Gyroscope
Breed Obsession
Warner


I reviewed Gyroscope's 2005 record 'Are You Involved?' for this fine publication, and in that review I wrote that if there were any justice, Gyroscope would be the biggest band in Australia. Now, with a third album, a serious push from a major record label and massive radio play for singles Snakeskin and 1981, it looks set to happen (maybe not the biggest, but who'd want to be Powderfinger anyway?). After finally getting my head around 'Breed Obsession', I think I can now safely say that the boys still deserve all the success they can get their mitts on.

Like 'Are You Involved?', 'Breed Obsession' is a grower of a record, textured and layered without losing that forceful punch to the gut that Gyroscope have made their live trademark. In fact, the only problem is that this isn't a surprise this time around. It isn't as breathtaking a step up as 'AYI?' was, but it does confirm something very important: Gyroscope are very, very good songwriters. The songs don't seem as carefully considered here, but this is made up for by the fact that this time they seem so effortless, a mood matched by producer Dave Eringa (Idlewild), who gives the album a huge, organic crunch. Snakeskin combines piano with a furious hook, These Days rides a soaring riff to a stomping chorus reminiscent of Beware Wolf, while Nirvana-esque O.K. fills out a 'Sound Shattering Sound'-styled simplicity with the open spaces the band perfected on 'Are You Involved?' The best tracks, however, come when the band push their sound even further away from their Doctor Doctor-selves: 1981's synth-beat is only matched by its own brilliant melody, while the smoky brilliance of Polyphons And Multidors and the funky breakdown of Silver Heart are two of the least recognisable Gyroscope moments in the band's discography. The only stumbling block, in fact, is kitschy ballad Australia, but the sugary strings are almost made up for by vocalist Dan Sanders' voice, which is absolutely astounding across the length of the disc.

I'm not as excited about this album as I was 'Are You Involved?', though I'm beginning to think not because it isn't as good, but just because I've come to expect at least this much from such a great band. Now I'm just gonna sit back and watch the world domination begin.

Matt Vesely