Naarm/Melbourne’s very own Favoured State have just put out their debut EP, titled It’s A Mess. The absolute ripper of a 5-track record is a mighty introduction to this 4-piece post-punk outfit; it’s a body of work that is sharp, bold, and mesmerising, in both content and sound alike.
It’s A Mess is defined by a style which sits somewhere between the classic punk approach of artists like Black Flag, The Saints and Stiff Little Fingers, and the more modern flair of current acts like Dust, Amyl & The Sniffers, and Genesis Owusu; all blended together in one big, beautiful, gritty melting pot of post-punk madness.
Following the release of the EP’s most recent single, the hugely spirited ‘Look Who’s Talking’, which explores the corrupt and out-of-touch nature of individuals in power who offer their input where they shouldn’t, It’s A Mess is completely devoid of any dull or lulling moments. The record maintains energy from track to track, all while approaching each tune with something fresh and exciting. The title track, ‘It’s A Mess’, reflects on matters dark and dreary (“There’s no sun in an echo chamber / It’s a mess / It’s a mess”), but with a sense of fire and passion behind its every move, refusing to go down without a fight.
‘It’s New’ brings the listener into a world of restless anxiety, perfectly capturing the expression of its narrator. The track comes in with some ripping guitar riffs, their funky twangs reminiscent of artists like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, before diving hard into its heavier instrumentals and gritty, chanting vocals. Elsewhere, ‘That’s Life’ is a stirring anthem that speaks to the need to be aware of the systems in place to dull our hearts and heads in this modern world. ‘They Lit The Match’, finally, burns as brightly as you would expect from its title; a track which explores the rage of its protagonist against the injustice of blame being placed upon the wrong people, when it comes to the many cruelties we witness in the world around us every day.
In its entirety, this EP is a skilfully cohesive collection of bitterly honest expressions and contemplations on the world it finds itself in. The record is drenched with earnest feeling and thoughtful assertions, despite its intoxicatingly frenzied exterior:
“The bones of the EP was written by [frontman] James whilst he had chronic fatigue in the UK. It was born out of frustration of not being able to work and just watching the news day after day. It was rather bleak and the lyrical content came from watching the political climate in London unfold.” FAVOURED STATE
The creative process of the EP itself came about in an almost poetic manner, as frantically as the sound of the music itself, according to the band:
“Once we had rehearsed it a bunch we got together and smashed it all out in a day tracked live, we felt that tracking things individually wouldn’t be able to get across the energy of the music so everything was tracked in the room at that time.” FAVOURED STATE
It’s A Mess was recorded, mixed & mastered by Calum Newton (Amyl & The Sniffers, Moaning Lisa, Tamara and The Dreams), and is set to be followed by a launch tour down the East Coast of the country. Favoured State have previously supported Berlin band S.U.G.A.R. on tour, and just earlier this year played Melbourne’s beloved Sydney Road Street Party for Brunswick Music Festival. With an unforgettable debut EP now under their belts, as well as talent and spirit aplenty, Favoured State continue, without a doubt, to establish themselves as ones to watch in the scene.
IT’S A MESS LAUNCH TOUR
Saturday May 18th The Hotel Metro Adelaide
Friday May 31st The Tote Melbourne
Saturday June 1st The Baso Canberra
Friday July 5th Towradgi Beach Hotel Wollongong
Saturday July 6th Shark Bar Sydney
Favoured State: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | triple j Unearthed