The first thing I did after listening to the new song from Tempesst, was to Google Waiheke, which demonstrates my lack of Geography knowledge, but also shows how educational music can be when you have unusual or interesting reference points. According to the ubiquitous search engine it is an Island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. A bit of further searching reveals that Toma from the band and his girlfriend went there a while ago and the song comes as a result of a tarot card reading on the Island with his girlfriend’s dad.
When I first featured Tempesst on the blog in 2015 (was it that long ago - time flies doesn't it?) I talked of how the band’s music swirled with colour and a hint of psychedelia and there’s an element of that here as well. Starting with a howl of noise and a cosmic throb Waiheke is all about big expansive sky-searching riffs, dreamy vocals and bedazzling guitars that take you somewhere rather mystical. Indie kids, shoegaze dreamers and progressive rock fans will probably find something to lose themselves in here. I’d like to hear this in amongst clouds of dry ice and trippy visuals, played very loud.
An EP is due from the band at the end of the month and live dates also follow.
Tempesst - Waiheke
Today is the last post on Breaking More Waves. Not forever (of course), just for a few days whilst we have a bit of a holiday.
Whilst we’re away we’d like to introduce you to another new act, and they’re called Tempesst. They’re one of those bad spelling but Google searchable bands that you are all by now very familiar with (if you're not, where the f*ck have you been?) and are formed around a nucleus of Aussie born but UK based twins Toma and Andy Banjanin with Eric Weber and Jesse Hutchence completing the line-up. Their debut single, Tidal Wave, is a glorious good to be alive piece of guitar driven pop that swirls with colour and a hint of psychedelia. It rather oddly reminds us of Roddy Frame / Aztec Camera vocally; listen to the bit where “someone take me back to her” is sung and see if you agree.
And if you have no idea who Roddy Frame or Aztec Camera are, give yourself a musical education – start with High Land Hard Rain but also try Love and Stray, three wonderful records that should be in every collection. They’re on tour in November (that’s Tempesst not Aztec Camera) with Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes and we think that this song is rather excellent, which frankly is the key of this blog. Isn’t it? See you in a few days time.
Tempesst - Tidal Wave
