Adelaide's noise-rock trailblazers, Placement, have finally unleashed their highly anticipated debut album, 'Insect,' via Clarity Records. After a year that saw them captivating crowds at OK Motels alongside genre heavyweights Tropical Fuck Storm, and landing a respectable #7 spot in Double J’s Most Played list, the band offers a profound, yet playfully energetic exploration of mortality and decay.
'Insect' propels Placement's distinctive sound into more shadowy territories. Beneath the brooding instrumentation and narrative-driven vocals, glimpses of shimmering beauty surface, revealing a band that feels more intimately human than their chosen moniker suggests. It's a record built on compelling contrasts, where angular guitars collide with moments of fragile melody, and raw energy gives way to reflective clarity. The incorporation of woodwinds, particularly the clarinet and saxophone, adds an unexpected textural depth, setting them apart from many of their contemporaries.
The album's title track and final single, 'Insect,' stands out as a highlight. It opens with an inviting warmth before abruptly shifting gears, delivering piercing guitars and the haunting echo of a distant clarinet. This track exemplifies Placement's articulate and experimental edge, brutally challenging our perceptions of life's significance in the grand scheme of things.
Vocalist Malia shares a poignant insight into the song’s genesis: “I had a cat called Cash. He was hard to live with, stinky, wild, murderous and uncontainable. He would disappear sometimes for days and we would wonder if he would one day disappear forever. But I found him straight away that morning, draped across the pavement. I had to wait for a car to pass between us before I could reach him. Did they see him as they sped past, one of the many insects crushed on the road, drawn to the light, to the furnace. How long did he lie there in a halo of streetlight, just outside the cemetery gates? He had jaws that bit and teeth that caught, an insect like me.”
Beyond 'Insect,' the album features recent singles like 'Inertia/Heavy Lids' and 'More a Curse,' alongside a trove of new material seamlessly woven together by haunting interludes. Tracks such as 'This Weak' unveil a gentler facet of Placement, maintaining the unpolished charm reminiscent of acts like Dry Cleaning and Mannequin Pussy. Fan favourite 'New Disease' makes a welcome appearance, with its intricate guitar work and self-destructing lyricism leaving a lasting impression.
Having already garnered significant support from Double J, triple J Unearthed, Rolling Stone, and The Music, Placement are poised to embark on a national tour for 'Insect.' Kicking off at one of the final shows at Adelaide’s iconic Crown & Anchor before its renovations, the tour boasts a stellar line-up, including Twine, Special Features (QLD), and Somewhere.
The band will then traverse Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Wollongong, and Sydney, with additional dates supporting the likes of Press Club and The Preatures. With 'Insect' now available and a burgeoning reputation for their captivating live performances, Placement are cementing their status as an experimental force to be reckoned with in the Australian music landscape.
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