SIERRA FIN – CAUTIONARY TALE OF THE BEAUTIFUL BLACKOUT

Sierra Fin’s debut album has attracted a wealth of media attention and hype – perhaps unsurprisingly. The Sydney-based four-piece have utilised a full symphony orchestra on Cautionary Tale Of The Beautiful Blackout, a boldly ambitious move for such a young new band. However, this is no gimmicky publicity exercise, nor is it an alienating attempt at being ‘out there, man’. The album has an overriding concept, a story of a man’s enlightenment told in three acts – ‘yesterday’, ‘today’ and ‘tomorrow’ – and the music is an excellent complement to such a premise. The overture Death By Alarm Clock begins with dramatic orchestral flourishes which are followed by a funky rock groove, with the best of both worlds eventually combining on this fantastic statement of intent. The gorgeous vocal harmonies on Angel’s Way Down are also a definite highlight, as accomplished as they are memorable. The album is comparable to Silverchair’s latest Young Modern, particularly on the wide-eyed Claustrophobia and the pompous Lost Man’s Lie. The sound of Muse at their more restrained can also be heard on the piano-led Beautiful Blackout, in which the lyrics “as the storm swells / like it swells in his mind” are accompanied by delicate orchestral brooding. But though it may be bombastic and over-dramatic at times, the music melds perfectly with the overall theme and attitude. Innovative but never inaccessible, Cautionary Tale Of The Beautiful Blackout sets a new standard for ambition, quality and big ideas in left-of-field rock music both in Australia and elsewhere.

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