Aural Window
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | SELF
Music
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Reviews by ragdoll, 19th June, 2007
Packing out a venue like the Arthouse seems like a daunting task when you’re a small band releasing your first EP – and the venue has already seen a number of big-name bands such as Behind Crimson Eyes , Mach Pelican and international heavyweights Against Me! . But not quite a daunting task for local band Aural Window .
You know you’ve done something right when you’re the third band on a four-band bill – it’s common to watch 90% of the crowd leave after you’ve played. Supported by Broadway and Why Valerie? , Aural Window took to the stage in front of a frenzied crowd of friends and fans to open with Heightened Senses , a song played only once before in front of a crowd. Following on from this were Burn Victim and Freak Show , two favourites from the band’s demo EP (released last year), that had gig-goers rockin’ out despite the lack of space. Guitarist Kota Nakamura stole the spotlight on a couple of occasions with solos to rival some of the great guitarists of our time.
Up next was The Secret, Aural Window’s take on the Romeo and Juliet story with Aki Oshima ’s hard-to-ignore melodic bassline. This was followed on by Tale of the Hours and Cloud 9, the first song off Aural Window’s brand new EP No Trust In The Morrow.
Vocalist Sheena Young borrowed one fan’s camera to take a picture of the crowd before wasting no time jumping into a metal-punk rendition of the Tatu hit All The Things She Said before the anti-war song Dreams of a Dying Man (track 4 from their EP). Such numbers were convincing proof of Sheena’s vocal talent.
Mike Palomeque took centre stage at this point with a drum solo that could be felt throughout the venue while the others prepared to play Dark Lullaby – another new song. This didn’t stop the fans from singing along!
Closing with Drug of Choice , the crowd cheered when Sheena announced there would be cake afterwards. But with a band like this one rising through the ranks, who needs cake to sweeten the deal?
- FasterLouder
Discography
2007 - No Trust in the Morrow EP
2010 - Cocoon and Epitropos
2012 - New EP "Candlelight" Coming Soon
Australia: BigCartel = www.auralwindow.bigcartel.com
USA: CD Baby = www.cdbaby.com/auralwindow2
Japan: STM Online = http://shop2.genesis-ec.com/search/item.asp?shopcd=17263&item=302975
Photos
Bio
Aural Window is an Australian rock band that was formed in Melbourne in 2006. The band currently consists of Sheena Young (lead vocals), Matt Elefanty (lead guitar), Glen Nicholls (vocals & rhythm guitar), Aki Oshima (bass) and Mike Palomeque (drums).
In 2007, their first EP, No Trust In The Morrow, was released at a sold out gig at Melbourne’s Arthouse (capacity 250) and they toured the Australian East Coast in the following year to promote it.
With their next record, Cocoon and Epitropos, released in 2010, the band had found its sound. The EP received much acclaim for the blend of melodic furore within a post-hardcore dynamic, featuring a more elaborate sound. Their powerful live performances were honed with the amount of touring they did for the EP, cultivating an impressive underground following.
Their first music video, Ghost of Light premiered at the Esplanade Gershwin Room in November 2010 to a full crowd who was then treated to a blistering set. The band then travelled to the USA in January 2011 to embark on Aural Window’s first overseas tour – a trip that was memorable for its great highs (playing at a skate park to an adoring all-age crowd), and great lows (shows were mysteriously cancelled by a dodgy promoter).
While Murphy’s Law came into play at every turn of US tour, the band didn’t see them as negatives – but opportunities. With help from new friends in the industry, Aural Window locked in five replacement shows, and even hijacked the stage to play a guerrilla acoustic gig at a small jazz club in New York.
The video for their second single Amber’s First Kiss, with live performance scenes intercut with behind-the-scenes footage shot during the USA tour, was a hit amongst fans when it premiered in June 2011.
The band underwent a line-up change in October 2011, with Glen Nicholls taking over vocals and rhythm guitar. Aural Window feels reinvigorated with the change, as it has injected new energy and creativity in both the music and live performances.
The band has just completed their latest EP, titled Candlelight, at Sydney’s Electric Sun Studio, with no release date set yet at this point in time.
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