Thirds is the latest release from Auckland-based Vox Capacitor, "a one man jangly dad rock and indie guitar pop explosion", and is his first full-length album, having previously released two EPs.

The first track is Imperfect Storm, which kicks off with a medium-paced beat, a solid rhythm section under tastefully driven guitars, both the melodic lead and the rhythm. A great opener, an upbeat indie rock song with a good chorus hook. I enjoyed the tension/resolution of the chord progression, nicely done. Nebulous Time is slightly more mellow with its acoustic guitar intro, and is a little slower paced, with the guitars more lightly dialed in. It has a great vocal melody, and some cool imagery in the lyrics, "spinning in the wind like sycamore seeds" being a particular favourite. Between Us has another stout, punchy rhythm, and lyrics that speak of a strained relationship, "There's something between us, but it isn't much, I can't just reach out, I'm so out of touch"... all too relatable.

Fire On The Wire is a much slower offering, with a gorgeous guitar arpeggio at its centre. A song about uncertainty and its surrounding emotions, and resolving oneself to one's fate, "There's a fire on the wire that I'm standing on, a little stability is almost gone". Telling It Like It Isn't is another slower paced one, with a slightly mournful feel. I love the opening line, "If life was like a pop song, I'd be sipping Dom Perignon". The lyrics reflect on the difference between life as it really is, and the false facades people use to present themselves to the world. There's an extremely tasty guitar solo over the mid-section.

Mandelbrot is a sweet and delicate song, and quite minimal musically. Its lyrics describe the beauty of the fractal geometry of a Mandelbrot set. The music builds a quiet intensity as the song progresses, a perfect musical accompaniment to viewing something that inspires such fascinated wonder. The pace picks up again with Distill, and Vox Capacitor's skill at both creating and capturing the best guitar tones is amply on display, A song about metaphorically stripping back to only that which is necessary, "Purify, Refine, Distill". A more rocky riff cranks up Mono. I would have liked to have heard the vocals sitting a little higher in the mix on this one, I found the lyrics difficult to make out at times, but a solid classic rocker all the same.

Winning had me grooving along right from the start, a fantastic dance-inducing feel that's lively and fun, one of the album's rockier numbers. I found the vocals just slightly buried in the mix on this one too, but not so much that I couldn't appreciate the strong melody, or the great line at the conclusion of the chorus, "I'm stuck fighting fires, and the fires are winning". It All Comes Down To This absolutely STONKS. A slow but powerful groove, with an utterly monster riff under the chorus. Easily my favourite song on the album , meaty and grunty. The Smell Of The Rain is musically instantly evocative of wistfully enjoying a rainy day, of simply enjoying the magical richness of nature, and has another masterfully delivered guitar solo. Lyrically bittersweet, "The smell of the rain reminds me of life...back when I had one".

The album comes to a close with Parallax, a reflective and sombre mood, a subdued song, speaking of feeling exhausted and uncertain, whilst striving to maintain a front of having everything together. A song both bold and vulnerable, with a subject matter that I imagine many will find familiar.

Every instrument played, and every vocal line delivered were all Vox Capacitor himself. An impressive result, from a songwriter continuing to grow and experiment. Well done, sir.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  L.A.B.
• 6
  Devilskin
• 7
  Michelle Rounds
• 8
  The Feelers
• 9
  The Boondocks
• 10
  Coridian

• 
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• 
  Sam Fowles & the Experience @ Festival of Lights - Pukekura Park, New Plymouth - 5/01/2025
• 
  Hello Sailor @ Black Barn, Havelock North - 4/01/2025
• 
  Dragon @ Black Barn, Havelock North - 4/01/2025

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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