The Thousands

Hobart trio Ivy St. truly conjure the desolate atmosphere that Australian bands conjure best. The strangled opening notes of Oh Their Faces instill the creeping notion that this rural excursion is about to take an ominous turn. Enter tumbling drums and an unruly guitar rabble that soon becomes sustained, roaring discord. The perversely danceable rhythms evoke memories of Bird Blobs, another band with ties to this mystery-shrouded southern island. This song is killer, delivering the infectiously sick fun of sonic violence.
 
On the flipside, there’s Talk To Strangers – a far less abusive number. The rollicking drama of Faces is gone, giving way to more subtle virtues of the band. There’s a hypnotic, chiming guitar that works its way into your sub-consciousness (it won’t leave me alone, even now) and an insistent hi-hat pulse that ties everything into a steady, almost mechanical pattern. This clinical delivery achieves the cold and hostile mood that’s so intrinsic to post-punk bands. A fine 7", but this kind of adept diversity will have you seeking out their full-length album before you know it.