<p><span><span><span><em>- Far Enough</em> is the second album from Melbourne four-piece Cable Ties. 2017's self-titled record was an indie hit both in Australia and around the world - a blast of angry, politically aware, hard-edged indie rock.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>That description mostly works too for <em>Far Enough</em>. The politics is still there, as is the strong voice and righteous rage of frontwoman <strong>Jenny McKechnie</strong>. The long, repetitive song structures are back again too, though the twitchy post-punk style is mostly gone, replaced by something reminiscent of 90's alternative rock. <em>Tell Them Where To Go</em> even borrows the riff from <strong>AC/DC</strong>'s classic <em>Let There Be Rock</em>.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>That song is like a feminist punk revision of Bon Scott's original rock'n'roll creation sermon with its tribute to women playing guitars and DIY spirit. And its call to action in the face of our feelings of inadequacy is really a theme of the album.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><em>Far Enough</em> doesn't hide away from big picture political issues of billionaire greed and ecological crisis. But it mostly focuses on politics at the most micro level - the immediate personal struggle of working up the belief and energy to try to create change.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The album lyrically starts and ends at family gatherings, with a conservative uncle, and I'm sure you know the type, ranting about greenies or defending his own inaction. In between, <em>Sandcastles</em> takes on those who say they care but do nothing more constructive than criticise from the sidelines, while <em>Not My Story</em> attacks the false positivity of those blind to their own privilege. <em>Anger Is Not Enough</em> is one for the social media outrage that doesn't actually lead to any change.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>It's a timely record for the dystopian sci-fi remake that is our current existence. Not just because it references struggling to breathe while running for the bus, or country towns running out of water, or having anxiety attacks in bed. We don't need a rock'n'roll album to remind us of those things.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>But what <em>Far Enough</em> offers is a statement that action is what is required in our times, action that starts with individuals committing to doing what they can. The album ends with <em>"I'm often feeling doomed, but don't mistake that feeling for apathy"</em>. But it's opening track <em>Hope </em>that really nails it - "<em>It might be hopeless but if I lose hope then I bring on that ending."</em> In dark times, Cable Ties have resisted just soundtracking the apocalypse, and instead made a record to inspire belief in tomorrow.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>- Andy Paine.</span></span></span></p>
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