Swapmeet’s debut full-length, ‘Mount Zero’ wraps you in a thick, guitar-heavy fluffy blanket someone’s grandmother made while smoking some killer weed years ago that hits ya with both familiar and fresh notes, effortlessly echoing the gritty, raw energy like that of Wednesday and Hop Along while keeping its distinct Aussie identity. The band members swap instruments and production duties like a far too talented art collective, stacking hundreds of tracks only to strip them back into some kick-ass sing-along anthems. At least it had me singing along while driving around Milwaukee looking for some weird spice that Xtine needed to make dinner the other night. It’s a record that captures the absurd, clumsy reality of your twenties… you know… navigating first loves, embarrassing moments when you openly weep in front of randos at the bar because of something kinda stupid, total uncertainty, and all that shit… and packages it all into a deep cathartic mind-ripper that has you coming back for more.
Among the standout tracks on ‘Mount Zero’, there were three absolute bangers that had me wanting more each time I played them. Mind you…. I listened to this album three times in a row while looking for some dumb spice that took me to go to three different places to get it…. so more than enough time for one release. First one, “I Know!” serves as a blistering opener that pairs airy vocals with explosive guitar riffs, and is pretty badass. Then there’s the title track, a slow-burning centerpiece that builds into a towering wall of sound, evoking the dreamy, melancholic vibe of some of that Duster or Mazzy Star feel before exploding into some pure distortion. Finally, “My Heart Breaks II” is over six minutes, but you never really notice, delivering a sprawling emotional punch that fuses subtle indie-folk roots with a thunderous shoegaze smack in the face that leaves your head vibrating.
‘Mount Zero‘ proves that Swapmeet isn’t just going through the alt-rock motions of the oceans and pumping out blah music… this is a kick-ass debut album that is loud, vulnerable, wildly fun, and easily one of the most exciting releases to come out of Australia this year. This album is really damn good… give it a spin today!!
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/swapmeetband/
https://swapmeetband.bandcamp.com/album/mount-zero