- I’m Terry is the latest record from Melbourne quartet Terry. Always abstractly quotidian and unitary, together they inhabit the single undivided identity of Terry. Carpe Diem is an apt opener, a lyrical mediation on a rotation of borrowed Latin expressions, reflecting on the alienated routines and vocabulary of working life. It sees Xanthe Waite and Amy Hill sing in unison accompanied by a droning keyboard melody and the rhythm of light cymbal taps, an instrumental chorus folds around a guitar riff, with rolling drums and xylophone opening up the melody before another verse mirrors the first, this time with Al Montfort leading a succession of Spanish “mi casa es su casa”, Latin and then French phrases “c’est la vie”.
The simple structure that moves between two alternating feels makes a concise statement of about Terry's artistic intention. It revels in the uselessness of its own making, but celebrates art's uselessness in its contrast with the borrowed platitudes and pains of productive and profitable work. This theme is doubled on Bureau but in the form of a direct and personal polemic against bureaucratic society.
The Whip talks of disciplinary action in catchy and propulsive verses, enacting the conflicted character of punishment and gratification. The Whip is painted as a punishing, knowingly self-sanctioned, but still attractive motivator in the pursuit of psychological and material satisfaction.
“Unto the whip / the tip of reason / the whip of wealth / the whip of wheels / the whip of feels / it’s fine / it’s fine / na na na na na na”
It's far from that didactic, and Terry’s fixation on different forms of power continues on Under Reign, where the understated unison vocals work their way through knots of whispy surrendered and accusatory lines to a snaking minor lead guitar melody, underpinned by a persistent sixteenth note bass line, and a shuffling reduced latin drum feel driving its shattered momentum.“Gone for the mantra / Hostages / Under reign / hostages again.”
The action is closed out by a buzzing saxophone line, with a coda of rising detritus lingering on at the end. Crimes is an apologetic anthem to the brutality of criminal justice. The lyrical style is non-specific, not so political but more widely social, allowing for Terry's anthemic, catchy lines to peer through layers of apathy.
Their energetic and even-handed delivery is always in service of the song. I'm Terry reveals a cohesive set of compositions. There's ample stylistic experimentation, but thematically and performatively they feel unified, exuding a far-from-ordinary kindness and closeness that shows us we could all stand to be a little more like Terry.
- Jaden Gallagher.