A cowbell and a sleazy bass line usher in this taster from St Helens’ forthcoming debut album. But before you have time to wonder whether you have stumbled across a long-lost Southern Culture On The Skids track, the groove is usurped by a guitar chopping out a scratchy dub rhythm and a harmonica drenched in tons of vintage echo. Oh, yes. You have entered the world of St Helens, where anything is possible.

Many would remember band leader Jarrod Quarrel as the driving force behind dark and damaged Melbourne rock trio The New Season, who developed a devoted following around Australia’s flea pit venues and left a devastatingly concise legacy in the form of a self-titled mini album. Since then, Jarrod has slowly assembled another cast of misfits to complement his skewed vision.

Drawing members from the likes of Bird Blobs, Alpha Males, Spider Vomit and Kes Band, St Helens sound nothing like any of these groups. Hannah Brooks bolsters the vocal lines Jennifer Herrema-style, but the focus is squarely on Quarrel’s world-weary, nicotine stained voice, as he prompts competing lovers/followers to fight it out in the ring. When he poses the questions, “Who’s gonna win my love?” and “Who’s gonna wash my feet?”, his delivery is so laconic that you get the picture that winning the affection of the guru may not turn out to be quite the prize one would hope for.

The genius of the song lies in its brevity. Just as you wonder exactly why the protagonist is so dismissive of “homo sapiens covered in clothes”, the narrative is left hanging unresolved. A shimmering guitar line has just enough time to sneak in and out before suddenly it’s all over.

Well, sometimes less really is more. If this is an indication of the quality of the album, we’ll be in for quite a treat.

by René Schaefer