New Gum Sarn - Album Review: New Gold Mountain
A mix of acoustic calm, eclectic psychedelic and nostalgic Kiwiana is what you can expect of New Gold Mountain, the semi-eponymous debut from New Gum Sarn.
While rooted in an old world sound, unfamiliar to many pop adherents today, New Gum Sarn’s sound is shaded with moments of playfulness and the experimental. Of the two instrumental tracks Anxiety Nap and Panic in the Treasure Trove, the second shows the band’s playful side, the track sounding like a Caribbean sea shanty. That and the spoonerism is the title of track two – Bad Soy.
The vocals remind me of some of the lesser known songs from Finn Andrews (The Veils) and at times, especially on the track Blue Flag like early Billy Corgan (the Smashing Pumpkins).
The music is like a semi-acoustic throwback to the underground scenes of the 70’s and early 80’s. It’s not just the well balanced mixing, or the reverb style; it’s the way the songs tangentially deviate at times, taking the tempo right down just to end the song, or syncopate, like at the start of Money Talks. The way it sounds like it’s going to be similar to Nirvana’s In Bloom, but then the drums come in on a beat you’re not expecting, and the rest is an amazing reflection on the big city economy from the perspective of someone that’s seen the small town life.
It’s an easy album to digest, with some memorable moments that deserve a re-listen. Recommended if you’re into something a bit different, yet still familiar, and people that miss the old style of music but also appreciate a modern twist.
The band are currently on tour, so if you need something to warm you up on these winter nights, you can find more details here.
You can find the band New Gum Sarn on Bandcamp, and the supermarket here. New Gold Mountain is available from JB HI-FI.
About New Gum Sarn
“The (debut) album was recorded where I grew up in a valley in the countryside,” says singer/guitarist Oscar Dowling. “The closest town is Puhoi which is a 15 minute drive along a dirt road. It’s a historic bohemian village, famous for cheese and the Puhoi pub. The first time my dad went to the pub the barkeep told him to ‘get fucked hippie’.”
New Gum Sarm also features Sophia Lawler-Dormer on drums, Dave Weir on bass, and Durham Fenwick on guitar (who co-founded the band with Dowling). Fenwick and Dowling started writing songs together two years ago, shortly after moving South to the city. After Dave and Sophia fleshed the songs out, the band borrowed two van loads of gear from a variety of friends and recorded the album live over a weekend in Puhoi with Oscar’s brother Sam Hamilton, a longtime Auckland artist. Hamilton has played with likes of Tall Dwarfs and Dean Roberts and has also released an array of music most notably his last two experimental and experimental pop albums PALA and Integrifolia. Hamilton is also a prolific artist with works ranging over the many mediums of film, dance and sculpture.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for New Gum Sarn
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