THE GREAT EMU WAS CASUALTIES RELEASE ANGSTY TRACK “TIGHT ENOUGH TO TELL”
“Tight Enough to Tell” is the latest song from Melbourne-based alternative outfit The Great Emu War Casualties. Released last Friday May 22nd, 2020, it is sonically and lyrically reminiscent of UK indie rockers such as The Wombats and The Kooks, but it is without a doubt a Casualties track. The song is a wonderful continuation of the band’s previous singles, showcasing more despair and frustration with a hint of the group’s signature tongue-in-cheek lyrical style.
LISTEN TO "TIGHT ENOUGH TO TELL" HERE
“Tight Enough to Tell” is the perfect fit-for-all-seasons tune, complete with elongated guitars and quick drums that contrast each other wonderfully to set the tone for a downcast track. The track begins dramatically, centring on before quickly shifting into a staccato guitar-and-drum combination. Lead singer Joe’s delivery feels blase, as though the unfulfilling banalities of existence have exhausted him. By the end, the amalgamation of instruments clashing together for a loud finish exemplifies a climax for the frustration felt by the band. It fits the mood well for these difficult times, because it’s not always easy to be upbeat. It’s tiring, it’s disillusioning, and yet we still manage to get through it.
The Great Emu War Casualties have had an interesting go of it since their conception. As the band describes it,
“[The band] was born near the end of 2017 on the other side of the world in a small village in the UK called Liverpool, where bassist Saskia (aka ‘Unicorn Head’) met frontman Joe (aka ‘Mr Boohoo’) and sound enthusiast Elliott (who has subsequently left the band to travel the world working on cruise ships). Saskia’s time in the UK inevitably drew to a close (being an Australian immigrant), and when Elliott parted ways on a boat, both she and Joe continued the band briefly in the Netherlands before running out of money and deciding to settle in Saskia’s home country in Melbourne. It was here that they met and joined forces with famous Nepali metal lord Bibek ‘B-bek’ Tamang (who it turns out is also secretly an excellent indie rock drummer), and regularly play with a rotating roster of other brilliant musicians when the mood takes their fancy.”
The band, whose tracks are regularly described as indie rock with a twist, have roots as a pop group who cite Talking Heads, The Killers, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Everything Everything and John Grant among their main influences. However, they admittedly note that they manage to sound “like none of the above” -- instead, they’ve worked to hone their craft and perfect their sound in order to make a name for themselves in the Australian indie scene, adding a more dramatic guitar sound with cutting lyrics. The band sought out help from prolific engineer Cal Barter, who has worked with Aussie indie icons such as Courtney Barnett; needless to say, the results turned out wonderfully, as demonstrated by the band’s latest releases over the past year.
In 2018, the band released three EPs with Aardvark Records in the UK; they followed these up in 2019 with three singles on Silly Billy Records in Australia. The band have played a series of headline shows and venue residencies in Melbourne, earned airtime on both regional and community radio stations across Australia, and received features in music editorials such as AAA Backstage and Beat Magazine. Now, as 2020 comes close to its halfway point, The Great Emu War Casualties are looking to continue the success they’ve earned with singles such as “The Australian Parma Crisis” and “Tight Enough to Tell”.
“Tight Enough To Tell” is available to stream on all platforms now.
Praise for The Great Emu War Casualties
“A really layered and lyrically engaging track. Really want to settle into a car trip with this EP and take in everything. Nice work Emus.” – Steph Hughes (triple j)
“Interesting concoction of influences and sounds squeezed together here.”
- Dave Ruby Howe (triple j)
“Bruised melancholy with real muscle. Delicate, shimmering and pulsating.”
– Penny Black Music
“Vibey riffs and hypnotic vocals.” – EatSleepBreatheMusic