Twin Haus - Waxen Myriad

Twin Haus

Waxen Myriad
self-released; 2014

4.0 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

From the first trembling of guitar it's clear that Waxen Myriad EP by Twin Haus takes itself seriously. The opening track, "Otoh" spins within itself with swirling and slamming electronics, ominous bass prods, and sparing drums - that is until things have simmered to a boil. Then a loose and pocket driven feel is introduced to push the sporadic flailing and melodic tapestry forward, ultimately so far that it collapses into the following track seamlessly. 

When I see this unfolding I can't help but be torn between Twin Haus' excellent use of tension through poise and their semi-polished production. The snare and cymbals especially are struggling to really find clarity. The wall of sound is intact, however, and really enriches the space during moments of full chorus and chant. It’s a classic case of so close, but not quite. That being said Waxen Myriad  is an extremely well-written and engaging record. 

Each song on Waxen Myriad is a journey through some of the most interesting and uncharted rock I've heard in a long time. The moods slide in and out as much as the pulse, rolling toms sixteenths on the hats, to full on funk rock alterations can be found in just one song - "Mark Twain." This long-winded track has a receptive and repetitive closing that echoes our collective gripe on age; "Youth is wasted on the young." Somehow when the boys in Twin Haus sing these words over and over, you can't help but feel an eerie solace. Maybe it's the harmonies or the dry and vivid soundscape behind them, but you believe them whole-heartedly. It’s a strong message from a strong group of musicians.

There are a number of moments the are exceptional within Waxen Myriad. There is the subdued beauty at the end of "Night Locust" or the climatic post-rock tendencies they lean towards on "Blackwater".

On this effort, I  sometimes wanted more intensity, more distortion and more hard knock grooves. This band has the power and tone to pull it off but they exist in a much more unconventional realm of rock, like an even more pastoral Fair To Midland. The guitars stay clean for nearly every verse section, which is soft and lovely while the vocals are pure and contemplative. This styling suits them just fine, but I know that with more edge this craft would take on a whole new audience and possibly resonant stronger with fans. I will add that Australia isn't necessarily a carbon copy of American taste, but I see the trailblazing at work and it just needs a little dash of modern progression  but that's just my opinion.

Overall, this is a very impressive effort and predict good things to come . Fans of bands such as The Local Natives and Modest Mouse will want to pick this up immediately.

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