Album Review: Weightless - Self-Adjustment

Weightless are a young band who are still finding their feet and that shows in their debut, Self-Adjustment. However, rather than trying to cover up their weaknesses through production tricks and techniques, the Adelaide band have stripped back to the basics and created an insightful and brutally honest album.

All eight tracks reflect a clear, childish innocence through the band's lyrics and melodies. The intrinsic guitar lines that nurse each track on Self-Adjustment are so delicate that they appear to only just be holding each song together. From opening track, Anxious In A Crowd, it is clear that there is no whitewashing over the little bumps and rivets within the album. It is the intention of the band for us to hear every slight guitar line, to clearly experience raw and at times strained vocals and to be guided through each song by clean, understated drumbeats. Self-Adjustment is an interesting and refreshing debut because the band was bold enough to highlight their vulnerability and inexperience through their untreated, clean songs.

Weightless have great potential. The short but sweet Life Abroad is a stunningly simple composition of uplifting harmonies and graceful guitar work. Similarly, Holding On, though unadorned, is a well-considered track with perfectly executed control. Summer Of John is another example of a musical composition that has been developed with a maturity beyond that expected from such a young band. The rawness of the vocals throughout Self-Adjustment does get a little trying at times, and it is clear that the stronger talent within the band lies in the expert musical talents of the guitarists and drummer. However this does not affect the endearing quality to what is an impressive debut.