Album Review: Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird – New Romancer

There’s never quite been a film soundtrack like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. The collection of artists that appeared on that disc (Radiohead, Butthole Surfers and Des’ree to name a few) could soundtrack the messy, emotionally charged last few hours of a cocktail party. It was a collection of songs that portrayed the film's central decadence and heartbreak, all at once.

Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird cut out all these middlemen and co-writes, artfully conjuring the same after-hours atmosphere on their sweeping new LP, New Romancer. It mashes together indie, progressive and space-rock with some disco and a good ol’ pinch of Nick Cave (see the crooning slow-burner Joy).

From the Grizzly Bear-esque Love Is Heartbreak, the Floyd-ian LP highlight Flower or tender disco jam No Surprise, Cousin Tony's don't hesitate to dip into different musical eras to bring their flavour of pop to life, with frontman Lachy Rose keeping things anchored with his smooth, easygoing vocal approach. 

Despite all the dance and mystique that makes up the body of New Romancer, the record floats away on the cinematic title track, topped with a buttery sax solo, ending proceedings by wonderfully combining both the sadness and wonder of love itself into a piece of sonic beauty.