Mum Smokes are Melbourne’s quiet experimental rock/pop achievers. This is the second release for the quartet of songwriters, but it’s actually two albums in one – spanning some 31 tracks. As you might imagine with four composers, both records are quite sporadic, and largely defy general comparisons. The main difference between discs is recording sessions – Easy is from 2006-07, while House Music showcases the band’s updated catalogue of 2007-08. Founder Jonathan Michell (of The Ancients) plays evanescing lounge folk on a modulating electric guitar, with a voice that sounds susceptible to light breezes. Karl Scullin (KES) is a little more upbeat, but also weirder, with his trademark elfin vocals on songs like Some Fish: “Some fish love to swim / While others have nothing but complaints for you”. Justin Fuller (ZOND) contributes the ranging, early-alt-rock drone of 1949, and the psych pop of Invisible Sand. While Julian Patterson (Minimum Chips) helms songs like the strangely bouncy, morbid jangle pop of Left For Dead; but also the mincing, minimalist acoustic folk of Curtain Smile, and Easy’s breathy title/closing track – replete with a chirping, lo-fi organ outro. Between songs are a mix of short, ambient keyboard-centric sketches, which add positively to the overall feel of the release. Easy / House Music is a great pair of records that, while difficult to judge with any consistency, have a wealth of understated rock/pop gems amongst the lush, ambient arrangements.

JAKEB SMITH