Album Review: TV Snow - Red

Locals TV Snow have thrown their hat into the ring with many of Perth's finest contemporary acts, attacking a pop-rock sound that thrives on relentless hooks and energy. While not masters yet, debut full-length Red certainly isn't a bad crack. Recorded DIY style, like so many bands today, there is an endearing innocence to the record that adds an intangible, enjoyable element to each track.

Rich in guitar-driven, big-chorus pop, the band hold down a simple formula: clever vocal melodies sitting atop clean, bright guitars and a firm rhythmic spine highlighted by driving, atypical drumming. However, Red does feel like a young band still finding their feet. On the one hand, the songs could benefit from creating more space for the vocals to really embed themselves into the listener's ear; alternatively, some more ambitious instrumental arrangements (the dynamics of Underground and highlight Game Show a step towards the right direction) couldn't hurt. Nonetheless, the hooks of Boy Wonder, How Young and opener Call To The Siren demonstrate a sound that wouldn't be out of place on a certain national radio station.

With the ten tracks of Red, TV Snow have succeeded at crafting a release that ticks the boxes while adding enough moments of uniqueness above the plethora of cookie-cutter stylistically similar triple j bands. However, having added five tracks to their 2011 debut EP to form Red, the impression is made that a little more time to develop their sound could have been beneficial. But you can't blame a young band for taking the bull by the horns now can you?