Some Real Treats
This reissue comes as part of Domino's series of re-releases to mark the 25th anniversary of The Triffids' first releases and sees 'The Black Swan' returned to its original 2 disc format, making it a sprawling epic that will entertain you for a good few hours with its varied output.
Initially 'Falling Over You' with its trippy electro beats, rapped verses and serene chorus is a sudden standout, while other songs ease you more easily into The Triffids' style; 'Goodbye Little Boy' matches sweet female vocals with vicious lyrics and crunchy guitars that bleed through the soft electro. The majority of the songs are jaunty pop with bright backing and smart vocals, but there's always some creative touch that raises The Triffids above the average, be it the growling menace of 'One Mechanic Town' with its panicked guitars and hurtling drumbeat or operatic warblings, such as on 'Bottle Of Love'. These sly twists provide a little lift from the shuddering pop songs brimming with fuzzy 80's electro beats, which are frequently party to the risky strategy of throwing in as many synth sounds as possible just for the sake of it. There are slower, ruminating tracks like, 'Butterflies Into Worms' that show off David McComb's songwriting especially well with slinky bluesy keyboard riffs embellishing his wistful words.
A cover of Elvis' 'Can't Help Falling In Love' may seem like a awesome feat, but McComb's lofty intentions come off pretty well with vamping brass and rasping vocals that really transform the tune into a gripping 80's rock tune. 'Blackeyed Susan' is a rushing, operatic masterpiece of searing cymbals and haunting melody that's definitely a highpoint of the album. Although the point of the re-releases is to create a complete Triffids collection, the addition of the second disc makes the package a pretty heavy listen and if you're looking for the gems, 'Blackeyed Susan' would be one. It's unlikely that you'll appreciate the additional disc unless you're a real Triffids fan, but the reissue is a neat little package with a good choice of songs.