by David Wilikofsky
I’m convinced there’s something in the water in Australia; the amount of amazing guitar-centric rock coming from the country can’t be a naturally occurring phenomenon. With Alfresco, Spiritual Mafia add their voice into the fray. A supergroup of sorts (counting members of greats like Ausmuteants and EXEK amongst its ranks), the band recorded their debut album nearly three years ago. Finally seeing the light of day thanks to Anti Fade and Ever/Never Records, it’s an album that keeps things simple yet leaves a lasting impression.
Each track on Alfresco hews to the same general formula: pair a few phrases with a few riffs and repeat ad infinitum. This sounds rather dreary when written out, and certainly the danger of tedium constantly lingers over the proceedings. However, the end result never veers into that territory. The band’s subject is the mundane as viewed through a cracked funhouse mirror. Opener “Al Fresco” is a song about meeting a friend for lunch, but through repetition the lyrics become almost grotesque. Backed by a brooding instrumental, the words “would you like to meet me for lunch / we can enjoy something nice / share a meal and be seated together / we can dine al fresco” are transformed from a kind invitation into something dark and threatening. Other songs tackle sitting by the pool or taking a bath; each brings a similar twisted energy to its subject.
The music as a whole eschews climax, but the instrumentals, while repetitive, offer enough variation to keep the listener’s interest. By subtly weaving in both synth work and turntablism into the jams, the music provides plenty of texture for discerning ears to latch onto. Often these touches help contribute to the music’s disquiet. “Bath Boy”, the ten minute album closer, becomes more and more unhinged as it goes on. Synths soar upwards and compete with the vocals in the foreground as the words “run a bath / invite me over / fill it up / dip in the toe / lukewarm and filthy / I am bath boy” are intoned, adding to the chaos of the track.
The album leaves you with a lot of questions. Will you take that lunch invitation? Is bath boy a friend or foe? I can’t say; it’s left up to the listener to make these and other calls. What I do know is Alfresco is elemental rock that’s weird, fun, and a bit scary. It’s a nightmare vision of mundanity. It’s Spiritual Mafia.