Up to now, Expensive Music Band was a solo project of Australian songsmith Troon Lienad, but for recording his new full-length Things To Say At A Barbeque he turned to his network: in the nine songs here – 42 minutes – you can also hear the playing of Annabel Blackman, Chet Tucker, Luke Player and Bowen Shakallis. They shift between ramshackle garage psych, layered neo mellow and jangly indie pop, adding lush vocals and lyrics that are humorous and inimitable – a combination plotted somewhere between Strange Boys and Kurt Vile. Whether criticism of the exploitative music industry (in RNR Cliche), a sinful life after a Catholic upbringing (Oh How Many Times) or a generational cultural exchange (Cool Aunty) are actually good conversation material for a BBQ is doubtful, but it makes for an entertaining and satisfying listen.
Things To Say At A Barbeque, written & produced by Troon Lienad, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Exclusive Culture (Australia) & Permanent Slump (UK).