Album Review: Tusk Tusk - Ease Up A Little

At first, Ease Up A Little seems a complex listen full of dissonant harmonies, unconventional rhythms and a gentle clanging, but there is some structure lingering beneath the ornaments and somehow this collection of sounds combines together as a delicate recipe for audible success.

Susie is a good precursor of what's to come, with the distorted ambiance of Sigur Ros and a gutsy guitar riff reminiscent of Vampire Weekend. Minimalistic and almost painfully alternative, Tusk Tusk aka Brisbane-born Dominic Fagan still manages a full and satisfying sound.

New single Anxiety is the album highlight, evident from the get go, with lyrics like “in case I haven't made this clear, you look fucking foul” sure to startle listeners from their trance. The track is peppered with almost-upbeat handclaps and what sounds like a tuba honking around discordantly in the background.

Sometimes notes are so sparse and clashing that the track pushes at the boundaries between good music and noise. But that may very well be the point. Sometimes it works, like on the instrumental ode to Jimmy Hendrix, 1983… Was Something Of An Epiphany but final track 17in Love gets a bit too crazy with the piano accordion and She Hold maintains a perhaps too intense repetition across the four-and-a-half-minute track.

The brief interlude, Intro, has a wonderful melody full of unpredictable notes, accentuated by a group humming session that becomes a hypnotic chant by the end of the follow-up track, 2010 single Crazy Little Birthmarks, which ends with some momentous rolling drum rhythms.

The intrigue is so strong that this album, although very experimental, leaves a strong imprint on the memory. It evokes a perfectly acceptable sadness and reflection that needs a few listens through to sink in.