Springtime

★★★★ Springtime JOYFUL NOISE. CD/DL/LP

Australian trio’s exhilarating debut brings stormy weather rather than spring.

Having branched out with the gnarly psychedelia of Tropical Fuck Storm, Drones singer/ guitarist Gareth Liddiard teams up with Dirty Three drummer Jim White and Necks pianist Chris Abrahams. Springtime has two approaches; one more methodical, like the intense, needling Will To Power, which slowly builds its mood of Bad Seeds-like malevolence as Liddiard fumes over humanity’s hapless tendencies (“Pentagon, captagon, privatised war immunity, impunity… it’s every man for himself”). The other is rooted in improv (Abrahams’ specialty). Jeanie In A Bottle’s ebbing, fraying drama fits the lyrics – by Liddiard’s uncle, esteemed British poet Ian Duhig – about the perils of alcohol; The Island and The Killing Of The Village Idiot are increasingly tense, frequently beautiful explorations, with Liddiard’s lived-in croon, guitar scree and raging poetry up against Abrahams’ rolling notes and White’s scattershot fills.