by Aidan Stewart.When it comes to new acts who are laden with hype, it’s hard to ward off that eye-rolling cynicism. Thankfully, in the case of Sydney-based band, Bridezilla, the hype is completely warranted. How many bands get to support the likes of Wilco, play at the Sydney Opera House and be personally selected for All Tomorrow's Parties by both Nick Cave and the Flaming Lips all before the release of their debut album?
Opening their album, The First Dance, with a patter of violin and sax on the track 'Lunar Eclipse', singer Holiday Sidewinder cries about the absurdity of love; “I don't ever even think of you, I want to be loved by you.” The overall style of this album of sophomore folk/dream pop gently rocks the listener in time to unseen waves.
Elements of compositions are similar to that of Augie March or Sarah Blasko yet as a whole something completely different. Drummer, and the lone male member of the group, Josh Bush tends to steer clear of the snare drum and is light on the cymbals, which gives a tribal quality to the backing beats. The lack of a bass player is barely felt, covered adequately by Pia May's jangly guitar rhythms and Millie Hall's low keyboard underpinnings. The inclusion of violin is more than just a novelty, both featuring on and adding to every song in the quasi folk/classical style of My Friend the Chocolate Cake. Its presence draws out real pathos that the conventional guitar, bass and drums would struggle to reproduce. The only problem is that because the violin is always at the front of the mix there is a lack of separation between the songs. It would have been good to hear a little more saxophone from Millie Hall, as this tends to sit back too much. However this is a minor quibble on what is, in total, an impressive and mature debut.
Try as I might I can't come up with any immediate international comparisons - there is something distinctly Australian in Bridezilla's sound. I am usually the last one to indulge in patriotic rhetoric but a sense of cultural identity is usually always a positive experience.
The stand out track by far - on an album with so few let downs - is the sublime 'Queen of Hearts'. With a rhythm very similar to Paul Kelly's 'From Little Things Big Things Grow', Holiday's straining chorus lifts the song into new ground. In fact, Holiday has the kind of voice that can make lyrics like, “Surrounded by a pack of dogs,” sound almost desirable. The album is broken in two by the instrumental track 'Soft Porn', which makes the listener long to be taken on a stroll through the countryside. Throughout the album Bridezilla manage to coax just enough minor change from a small spectrum (ranging from navy blue to violet rather than trying to cover the whole rainbow) to maintain an both interest and cohesiveness.
Through the fourteen tracks the band never outstays their welcome. The album anything but raucous, luring the listener to the same state felt on a relaxed yet contemplative summer's afternoon. Whilst there are many other bands (especially in Australia) following a similar direction, the combination of Sidewinder's distinctive voice and a balancing of nuanced instrumentation make Bridezilla stand out from the crowd without having to talk themselves up. I envy the few who will no doubt discover this band on their own terms, with expectations untainted by hype.
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