In Loving Memory is a revelation. I am not overly familiar with the Paper Scissors, and what I assumed would be a slightly better than average album has been one of my favorites of 2011. Considering the amount of excellent music floating around, that is saying plenty.
The band released a self-titled EP soon after forming in 2006. Their debut album, Less Talk More Paper Scissors, followed in quick succession and was received with open arms by the Australian public. The lead single "We Don't Walk" was particularly successful and was featured heavily by the Australian media.
In subsequent years, the band toured extensively, appearing at the Parklife, Falls, and Playground Weekender festivals (among others). Following these appearances was a national tour, co-headlined with fellow Sydney band Blue Juice. They also dropped from a 5-piece to the current line-up of frontman Jai Pyne, bassist Xavier Naughton, and drummer Ivan Lisyak.
An effortlessly flowing album, In Loving Memory has been four years in the making. The long wait for the second album can be attributed to the changing members and the everyday lives of an independent band, but primarily their perfectionism. This album will surely appease those fans craving a new submission.
The first single "Lung Sum" (released in late 2010) is a concrete rock song, with powerful bass and driving drums complimenting Pyne's incredible howling tone. The two other band members are also featured on vocals, giving a great sense of wholeness to the track.
"On Your Hand" uses aggressive rhythms and vocals along with plenty of reverb to give a more experimental vibe. "Taller Than You Then," the second single, continues along the same path, as driving and incisive as ever. Naughton's heavy bass riffs are particularly prominent on this track. The finish is colossal, with brooding "Drunk Swim" perfectly bringing In Loving Memory to a conclusion.
The similarities to other groups are easily recognizable, but that does not take anything away from this superb band. In Loving Memory will bring the Paper Scissors into the public eye once again. Thank goodness for perfectionism.
By
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on
Oct 4, 2011
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