PRINCESS ONE POINT FIVE – WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU

Melbourne’s (almost?) duo Princess One Point Five are releasing their fourth full-length studio album, which may come as a surprise to casual observers of their career – they have been quietly forging a respectable cult following since their kick-off EP in 2005. Sarah-Jane Wentski’s voice gently hovers like a bee over the broiled soundscapes of Richard Andrew (Underground Lovers, Crow), occasionally reaching climactic guitar crescendos or fuzzy walls of white noise amid the folky melodies. There is something punky in their sound; what these two do with their instruments seems to reach beyond the horizon of plain sing-song – they are attempting to cross-pollinate elements of house, British rock, experimental folk and classic soul songwriting, and the effect is impressive. There are a few Clannad-style synthesized soundscapes, the tortured waltz of I’m Not Ready, and the album’s best track Suit Yourself, a midnight dreamer of a track, a piano-driven song that smacks pleasantly of Massive Attack’s Protection. They are good at waltzes -note the confounding yet melodically fascinating I Dare You. There are peaks and troughs here, no mistake – but these guys are onto something interesting, and refreshingly un-trendy.

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