Australian punk trio
Cable Ties was born out of fury, founded by singer/guitarist/lyricist Jenny McKechnie as an outlet for her songs of personal and political rage. The band's approach to punk incorporated the loud, fast aggression but also drew songs into longer, simmering arrangements. On second album
Far Enough, McKenchie's anger boils but it also has moments of quieter, more thoughtful bubbling, revealing a deeper emotional palette than righteous indignation, as well as a musical depth that reaches beyond punk's quick-burning bombast. Uptempo blasts like "Sandcastles," "Tell Them Where to Go," and "Self-Made Man" linger, taking fuzzy bass, fast drums, and snarling guitar tones outside of compact punk structures and adding just a touch of dive bar attitude not too far off from early
AC/DC. McKenchie's powerful vocals drive the songs, which confront capitalism, misogyny in male-dominated music scenes, and the ugliness of greed. The seven-minute-long "Anger's Not Enough" slowly builds from quiet ambient droning to a steady, rolling groove. It's sharp and propulsive, growing into one of the album's fiercest pieces as it burns into a crescendo before fading out with wailing feedback.
Cable Ties' most interesting songs are the ones that strike the balance between rage and vulnerability. Album-opener "Hope" begins with spare guitar and McKenchie singing from a place of personal struggling, fighting with her family about politics, and trying to survive in a capitalist system. The song erupts into a full band burner, charged with the duality of hope and despair that daily life brings. At its loudest and most brash, the album is fun and cathartic on par with any good high-energy rock band. In the moments when punk vitriol meets reflective, thoughtful expression,
Far Enough grows more intriguing and compelling. ~ Fred Thomas