The Buoys have been hovering on the sting of a correct breakthrough for years, thanks to 3 robust EPs which have positioned them on the forefront of Australian alt-rock. The Sydney quartet’s first full-length is considerably overdue, particularly after personnel modifications dogged the primary half of the band’s eight-year lifespan. However The Buoys’ line-up has been regular since 2019 (founding singer/guitarist Zoe Catterall, guitarist Hilary Geddes, bassist Courtney Cunningham and drummer Tess Wilkin), and collectively they lastly ship the debut they’ve been hinting at for therefore lengthy.
‘Lustre’ follows by way of on the fiery promise of earlier Buoys anthems like 2021’s ‘Deceive Me Once more’, particularly since Catterall’s capacity to fold punchy commentary into compact, guitar-driven music has solely grown extra assured with time. The Buoys – who had been named with a transparent wink and nudge – centre the queer feminine expertise an increasing number of, balancing well-earned ire with accessible songwriting. The album’s greatest observe, ‘Topic A’, hits again on the male gaze and celebrates the empowerment of not internalising exterior judgement. Equally, the Alex Lahey co-write ‘Examine Mate’ grafts a easy message about checking in with your pals to meaty, Pixies-worthy peals of guitar.
A file stocked with multi-tiered triumphs like these could be satisfying sufficient, but The Buoys make a concerted effort to develop and showcase their vary. ‘I Assume I’m In Love With You’ is darker and grungier as Catterall describes rearranging her room in order that it doesn’t remind her of the tune’s topic, whereas the lockdown-inspired ‘Borders’ evokes Camp Cope’s sharp-edged emoting. The radio-friendly ballad ‘Holding On’ is instantly adopted by a punky shout-along chorus on ‘It’s Over’ and the post-punk brooding of ‘BDSM’. Different tracks exhibit softer edges that make the band really feel properly rounded.
Although Catterall has a doubtlessly simple goal within the disappointing males of ‘Topic A’, her most affecting subject material is her personal emotional turmoil. “I’m discovering some pleasure inside all the unhappiness,” she divulges as she examines grief and partnership on ‘Holding Busy’. ‘Unstuck’ explicitly references an “existential disaster”, earlier than ‘Completely Utterly Nice’ closes out the album with some winking levity: “I’ll inform her every thing labored out simply high-quality/However I’m mendacity.”
Effectively well worth the wait, ‘Lustre’ paints a vivid image of the place the band would possibly go subsequent. They might not be alone in marrying of-the-moment anxieties with ’90s-style alt-rock — see their current cowl of ‘Vampire’ by Olivia Rodrigo, who’s performed that very factor so effectively — however their dynamic vary right here proves that completely chosen phrases can hit ever tougher than a riotous guitar hook.
Particulars
- Launch date: July 12
- File label: Sony
