Album Review: Wait For It

Superturtle have returned! The Auckland post-punk four piece’s fifth album Wait For It is self-described as branching out with a fresh direction “but still firmly grounded in their post-punk roots”.

The band’s new look line up is still headed by project mastermind Darren McShane, who gave the band it’s birth 12 years ago, and takes credit for the production of the album at his own Earwig Studios. Make no mistake though, this is a band sound. There’s a freeness to the recordings. You feel like you’re in the tracking room. A refreshing take in the age of digitally precise recordings that even the heartiest rock bands fall in line to.

Wait For It indulges a more raucous injection of bluesy rock n roll than its predecessor Student Flat Reunion, the distorted guitars take the lead while synths jump in to nod to the 80’s post-punk aesthetic reminiscent in previous Superturtle work. Lyrical wit is a plenty, to the point of making it unmistakably Kiwi, and a guest feature from Jono Annadale on the “water bong” in I Love Those Cigarettes certainly takes the cake for cultural nods. But what Superturtle does with all that quintessential humour is channel it in to some proper catchy hooks. There isn’t a track on this album that wouldn’t have chanting along with McShane unmistakable voice. WTFRU (you shouldn’t need me to tell you what that stands for,) the most brash evidence of this.

At 37 minutes run time, Wait For It is well paced despite an interesting flow. The title track is a true epic, but almost feels like it jumps in a little early on the listing. Personally, I find its energy leans it toward being an album closer. Nonetheless, Superturtle’s fifth effort is a proper stonker, an album stacked full of tunes that will no doubt make delectable live music. Superturtle are ascending their way to being a beacon of independent music in Aotearoa, and Wait For It might just be the album that makes them legends among peers.

Stand out tracks: WTFRU, Bad for Business and Wait For It