The Frowning CloudsLegalize Everything
Rice Is Nice / Inertia

- We all know Melbourne is prone to weird weather, but a forecast of The Frowning Clouds is surely a welcome report from the bureau of meteorology; and here's why. Imagine taking a very large pot of psychedelic soup and placing within it stars from the '60s like Hermans Hermits, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle etc. Stew them all until they are nice and tender, then pour them through a filter made of medicinal marijuana. That's the sound of Geelong five piece, The Frowning Clouds.

The '60's vibe is unmistakable on Legalize Everything which is the group's third full-length album. For those of you who may be familiar with The Frowning Clouds previous offering, Whereabouts, you will find Legalize Everything to have a much fuller and richer texture to it. Tracks such as Beetle Bird and Mayan Calendar Girl on Whereabouts give you a clue to the new evolution of sounds awaiting you. It's not even that the sound has essentially changed between the two records but it has undoubtedly improved: The Frowning Clouds behaving a little like fine wine.

Legalize Everything is twelve tracks of fresh, lofi goodness. Its mastery is in its simplicity. The album was recorded in each of the five member's respective abodes which becomes abundantly apparent when listening to Dead Growth where the sound of the room is so evident.

While The Frowning Clouds have a quintessential tone that repeats throughout the album, it does not get boring. I'm not sure how they do it but there is enough variation on the overwhelming central theme, to well and truly save the album from monotony. The variety of instrumentation used, coupled with off beats and creative time signatures more than helps to maintain interest and colour for the listener. Legalize Everything could safely be left on repeat for several rotations. Tracks like Somewhere Else and No Blues break the flow a little providing some new vantage points for the discerning ear. Not to mention Radio Telescope which gives a nod toward experimental noise.

While the sound throughout Legalize Everything is instantly familiar, despite all the points of reference, it is still difficult to classify The Frowning Clouds. It may finally be their lingering uniqueness that keeps me coming back. If The Frowning Clouds do not become a sensation on the music feeds, failing everything else, they should at least feature as a phenomenon on the weather channel. Either way they deserve some recognition for being, just a bit good.

- Jae Salmon.

The Frowning CloudsLegalize Everything

Chris CobcroftNew Releases Show

Slowdiveeverything is alive

Schkeuditzer KreuzNo Life Left

Magic City CounterpointDialogue

Public Image LimitedEnd Of World

SejaHere Is One I Know You Know

DeafcultFuture of Illusion

CorinLux Aeterna

FingerlessLife, Death & Prizes

Jack LadderTall Pop Syndrome

LIVE
100