The Breakdown
Eora/Sydney trio oWo have just unveiled their thrilling new EP ‘Tunnel of Vision’: a visceral collection of vibrant post-punk tracks that quivers with vitality and freshness, mixing a pop sensibility with a buzzsaw edge.
The title track ‘Tunnel of Vision’ is a typically rollocking burst of sunshine with its sing along chorus and general sense of anarchy inbetween.
Sounding like a collision between early Split Enz and Models with a bit of the wry acerbic rattle of The Undertones or Wreckless Eric, ‘Tunnel of Vision’ canters along with a high stepping jolt of electricity with a little mid song rest and recuperation. The band says of the manifesto for the song:
Positions become more personal and more reactive as we all grab for as much pie as we can get just to get by. But the pie itself doesn’t get any bigger. People are trapped by the myths that they have made for themselves as they descend into the tunnel of vision. If we have swapped our being for unlimited convenience, then no-one sees beyond their own perspectives.
The result is the creation of a delicious frisson of excitement and a thorough sonic buzz.
‘Built’ is a driving angular romp with a muscular bass spine upon which the motorik beat and shouty vocals hang with a degree of sneery attitude. The guitars scythe through the air and the whole song struts and prances with an arched eyebrow and a dead-eyed stare. It’s terrific stuff from this very exciting band. The band says of the track:
If you can’t look beyond your own perspective, nothing will get done. Like anyone who has tried to make anything – from music to housing – if we can’t find common ground, then the whole thing gets paralysed with disagreement and eventually collapses.
‘Collective Bargain’ is a see-saw clatter of sounds over a rumbling bass, chugging guitars and a deadpan distant observant vocals. The lyrics reveal a passionate call for workers’ rights – capturing the zeitgeist with a shouty bold chorus:
You sit there
in your ivory tower,
You don’t care
what might go sour
We all want
More than just a token
Something that’s real
Not cheap and broken
Final track ‘What You Get’ has a softer jingle jangle tone opening before a wall of howling guitars launches like a rocket over a delicious melody with all the anger and power the band can deliver over the top of powerful guitars.
The EP is certainly a personal manifesto – the band says:
Positions become more personal and more reactive as we all grab for as much pie as we can get just to get by. But the pie itself doesn’t get any bigger. People are trapped by the myths that they have made for themselves as they descend into the tunnel of vision. If we have swapped our being for unlimited convenience, then no-one sees beyond their own perspectives.
This is a compelling and powerful EP threaded through with anthemic choruses and acerbic observations on the vicissitudes of life.
‘Tunnel of Vision’ is out now and available to stream and download through the link above and here.
You can catch oWo launching the EP this weekend – tickets and details here.
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