Album Review: L-Y-K-E Giants - Fires Thieving Time

I have to admit, the spelling and grammar Nazi in me cringed and made some cruel jokes about Tasmanians being backwards after my initial glance at the spelling of L-Y-K-E Giants, but I finally brought myself to listen to the album, and was extremely gratified when I did. Working with American producer Sylvia Massy (Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers) has instilled an entrancing, more mature quality into Tasmanian three-piece Lyke Giants, whose sound is a hundred times the size of their home state. Their debut album Fires Thieving Time presents crisp, deeply entwined tracks that evoke a longing for summer nights and long car drives down the winding coast.

It's easy to get lost in the various tracks of this album. If you can make it past opening track Waiver without putting it on eternal repeat, you will experience layers of heart-crumbling, passion-rich sound that warrant every ounce of your attention. And if you can't give each track every ounce of your attention, each track deserves a second, or tenth listen. The Thieving Fires is certainly a stand out track; a carefully crafted combination of ambient riffs, towering vocals and lyrics that stick to you like the plague. Each song is well rounded, and has the capacity to sound just like every other alternative/indie-rock song in existence. Yet Lyke Giants keep you constantly guessing, with each track throwing a curveball in the form of another captivating riff or astonishing vocal change.

A long way from their self-titled EP, with richer, more evocative vocals, and a far more dream-like quality, the Tasmanian trio have produced an album that will see them quickly skyrocket to national recognition.