Cold Hiker – Arms

Sep
04
posted by tommy

This isn’t the first time I’ve written words about Cold Hiker. The last time was a momentary discussion of their track ‘Phosphenes’ which was very good indeed, though at the time I mentioned an excess of Radiohead influence. Well I’ve good news for you loyal readers, the band have grown. Not just physically and emotionally but technically too. The vocals on their newest single Arms have lost the frustrated edge and now have a gentle confidence that’s slightly at odds with the subject matter before that synth backing comes in so slowly that you don’t actually realise it’s ascending through the mix; Somehow then, the track is thick with it. Then as slowly as it came, it’s gone again in an instant. Whoever had that idea, GOOD ONE M8. I DAMN WELL ENJOYED THAT.

We’ve exchanged a few emails in the lead-up to this post and it came out that we’ve a mutual admiration for the work of fellow Melbourne act I’lls (another staple of the Sound Doctrine experience). The direct quote was “talented musicians who know how to complement each others’ parts really well” which I read in a really teenage way, but ignoring that minor underlying innuendo, he/they went on to make a compelling case for I’lls and in particular: “I remember hearing the bass line in ‘Speak Low’ and nearly defecating”. So there’s that. It makes excellent sense then that these gents went on to ask Simon Lam (involved in this, this this and this) to produce this.

It’s subtle enough so that Lam’s fingerprints aren’t all over the thing and I can imagine the demo might not have sounded a world apart from this recording right here. Across the breadth of the track, subtlety is probably the resounding adjective. Nothing overbears, nothing intrudes and everything resides within its appointed measure. Worthy of your time and more than worthy of mine.

It’s all rather impressive given that the band met on Chatroullete*, you’d have to think. This’ll be the first single from a forthcoming EP they’ll have out early to mid next year. Meanwhile you can catch them every Wednesday of October at the Grace Darling for a mere five dollar bill.

*probably untrue.

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