:: The Sinking Citizenship - Broadcasting Germs

The Sinking Citizenship

Melbourne trio The Sinking Citizenship formed in 2002 after its members, Kristian Roberts (guitar, vocals), John Forbes (bass), and Matt Cox (drums) separately relocated from Perth to Melbourne in search of fresh musical pastures. Famed for their ear-splitting live shows, their full-length debut Broadcasting Germs is not for the aurally weak or musically staid, as this release is about as far removed from the current crop of corporate rock whores as it is possible to get. This record is a dark, menacing beast; think The Birthday Party brutalising Joy Division, as a horrified David Bowie looks on, and you‘re at least on the right track. Opening track 'Safe In The System’, boldly declares the band‘s manifesto, the gloriously tight rhythm section effortlessly creates a fluid and malevolent groove. Intoned over this relentless, snaking backbone are solemn vocals, seemingly delivered by an Edith Piaf-channelling clairvoyant. This exhilarating racket is gilt with the silver leaf of high-end guitar. On other tracks such as the eerie 'Neutralise’ and the supremely nasty ‘Sixes and Sevens’, the warble breaks in favour of words spat out in a harrowing, caustic rasp. There are also moments of real beauty here, such as the heart-tugging and emotive quasi-anthem ‘The Doomstars’, the signature being a beautiful, spiralling guitar motif which shimmers like streetlights reflected off rain-soaked tram tracks. On the Bowie-esque ‘Last Minute Intervention’ they display a startling ability to pen a bona fide pop song. The bass line and melodic hook are screaming out to be a single, and this is augmented by frostbitten piano chords and vast sheets of icy distortion, which are somehow wrenched from a single Stratocaster. At this rate, The Sinking Citizenship look set to become the most challenging and aesthetically satisfying of Melbourne's current crop of local bands done good. Jet? That's a Wings song, isn't it?