48. The Drones- Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By


Not having heard their debut album, I was no doubt fooled by the title that generated more thoughts about any of the Godspeed You! Black Emperor-type of post-rock bands but instead was greeted with a rawboned guitarband that defied the trend of shiny, glittery sounding guitarbands currently earning the grace and favour of the public. The Drones are a band who have a lot in common with the rough and tumble bluespunk of The Beasts Of Bourbon, The Saints and early Bad Seeds, an example that is rare to see in a very large and potent Australian guitar scene. Using their sonic guitar attack to good effect in all tracks but also not forgetting to fill their smoking sound with killer tracks like opener Shark Fin Blues (Nick cave might remember the kind of veneer Drones' vocalist Gareth Liddiard growls out from 25 years ago), the Drones manage to keep this assault going throughout lengthy tracks, unusual for this style of music- the shortest track, Baby2, clocks around 3 and a half minute, the rest around the 5, 6 minute mark. The Drones bring the whisky-fuelled drawl and drunken swagger back to rock and roll, wrapped in poise, feedback and a wry smile. Live it should work out to a sweatfest of Lux Interior-like proportions.