- The long awaited debut album from Melbourne trio Terrible Truths is due this Thursday, the 9th of October. Terrible truths consists of Stacey Wilson (of Regional Curse and Rites Wild) on bass, Rani Rose on guitar and Bedroom Suck head-honcho Joe Alexander (also of Per Purpose, Scott & Charlene's Wedding).

I first became aware of the band with their first release on Bedroom Suck, a split 7” single with the now-dissolved Hissey Miyake that came out in August of 2012. That same year they put out another single through Mexican Summer. After snapping up these records I was desperate for more. I found out that they had released their debut single on South Australian label Small Town City Living. Unfortunately being a year out-of-print and late to the game I wasn’t able to secure a copy (anyone got a spare floating around?). Since 2012 there hasn’t been any singles, and with the exception of some compilation tracks, there hasn’t been any new material; until now.

You might be able to tell I was enamored with their initial efforts and I've looked forward to their debut, which has not left me disappointed. This time round the ladies take the lead as usual, but their overall sound is tighter, crisper, and more angular. The album relies on the same sonic palette throughout: the rhythm is held down Wilson’s groovy bass lines accompanied by Alexander’s competent drumming, while Rose will often play one note, reverb-laden melodies on guitar. Rose and Wilson share vocal duties, their vox parts often intertwining, intersecting, and collapsing into each other. This makes for a refined combination of elements, their music has enough space for each member to do their thing. They stick to this formation for the length of the album and to their credit. The one departure is the untitled closing track: a soundscape -possibly a manipulated field recording- that for me was more reminiscent of Wilson’s solo work.

This exception aside, the group taps into elements from '70's and '80's post-punk, as well as '90’s riot girl and more recent developments. The tone of Rose’s guitar also reminds me of classic Aussie band The Atlantic and other '60's surf and garage, although the comparison falls short when you listen to the melodies she plays. They have a similar feel to new-wave bands like Delta 5, Essential Logic, The Slits, and Bush Tetras. Yet again, these comparisons fall short because Terrible Truths definitely have their own distinct thing going on, subsuming their influences to the point where you're not even sure they are influences. The sound is contemporary, and their vision well realized. I make these comparisons because their tunes lie on the groovier end of the post-punk spectrum. These songs will – or at least should - have you dancing.

To those familiar with their earlier work some tunes will be familiar –you may have heard Don Juan, Lift Weights and False Hope for instance. If or if not, I highly recommend you give this album a go. It’s yet another example of the great DIY music Australia has been producing of late. Despite the long wait for their debut, these Terrible Truths are remarkably easy to hear.

- Hill Folk.