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GyroscopeAre You Involved? FMR Gyroscope's sophomore effort, 'Are You Involved?,' opens with the lines: "You're such a quiet, quiet achiever." Those who listened to last year's debut, the aptly titled 'Sound Shattering Sound,' would quite probably disagree when I say that this is a pretty apt description of the WA punk/rock outfit. But, despite the wall of guitars and soaring screams that album offered, Gyroscope quietly continued about their business of building a solid live following without any major commercial success - a damn shame, considering that they're one of the best bands in Australia. After that loud and fairly un-subtle first record, Gyroscope jetted off to the US to record the follow-up with Ÿber-producer Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182), who kindly agreed to jump on board after hearing some demos for what would eventually become 'Are You Involved?' A few months later Gyroscope emerged with an album that will probably shock fans. Screams made way for soaring, delicate harmonies, coarse power-chords for intricate song-structure. After the relative success of the debut, the band no longer has anything to prove, and so they've toned down the aggression and become a settled song-writing outfit. And, damn, it rules. Opener Don't Look Now But I Think I'm Sweating Blood and lead single Fast Girl don't stray far from the Doctor Doctor formula the band is famous for, but then comes the disco beat of Beware Wolf and the slow-burning pound of Mistakes And Ladders, and suddenly, it's not so obvious. A real grower, 'Are You Involved?' is only made all the more satisfying by the fact it takes a few listens to really click. Disappointment at the lack of 'Sound...'s' raw energy makes way for sheer delight at the superb melodies of Missed The Point's verse, comfort in the abandonment of straightforward verse-chorus song structures, and awe at the powerful harmonies of... well, nearly every track. Highlights include the powerful Raindrops with its barrage of hooks under a wash of gloomy, quiet riffing, and the acoustic Sexxxy; a darkly haunting ballad that highlights Trombino's influence - the distorted, electro beat underpins the song superbly. 'Are You Involved?' is a far more cohesive and assured sounding record than its predecessor. If there was any justice, Gyroscope would be the biggest band in Australia - but please, just at least buy the record so they can afford a road crew. Also, it rules.  |
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