- WA boys Verge Collection have been around for a few years now, dropping a fair few singles and an EP along the way, while also regularly touring all over the country. After selling out every show they played touring their debut LP’s lead single, For The Story, they kept the momentum rolling with the singles So Vain, and one of their strongest tracks to date, Feelin’ Old. Complemented by an upcoming national tour, the band’s debut album, Flaneur, is now here.
The band have a very familiar sound, which finds itself somewhere in-between the jangly, nicotine-starched vibes of Mac DeMarco, and other Australian rock bands like Good Boy and Skeggs. Though this is not the case with any of the aforementioned acts, my fear when it comes to this breed of music is that it can often result in weak and unimaginative song-writing, but thankfully Verge Collection avoid this too.
The tracks on this record vary from carefree, shout-along tunes like For The Story and Sleep It Off to more introspective and inward-looking songs like Feelin’ Old, Long List and Black Dog (Undone). The refreshing honesty on Long List and Black Dog (Undone) is certainly welcomed too, something often neglected by the style of indie rock that Verge Collection have found themselves attached to. Their thematic variety will certainly make for interesting live performances, in the same way that The Smith Street Band are an interesting live act.
The album has a very focused sound, both instrumentally and vocally, which can make it hard for songs to stand out. Hopefully as the band really come into their own, we will hear more variation with their sound and not just the themes. The closing track Last Ciggie highlights why such variation would be welcomed, and is perhaps the standout track of the entire album.
The whole album carries a real end-of-Summer vibe, and Last Ciggie is where that is really brought into focus. The track carries a strong sense of closure, and neatly ties up the themes of the album, which are all about reflecting on youth, having regrets and fears but an anticipation of what the future holds, and ultimately, a fascination with creating memories in the present. And it, and the album as whole, is something that most people in that awkward stage between their youth and adulthood, particularly those that have had a traditional Australian upbringing, will be able to relate to.
- Jack Jones.