Format: CD, Album Country: Australia
Time 55:6
Original Release 2009 Private Press Reissued 2021
https://www.hazardsofswimmingnaked.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hazardsofswimmingnaked/
Style: Post Progressive Rock
It seems, that these days, the catalogue of progressive rock sub-genera’s is on a never-ending growth spiral, especially with new bands branding their own musical style with their own fancy titles. But the term ‘Post Rock’ is a very clear marker to understand and the ‘Hazards of Swimming Naked’ embark on this style of progressive rock with much style and panache. A good example of this is with their 2009 album ‘Our Lives Are Down’ which is now making a very welcome return to the music marketplace. It is an album that cleverly explores the idea of combining rich textures and colourfully structured refinements over traditional progressive rock arrangements. Probably one the earliest examples of this ‘Post Rock’ idiom would be by the prog-rock band ‘Spooky Tooth’ who collaborated with French musician ‘Pierre Henry’ to produce their adventurous and essential album ‘Ceremony’
Without a doubt and in a sense the album ’Our Lives are Down’ conjures up a truly cinematic feel as the band explore a multitude of riveting textures. Such arrangements being directed by an abundance of thoughtfully arranged melodic guitar that intertwines between the basic percussive frameworks. Throughout the ten tracks, there is a wonderful interplay between energetic forceful drumming and hypnotic driving bass. The whole album is a totally instrumental affair with a two-guitar lead arrangement issuing out a series of complex chord and riff patterns. There is of course an experimental element to the proceedings but this is absorbed in the richness of the melodic attitude and scenic qualities of the music.
Summary: A stunning album that can be described as music for the soul both in terms of its listening qualities and the absorption of its hypnotic splendour
- Requiem
- I’m A Friend of Edward Stevens.
- Sparks Fly;
- Sweta Pace
- And a whole assortment of uppers and downers
- Don’t Cry For Me Dario Argento
- Dreams Don’t come true, that’s why we dream.
- Kip Keino
- Percussion, Perils of Dancing
- Reverie
Members
Rick Anzolin (drums), Cameron Diery (bass), Adrian Diery (guitar), Gareth Rigden (guitar), Chris Lait (guitar), Josh Peters (percussion), Kirk Harmer
From the Web:
Hazards of Swimming Naked are a Brisbane based 5 piece instrumental band originating from Queensland’s tropical far north. The humidity and vibrancy of that region permeates their music and culminates in a sound which shares all the cinematic grandeur of artists such as Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mono.
