The Thousands

In their half-decade of existence, Sydney’s Naked On The Vague have explored musical territories that are largely indefinable, but usually dark, industrial and fairly unsettling.

On Heaps Of Nothing, the former duo are joined by an unremitting rhythm section that propels their noise dirge into a realm of strange, decayed rock music. Several pieces sideline to the two-piece’s enigmatic early sound for a more straightforward song-based approach. ‘These Days’ and ‘Treading Water’ have instant pop hooks, but are still steeped in mystifying, swirling cacophony. It’s full of amazing sounds, most of which hurt a bit.

NOTV have always flirted with gothic moods and tonalities to colour their brand of cold, inner-urban psychedelic gloom. But instead of revelling idly, they take now-clichéd ideas put forth by bands like Bauhaus and Christian Death, and completely mangle them through sonic extremity. Their punkish nihilism keeps them far away from the pitfalls of image-driven, ‘likes-to-put-on-stupid-clothes’ goth poseurs.