talented quartet from Perth have, with their debut effort, created something special.

Continuing to move full steam ahead, we can expect a new single to be released in December, with the EP to follow in February 2014.

AR - Suburban Murmur

This scribe’s second consecutive night at the Rosemount was a different affair that proved none the less encouraging in its showcase of local music. First act up and Sparks Vertigo demonstrated a sublime, ornate sound of depth and intricacy. Finely crafted with a keyboard and piano combo, plus plenty of familiar faces and vocal talent, the six-piece were sending some serious As Tall As Lions vibes; a mighty fine thing. One-man beat extraordinaire Sam Perry grooved through some vocal percussion loops and verbed-out vox that drew admiration in a different kind of way. Losing himself in some Eminem verses, the dude has got his set absolutely smoking at the minute. If you looked away you would never know you weren’t listening to a DJ performance.

The oestrogen-fuelled Boys Boys Boys! proved a delightful – if a little too sugary – addition. Camp as shit, the band have a knack for making the mundane contagious and have deservedly forged a sound of their own on the back of some seriously catchy tracks; new addition ’90s Forever pointing to a direction with no less the kitsch. Preparing to record their debut album, expect plenty more of the kind of songs guys in cardigans and over-sized glasses ironically enjoy. R&B revivalists The Arsonist earned a large and deserved headlining audience for a band still very early in their existence. Launching their debut EP Disguise, the twin vocal attack was as smooth as it was fly-stretchingly sexy. Channelling the greats (MJ and JT), the emotive piano and synth lines, soulful harmonies, and intricate, restrained beats demonstrated nothing but talent. Closing with the fantastic single Breakdown, overhearing a burly looking man turn to his equally burly looking mate and say, “I wish I could sing like that”, you know you’re onto a winner.

Written by Luke Butcher - Drum Media