The wizards from Oz are back! Yep, Brisbane’s Deafcult have returned with their first new music in three years, and I reckon there will be a fair few shoegaze fans grinning from ear to ear when they hear this one. Since their self-titled debut in 2015, Deafcult have established themselves as one of the most interesting bands in the genre, with 2017’s Auras becoming something of a favourite among fans of guitar music. Their 2023 album Future Of Illusion saw the band exploring darker territory, bringing industrial influences and a more aggressive approach to their sound. Now they’re back with All My Friends Are Leaving, a two-track single released through Hobbledehoy Records on a rather lovely limited edition red 7-inch vinyl. So, have Deafcult returned to their shoegaze roots? Well, judging by these two tracks, they certainly seem to be enjoying their pedalboards again.
Opening track ‘Mount Forever (Sic)’ immediately takes me back to the Deafcult I first fell in love with. Those familiar layers of dreamy, saturated guitars are back, surrounding the vocals in that wonderful haze that the band do so well. There’s a real warmth to the melody, although listen a little closer and you’ll hear something rather interesting happening underneath. A low, grinding guitar tone adds a heavier texture to proceedings, giving the song an underlying sense of menace. It’s a lovely combination of the band’s earlier melodic instincts and some of the darker elements explored on Future Of Illusion. What I particularly enjoy is how the arrangement develops towards the end. As the guitars recede, we’re treated to a final minute of ambient piano, gently revisiting the main riff. It’s an unexpected change of direction that gives the song a rather beautiful ending. A wonderful way to welcome Deafcult back.
Flip the record over and things get considerably louder. ‘Sentimental Mistake’ absolutely floored me on first listen. I genuinely thought the guitars were going to come leaping out of my speakers. There’s an incredible density to the sound, with multiple guitar parts combining into this enormous wall of fuzz and distortion. The vocal treatment is particularly striking, giving the singing an almost otherworldly quality as it fights for space among the guitars. Meanwhile, the frantic drumming drives everything forward at a terrific pace. Just when you think you’ve got the measure of the song, the tempo drops into a crushing half time section. The guitars become thick, sludgy and almost doomlike, with the rhythm section digging into a much heavier groove. I absolutely love this moment. It gives the music room to breathe while making the distortion feel even more imposing. Then, with little warning, we’re racing forward again, the guitars returning to full intensity before the whole thing dissolves into a final minute of abstract ambient guitar textures. It’s a fascinating ending and one that rewards repeated listens. I’ve already decided this one deserves a spin on my October DKFM show.
What I love most about All My Friends Are Leaving is hearing Deafcult reconnect with the enormous guitar sound that made so many of us fall for them in the first place, while bringing some of their more recent experimentation along for the ride. Both tracks have their own personalities, with ‘Mount Forever (Sic)’ offering melody and reflection while ‘Sentimental Mistake’ provides the heavier thrills. Those unusual ambient endings are a particularly welcome addition, suggesting the band still have plenty of ideas about where their music might go next. Two tracks of new Deafcult music has left me wanting considerably more. Hopefully we won’t have another three year wait. After all, with All My Friends Are Leaving, I’m rather glad these particular friends have decided to stick around.
All My Friends Are Leaving is out now via Hobbledehoy Records. You can check it out over on the Deafcult Bandcamp page.
You can follow Deafcult on social media here…
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