18 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Electric Tapestry - EP Review: Warship Across

09 Oct 2024 // A review by Peter K Malthus


Warship Across is the third EP since their first in 2021 for Wellington-based Electric Tapestry. There is a large and diverse list of musical influences that have gone into making the Electric Tapestry sound. Suffice it to say that the description on their Facebook page reads "Electric Tapestry is a space rock dish of creamy psychedelia, metal chunks with a pop topping", and that sums things up nicely.

On first track Nightshift, some softly spun solo guitar briefly offers up some chords, before the band kicks in and spreads the song's wings., creating a wonderful wave of lush warmth, with a deft little signature guitar lick, and vocals and crisp, clean, and clear as a cloudless spring day. Halfway through, the pace kicks up several gears, with a strong and solid rock feel. Things are off to a good start.

Next is Over My Shoulder, there's a dream-tinted '60s vibe to the start of this one, and it becomes pure pop rock mastery. Plenty happening on the vocals front, and it's all good. It's 5 minutes of dance-inducing, sing-along happiness, adroitly presented. There's a little bit of swagger-laced dirt sneaking craftily in on guitar at various points. I like the care and attention this band takes in constructing guitar and bass parts that all complement each other so skillfully as is perfectly evident on Easy Street. Another upbeat and airy song, with just a tasty little hint of grit, some cool moments of tension, and a belter second half. I can just tell that this one will be bouncing around the brainpan, long after I've finished listening.

Peppermint Snow is a subdued song, but the groove still flows powerfully along. Those guitarists are at it again, with their slick interplay, and standout dynamic control. A band that clearly listens to, understands, and plays for the song. The vocals are soulful and pure, and sung with conviction and skill. Ooh baby, it's time for some slinky funk styles on The Train. That bass player is just all over it, with a massive deep tone, bringing the low end in spades. All sorts of interesting guitar playing is exhibited in this improvised instrumental piece of nearly 8 minutes duration, with the drummer right on the money, just feel for days.

And just as all good things must come to an end, so Warship Across ends with Endless. Another improvised and almost entirely instrumental piece, it's a track in no hurry to get going, meandering deliciously along. There's a vocal part that only ever makes suggestions of being involved, hovering around the fringes of the sound as if shy, until belting out the final lusty note.

The members of Electric Tapestry are crafters of songs that will have you coming back again and again for further listening pleasure. Superb.

 

About Electric Tapestry

Created out of a desire to combine the atmospherics of post rock with the immediacy and sensibilities of pop, Electric Tapestry weave together a wide range of elements from a variety of genres to achieve a unique sound.

Three very different guitar players founded the band out of frustration with their previous musical groups, and decided to fully utilise their numerous effects pedals to create rhythmic noises, echoing harmonies and sonic washes to fill their soundscape. Riding atop this wave of sound can be heard familiar melodies from music originating from disparate styles across the decades of rock.

The shimmering Dunedin jangle sound is often utilised, in combination with occasional funk rhythms. Meanwhile, vocal lines that are reminiscent of South African pop can be heard from either of the two vocalists, only to be interrupted by layers of warm fuzz, crystalline blues lines à la David Gilmour, or a heavy metal lead guitar lead. The band is inspired by groups as diverse as The Beach Boys, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Crimson, Genesis, Van Halen, Radiohead; not to mention New Zealand bands such as Crowded House, The Chills and Straitjacket Fits.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Electric Tapestry

Releases

Warship Across
Year: 2024
Type: EP
The Adrift EP
Year: 2022
Type: EP
The Origins EP
Year: 2021
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Peter K Malthus

Appertain - EP Review: Sideways
29 Oct 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
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.
Read More...
Gig Review: Jan Hellriegel @ The Piano, Christchurch - 04/10/2024
06 Oct 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
It's always a treat to get to go see a show at Christchurch's beautiful The Piano, and sit in its stunning auditorium. Unfortunately, I arrived slightly late due to some teenage hijinks on the home front, so I missed the start of Steffany Beck's set.
Read More...
Goodwill - Album Review: Kind Hands
03 Oct 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Goodwill is the solo project of producer, songwriter, and former nomad member Will McGillivray. Having been songwriting over the last couple of years since the release of the Incontrol EP, Goodwill is releasing Kind Hands, a debut album of nine tracks.
Read More...
Frau Knotz - EP Review: Nextraterrestrial
13 Sep 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Frau Knotz is the performing name of multi-talented Lauren Nottingham, a singer, pianist, producer and composer based in New Plymouth. Having released the first of her singles in 2022, she now bestows her EP Nextraterrestrial upon then planet Earth.
Read More...
Jai Bartlett - Album Review: Echoes
11 Sep 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Jai Bartlett is from Wellington, where he creates his "Alternative Hip-Hop", a description that immediately had me interested. He describes his debut album Echoes as "diverse", and I had the pleasure of discovering what an understatement that is.
Read More...
Festival Review: Go Live! Festival @ Town Hall, Christchurch - 17/08/2024
18 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Christchurch City Council's Winter music festival, Go Live!, is now in its fifth year.
Read More...
The Early 20’s - EP Review: Vultures
16 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Whilst citing influences so broad and diverse as to be "way too many" to list, and those influences are drawn from "anywhere and everywhere", The Early 20's will have you believe that at the end of the day, they're a punk band. Defining one's band's genre can often be difficult, especially in cases like this where a multitude of influences are at play.
Read More...
Al Park - Album Review: Monkey
15 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Al Park is an integral part of the Christchurch music scene, woven deep into the fabric of the city's musical history. From his early days in the punk scene, through to packing houses with either Louie and the Hot Sticks or with The Latter Day Sinners, manning the counter at the iconic Echo records or behind the bar at his legendary venue Al's Bar, and being a champion of many of the exponents of the "Lyttelton Sound", Al has contributed immeasurable amounts of time, energy, and soul into his passion for music.
Read More...
View All Articles By Peter K Malthus

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem