Cloud Control’s debut album ‘Bliss Release’ opens with a soft psych-folk rhythm with, enchanting dreamy vocals from Alister Wright and Heidi Lenffer. Seconds later the cool distorted rifts kick in and you instantly feel the excitement and ingenuity of the Australian four-piece.
The band’s album was released in Australia last year where it received numerous awards, including the prestigious Australian Music Prize. Upon listening to the first few songs on the album, it is apparent that their popularity in Australia is with good reason.
The album is full of standout songs and has a captivating and hypnotising flow throughout.‘Death Cloud` is the third song on the album and really illustrates what this band is about. Distorted psychedelic rifts and dreamy chants emerge into exciting waves of rhythm on which Alister and Heidi’s vocals intertwine through in perfect harmony.
The songs gentle psych-folk feel ascends to the catchy choirs of ‘Maybe it’s a death cloud’, a really beautiful and instantly awesome song.
The song ‘Gold Canary’ is one of Cloud Control’s breakthrough songs that really caught the attention of the Australian indie scene.
Drummer Ulrich Lenffer and bassist Jeremy Kelshaw provide enchanting, ethereal backing vocals alongside Heidi’s Ooohs and Aaahs, to create a real psych-folk feel. The relaxing rhythm and Alister’s hypnotising vocals create a cool and alluring sound.
One of the most beautiful acoustic songs on the album is ‘Just for Now’. It has a real chilled out feel to it and displays the bands raw talents and clearly illustrates the folk elements present throughout the album. This song has elements of Fleet Foxes to it however Heidi’s backing vocals on this track are a clear example that Cloud Control is a unique and stellar band in itself.
‘Bliss Release’ is an incredibly mature and polished debut album which is easy to listen to and quickly captivates the audience. Alister and Heidi’s dreamy vocals strike a perfect harmony and intertwine beautifully with Ulrich and Jeremy’s flawless instrumentation. The perfect summers day soundtrack.
By Tony Connelly
