The Citadrels hail
from Melbourne Australia. They put out self proclaimed "anti psych wimp
rock". They dropped God Bless in
January of 2018. It’s the bands 8th album since forming in 2010.Their
sound is fresh and eclectic. Claiming they were influenced by the Kinks, Brian
Jones Massarce, Jesus and Mary Chain and the versatility of Brian Wilson, you
can hear the jangly surf rock coupled with shoegazing and harmonizing. A
righteous combination if ever there was one.
Listening to God Bless was like a road trip across county. All the vistas look
different some roads are smoother than others but all make for a trippy ride. The
songs on this album do not mimic one another with each having a distinct
flavor. The band is the brain child of Sunny Down Snuff. Snuff is a musicians’
musician practicing every day and fine tuning his musical prowess. “If I’ve got
to work a shitty job for the rest of my life, but I can keep making music, then
I’ll be happy doing it.” Over the course of the 8 years Snuff has gone through
15 band member to form this tight quintet consisting of Snuff, Rhys Young,
lead guitarist Curtis Goodfellow, bassist Sam Heathcote,
and drummer Alex Pijpers. The band states the album is a “concept
album of sorts [which] abstractly explores themes of influence, religion and
morality through characters from a small town gradually falling out of touch
with its surrounds.” The band possesses amazing depth and range. Each
member takes his turn as the front man singer and they all play different instruments
which lends to the diversity of sound styles on this album.
The song "Holy
Ghost" feels like it belongs at a eulogy with the Hammond organ on full
blast. They harmonize in Gregorian Chant style crooning “We love the holy
Father”. Rock star altar boys singing like a psychedelic choir. In an
interesting turn of events the next track "God Bless" is soaked
in surf guitar heaven and rich Beach Boyesque harmonies. The spoken word dominates this diverse track. "Believe
and Receive" has an ethereal lush atmospheric shoegazing sound. Wonky
synth played alongside the twangy guitar rushes this song into your system. Slow
Dive and Ride came to mind while listening to this song. The track fade out
brings it to a dramatic halt. "Roman Holiday" is full of rich harmonies.
It took on a Parquet Courts slimmed down vibe with the aching guitar pleading
to be given its due. the stark monotone vocals give way to the rolling rhythm
fresh with harmony. It’s an infectious tune that will stick in your
brain. “GRC” has the band morphing into a 60s style heady indie rock
land. Harmonizing like Darling Side they take this tune to great heights. The
infectious guitar playing and the vocals create a heady delight. “Pictures
of Uncle Arthur” is loaded with reverby guitar. The Australian accent is distinct
in this tune. The crisp vocals combined with layered melodies,
strings, what sounds like a slide whistle and ending with and effective blast
of a trombone makes this Beatle inspired tune a gem."Post War Preschool”
is a trippy instrumental number that doesn’t' give way to vocals until 3;02
"I get up I get down." The shoegazing vibe ripples through this track. The
song last track “Dawn Chorus” congers up Beach Boy comparison. The jangling
guitar and the rhapsodic harmonies. Dawn Chorus ends with a glorious hymn of
strings. The abrupt ending leaves you wanting more.
What makes this band unique
is their lack of fitting into a style. If I hear Rolling Blackouts Coastal
Fever, another fine Australian band, I know its them. If I heard different
songs from The Citradrels I might not be able to tell which band is
playing. I love the sense of keeping one guessing and left desiring more which
I am sure the prolific Citradels will provide in no time.
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