photo credit: Archie McGill
With her first release since 2020, Naarm based artist Hannah Kate and her band deliver us a new single dripped with eerie instrumentation and a more brooding pace than earlier releases. While ‘Test Run’ marks a sonic change compared to tracks earlier in Hannah’s catalogue such as ‘Sunday Mourning’ and ‘Cry July’, it isn’t bogged down in its more serious approach. Still fulfilling all the trademarks of past tracks such as catchy melodies, lively lyricism and a playfulness with its Garage Rock approach in tone (particularly in the bass).
The biggest highlight on initial listen is Hannah’s vocals. Acting as a haunting presence, the vocals glide with the accompanying instrumentation, taking the listener on a journey as this more dramatic vocal timbre has hypnotic effect over the accompanying chaos. The high end of ‘Test Run’ is filled with the off filtered melody brought by the guitars. Ever so slightly nudging toward the realm of Noise Rock whilst still maintaining a catchy melody that acts as the fulcrum of the song. This is a tactic deployed by Naarm heavyweights Tropical Fuck Storm, the DNA of the cities harsher rock scene can be heard draped allover.
Rhythmically ‘Test Run’ is all about tension and release. The drums match the guitars darker energy in the moments of momentum. The moments where all the instruments let loose in short spurts before being brought back down, building into instants of a more subdued chaos. In fact, the phrase tension and release can be utilized to sum up the appeal of ‘Test Run’, the ability Hannah Kate and the rest of the band to play with our expectation of more formal song structure to deliver something that can provide spurts of crazed energy and soft introspection.
Credit also goes to the pristine production. Being able to capture the busy instrumentation and deliver it in such a pristine manner really aids the song to hit each creative element successfully. This was recorded by Fabian Hunter at the Fishbone Tone Shack Studio and Mixed/Mastered by Sam Swain of Sunset Pigs Studios.
‘Test Run’ is a thrilling return to form for Hannah Kate and the levels of experimentation leave us with a curiosity and excitement for the direction of future releases.
You can follow Hannah Kate here.
You can Listen to Hannah Kate here.
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