EP Review: Sideways

Auckland based Appertain consists of Adam Strang and David Hector, and between the two of them, they conjure up a nice big fat rock sound, “with powerful riffs and soulful lyrics”. October 10th saw the release of their debut EP, Sideways, and I had the pleasure of reviewing it.

The first thing that hit me was the quality of the production. A big, BIG, crisp, clean deep sound. Killer bass and drum tones. Sunny Day In London is a driving alt-rock song with a strong melodic sense. Fantastic feel, I really dig this song. It rocks without being heavy, per se, just good ol’ ballsy rock coupled with good songwriting skills, and there are hooks aplenty to be found. Until You is the second track, an earnest, honest song about a romantic relationship, and another solid rhythm pushes this one along, drums and bass locked up as tight as a Vegas bank vault. I’d love to get all guitar-nerd with these cats and talk about the gear they used for recording these guitar tracks, I’m loving their sultry growl, warm and rich, but with plenty of snarl and bite.

Lawn Chair is track three, and post-punk is a phrase that keeps ambling through my mind as I listen to these guys. Those super-tight drums roll this one out, soon enough joined by their stringed brethren, equally as well-endowed in the tone department. Lawn Chair is an upbeat and eminently danceable number, with lyrics both ambiguous and reflective. The chorus pounds its hooks into your earholes with a raucous massiveness, the whole thing finished off with a drone of some lush, fuzzy feedback. Next up is Just Wait & See, which has a big melodic surge of an entrance, bombastic and beautiful. As the title suggests, it’s a song of hope and anticipation, its huge, soaring feel infused with positivity and promise.

Final track Hall of Shame starts out with a very different feel, slow, moody, and sober. The lyrics “Read about the Hall of Shame, come across my stupid name” amply describing the song’s theme. The music reflects this perfectly, instrumentally more reserved and thoughtful, creating a subdued washy and mellow feel, with a dark and brooding vein. Of all the five songs, this is the one that gets stuck in my head the most, that chorus is just a banger. Make no bones about it, this is still very much a rock song, this one would have inspired a stadium full of lighters held aloft, back in the day.

A well-rounded EP, crafted with care and skill, and a worthy addition to any rock playlist.