Review by Bec Harbour
This is Custards 10th album, you would think they’d have more but they all go off and do other things and regroup every couple of years and come out with a high quality offering to their loyal fans. Suburban Curtains is more upbeat than their mid-covid album Respect All Lifeforms and could be seen as a return to the quirky sentiment from their 90’s albums but it’s really a band just doing what they feel like doing, which has really been Custard’s ethos, always.
Recorded at MONA’s recording studio in Hobart using a mixing desk rescued from the EMI/Abbey Road studios, the history permeating that desk has permeated the record with swinging 60’s style sounds (Black Rinse) and the single ‘Someday’ with it’s bittersweet duet with Serena Ryder talking of meeting at the end of the street – Suburban Curtains indeed…
I want to preface that this album is 21 songs (!?) and going into each song will make my review tediously long and boring (also against Custard’s ethos) so I am going to hit on the highlights from this one.
Opening with ‘Diplomat of Love’ we are dared to “kiss the diplomat” along to some jangly guitar and Dave McCormick’s unmistakeable vocals – it’s silly and upbeat and tells a story of old world telegrams and going through customs in an airport – it’s a song that if they play this live on the upcoming tour, will convince the crowd to dance and has definite sing-along potential.
‘Getting Over You’ certainly infuses the history of that soundboard, with some Beatle-esque tones, with the next song ‘Never Loved Melbourne’ sounding (ironically) a lot like a Melbourne band that has been missing in action for some time, Snout with that dirty retro guitar sound. Also, more cowbell (wooden percussion instrument) is pertinent here.
‘Fifty Plus’ is possibly a song about sunscreen or maybe it’s the classic Custard double entendre about splitting up and needing some 50+ protection for the heart. ‘Vegetarian Squeeze’ could be a conversation overheard in any vegetarian restaurant.
‘Sometimes Angels’ sounds like it could be at home in US indie label Merge – there are flavours of the indie-pop-rock sounds of the 90’s and in keeping with the style, the upbeat music is at odds with the melancholy lyrics. Custard are no strangers to lyrics mismatching their sound and they pull this one off wonderfully.
‘Molecules Colliding’ is probably my favourite song on the album, although with each play through of the album I am finding new things to like about the individual songs. The album wraps up with two songs, ‘No Pay, No Delicious’ and ‘The Leisurely Everly’. ‘No Pay, No Delicious’ reminds you that despite the whimsy and pop sensibilities, Custard are a punk band at heart that can cleverly turn to a proggy 70’s style. ‘The Leisurely Everly’ has sax, and a whisky bar aesthetic that has elements of a Bowie song.
As usual, it is really hard to pin Custard and their motives and style, and I am pretty sure that’s how they like it. The whole album is like a series of short films with each song acting like a conversation behind those Suburban Curtains – this is a pretty fantastic album that warrants a lot of play throughs.
Suburban Curtains is out now on ABC Music (digital)
DOUBLE VINYL, CD and CASSETTE – preorder here:
DIGITAL: https://snd.click/suburban-curtains
VINYL, CD & CASSETTE: https://www.valverecords.com.au/shop/
Custard is also doing a leisurely tour around Australia
SAT 9 NOV – sydney CROWBAR
FRI 15 NOV – hobart REPUBLIC CAFE
SAT 16 NOV – adelaide THE GOV
FRI 22 NOV – melbourne THE PRINCE
SAT 23 NOV – gippsland LIVE AT THE BUNDY
SUN 24 NOV – Castlemaine THEATRE ROYAL
FRI 29 NOV – canberra THE BASO
SAT 30 NOV – ulladulla THE MARLIN
FRI 6 DEC – perth MILK BAR
SAT 7 DEC – fremantle MOJOS
FRI 13 DEC – Townsvile DALRYMPLE
SAT 14 DEC – Cairns EDGE HILL
FRI 20 DEC – gold coast MIAMI MARKETTA
SAT 21 DEC – brisbane THE PRINCESS
