Entertainment

Obscura Hail

12. Dec, 2019

Melbourne three-piece indie group Obscura Hail cultivated a seraphic and buzzing vibe in front of intimate crowds at Fitzroy North’s LongPlay. Performing their new EP Zero, as well as their popular tracks, the trio filled the venue with hallowing motifs of loss, existentialism, love and ontology.

Signed to Dot Dash Recordings in August 2019, Tamara Issa and Steven West have made strides since their beginnings on NSW’s South Coast. Described as having the hands of Sun Kil Moon, the heart of Sufjan Stevens and the method of Elliot Smith, the group’s fascination for life, death and the occult are clearly visible in their new video for ‘Goth’. Punchy lyrics, a wicked melody and fast guitar riffs work in harmony to effectively tap into our (morbid) curiosity with what’s out there and who we are.

Group member Sean Conran explains ‘Goth’s’ creation story: ‘Goth’s core was one take. A slacker vocal reading of two separate songs, forced to contrast each other under the one light. I blasted a looped beat through my Nintendo DS (running Korg M-01) and maxed out the gain on both my guitar pedal and 10 track.’

‘Eventually I layered more of my own and Tamara’s (bass/bv’s) delicate vocals, sweetened the chorus, threw mud on the verses, and thickened the distortion before bringing it to Sam Swain, who humanised the percussion, accentuated the tones that floated to the surface of the muck by recording new guitar parts, pitch-shifting here and there.’

Obscura Hail’s gig was a delight to sit through with their beautiful selection of projections (including a memorable 60s video of passing vehicles and comical annoyed drivers on a road), electronic percussion and stunning vocals.