Posted on 31 May 2010

Cloud Control
Bliss Release
Ivy League


There’s been a lot of interest and expectation surrounding Cloud Control since 2007, and although we’ve had brief tasters from the Blue Mountains based band, most recently with the track “Gold Canary” from this LP, it is only now that their debut album has finally dropped. In the last couple of years, the band have been gracing stages with the likes of Supergrass, Dappled Cities and, most recently, Vampire Weekend, and have slowly received the label of one of "Australia’s next big things” So naturally the big question is: is Bliss Release worth the hype?

The sound is definitely nice. Opening track “Meditation Song #2” is a floaty, dreamy and easy to listen to song with of early Fleetwood Mac – a great introduction that gets your hopes up for a great album. “There’s Nothing in the Water We Can’t Fight” has a similar 60s hippie, chilled, folk feel to it, as do tracks three and four, “Ghost Story” and “Gold Canary.”

However this is the beginning of the problem. As you carry on listening to the album, it suddenly becomes clear how very samey it is. True all the songs are nice, with harmonious choruses, split guitar jangles and sweet melodies that are very pleasing to the ears, but nothing really stands out. The songs “This is What I Said”, “The Rolling Stone” and “My Fear #2” are all a bit more up-tempo, but on any other indie or rock album they would be considered pretty tame.

It’s almost as if the band have one tried and tested formula and apply this to all of their songs. Whilst this creates pleasant background music, it’s hardly groundbreaking or exciting.

What must be said, however, is that Cloud Control’s lush psychedelic style is a breath of fresh air. Very different and original in today’s scene. But what they are still yet to find is that spark. That flash of brilliance. The lightning bolt that separates a good album from a WOW album. Bliss Release is a good album, but it’s not great as many of us had expected. Nonetheless, this is not something to get too downhearted about. A band that has hints of The Shins, Fleetwood Mac, Simon and Garfunkel and Belle and Sebastian are definitely doing something right!

Cloud Control might benefit in the future from letting Heidi Lenffer lead on more tracks – “Beast Of Love” shows potential and a different feel. For now, though, the outfit have created an album full of lovely music. Whilst it is well crafted and beautifully executed – especially considering they’re a band in their infancy – until they find that missing spark, we will be wondering whether they really are something to get excited about.

Verdict:
In answer to my earlier question, is Bliss Release worth the hype? Probably not. But by no means does it represent the finished Cloud Control article, and I for one would not argue that they won’t find that spark in the near future.

Sam Allen