The wait is over. After abruptly announcing an indefinite hiatus only weeks after the release of their 2012 breakthrough LP
Colourmeinkindness,
BASEMENT release
Promise Everything today, he band’s first full-length writing and recording since their hiatus.
Promise Everything is
triple j’s feature record this week.
Sonically, the record breaks progressive new ground for BASEMENT despite the creative process sharing much in common with previous endeavors. Challenged by the spacing out of members not only across the country, but across the globe, Promise Everything was written by piecing together songs from different members, sent back and forth over a short period of time. Without the luxury of a shared space or even a convenient time zone, the songs were only ever played by the full band while in the studio. Perhaps this is why on listening, Promise Everything feels like a conversation between different people, revealing different moods and feelings throughout.
This conversation shifts and evolves, filtering subtle, tasteful alternative rock touchstones through the band’s unmatched melodic lens. More clearly aggressive songs like ‘Brother’s Keeper‘ and title track,‘Promise Everything’ situate BASEMENT at the forefront of the rock world, pairing that aggression with an inherent sense of melody. Where before on the band’s previous album Colourmeinkindness, songs like ‘Spoiled’ focused more on aggression and lyrical content, Promise Everything takes a more melodic approach. On standout track ‘Aquasun’ lyrical flow and melody overtake the listener while overt meaning gives way to musicality and its nuance. Tracks like ‘Submission’ or the chorus in ‘Lose Your Grip’follow suit, challenging the listener to explore the songs aurally as a whole, rather than piece by piece. As a result, Promise Everything feels more complete than previous efforts and the songs feel like they are truly part of the same group. Despite years spent apart, it would seem Basement’s musical conversation has always lingered – and as their first true cohesive document, Promise Everything is only the beginning.
Grab Promise Everything today and catch BASEMENT on their national Australian tour in May withTURNOVER and BREAK EVEN.
