Foxx on Fire - 'March into the Sun EP' review
Australian psych-rockers Foxx On Fire appear on our radar with the 'March into the Sun EP' Hotly anticipated by fans, the video for the title track racked up 12,000 views on their blog in just three days.
Their new EP, then, opens with a drumbeat that ushers in a crashing guitar, the track flowing dreamily, immediately taking you aboard its spacey atmosphere, before we hear suitably psychedelic lyrics like "the ocean's lost its way" and "we're floating on a train in the land of the rising sun." The guitars meanwhile, build up to a heavier, more progressive sound, before the falsetto chorus starts. The band wastes no time in grabbing your attention. This track is the kind that would more than likely fare well in an experimental live setting.
The EP as a whole is replete with subtle, cosmic-sounding intricacies weaved into the tracks, further confirming that this is also an exercise in sharp, talented production. A variety of sounds are weaved in to form a coherent whole that you don't necessarily notice on a first listen, which helps 'March into the Sun' to stay fresh on repeated plays. Where this isn't as apparent is on 'Vicious Satellite', which is a return to more conventional indie rock (albeit plus some very welcome saxophone). Though probably the weakest track on the EP save for the instrumental closer (a chilled, ambient reprise of the opening track), 'Vicious Satellite' still shows exhibits a grasp of control and melody, and that the band are not afraid to play with different instruments than they might normally use, to good effect.
Elsewhere we find the undeniably catchy 'Into the Light' and the aforementioned reprise of 'March into the sun' (the latter of which Brian Eno would probably be proud, it being reminiscent of Steve Mill, circa 'Space intro'), but possibly the highlight in this collection is 'Mission Abort': easily the most danceable track on the EP. Opening with an almost disco-sounding bass-line that gives way to a relatively simple, but expertly played circular guitar riff, it demonstrates how catchy this band can be whilst showcasing what they do best on the experimental side. Whilst on the surface seeming to be a fairly conventional verse-chorus-verse indie song, on careful listen there are many subtle, almost sci-fi-ish sounds backing it up (think noises you might hear inside a UFO), showing the track's added depth and intelligence while it's driving guitar riff still rocks at you.
Overall, Foxx on Fire, no doubt without the help of some talented studio staff, have managed to craft a consistent and sharp EP, with barely a minute wasted.