Golden Robot records are a label that seems to have set the quality control very high, and along with their classic established signings like Little Caesar and Rose Tattoo seem to have a real eye for great new talent too. Along with the new breed like The Lockhearts from Melbourne come the young Sydney upstarts Flickertail whose new EP promises so much in its five songs.
Opening with ‘Let There Be Love’ I’m immediately gripped by a sound that comes across as a mix of local legends AC/DC and the classic hard rock of early Whitesnake or vintage Thunder. It’s a relatively straight ahead rocker which acts as the perfect introduction without revealing all of the band’s cards in one hit.
‘Talk’ adds a little more fuel to the fire with its great vocals and hook before the chorus takes things even up a notch further and ‘Fade Away’ that follows adds another dimension, sporting quirky lyrics and some gritty guitars and solid melodies. The best might just be reserved for last though: ‘Green Eyed Girl’ certainly has that feel of The Darkness at their wistful best, whilst closer ‘Back of My Mind’ has more of the stomp of the Hives, The Killers or the Kooks.
All in all this is a more than effective introduction – a nice fresh slab of modern rock that hasn’t forsaken it’s roots, and where substance trumps style every time. ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ is well worth getting acquainted with if you were in any fear that the young Australian bands out there were losing their way. These guys just leave you wanting more.
