- Bands quite often change their sound over time, and with their change in sound comes an adjusted fan base - perhaps they had a lineup change, or their target audience grew up, or sometimes it’s just an organic aural evolution over time. Then there are artists like Brisbane cult favourites Cub Sport, who over the last few years have turned from caterpillar into magnificent butterfly. With their physical evolution has also come a musical one - namely their third, self-titled record, which is out now.
On a surface listen, Cub Sport’s tracks can come off as flippant, shallow pop, if you delve beneath the dreamy, reverb drenched synths, you find confessional lyrics, delivered by the angelic voice of Tim Nelson. He’s no poetic genius or political wordsmith but the diary style lyrics describe the everyday beauties of falling in love, getting high, hanging out and learning new things about yourself. His vocals soar into an impressive falsetto range at times and cement integrity into every word he sings: further pushing home the theme that carries throughout the record.
Party Pill is the sequel track to 2016 effort Come On Mess Me Up, adding fine detail to the evolution of the relationship with Nelson’s fellow bandmate (now husband) Sam Netterfield. Featuring stripped back instrumental production compared to most of the album, this allows the narrative of the lyrics to come to the forefront of the track, force feeding you a taste of the introspection this record provides if you take the time to really listen. Another highlight is Sometimes, with clever phrasing and vocabulary flanked by glittery, punchy production, making this track one of the biggest bangers on the record - a classic Cub Sport sad party anthem if you will.
If This Is Our Vice was unrealised love and BATS was unrequited love, Cub Sport is very much about the depths of true love. If this pattern continues, can we expect the breakup record next? Hopefully not, because at their core, Cub Sport is a band about love, and stripping that away would remove the heart of the band: wholesome and loving angels, providing the synth pop soundtrack to your next summer fling.
- Olivia Shoesmith.