Witch Hats - Cellulite Soul

After listening to the Wound of a Little Horse EP from the Melbourne, Australia based Witch Hats back in ’06; I honestly didn’t envision an album like Cellulite Soul being spawned from them two years down the road. Sure, that EP had plenty of promise, but to think they would deliver on it within such a short time just didn't cross my mind. However, here we are and Cellulite Soul is punishing my stereo speakers in the best way possible as I type this.

For Cellulite Soul the band has taken bits and pieces of 60’s pop along with the best elements of the earlier eras of noise-rock/post-punk and has promptly draped it all in a darker grimy image. The bands influence from past brooding rockers The Birthday Party is undeniable on this record, to the point that they even enlisted former member Phill Calvert to share recording duties with Ben Ling. The end result is more than anyone could ask for though, in that they created moody but powerful sounding album.

From the opening track “Before I Way”, the bass line kicks in with a rolling punch that doesn’t back down from the plodding succession throughout the entire album. The bass lines provided by member Ash Buscombe are easily one of the highlights of the album. Adding to overall skin crawling feel of Cellulite Soul is the vocals of Kris Buscombe, who at times slinks around the wavering guitar mess with merely a whisper, as if he’s coaxing the listener that everything is ok and no ones going to hurt you. However, that hand reaching out to grab hold of quickly disappears as Cellulite Soul doesn’t take long to reveal its true intentions of providing a soundtrack to the underbelly of the worlds workings.

Witch Hats – Hellhole [MP3]

Cellulite Soul is definitely one of the best surprises I’ve heard this year. For those digging what they here, then head on over to the bands MySpace to hear a few more songs and to purchase the album. It’s a dandy.