May 20, 2019

The Pinheads Review: Is This Real

The Pinheads throw themselves into the depths of introspection on their second album ‘Is This Real’. In this next chapter, the five-piece grapple with finding yourself within the confines of a critical, destructive headspace.

A short hiatus and some independent music projects later, The Pinheads build a gritty and spirited twelve track album, showcasing their knack for taking psychedelic rock to its limits.

Their break, according to guitarist Luke Player galvanised their passion for molding their craft. “You kind of forget how fun the lifestyle is… You appreciate that community”. The album, heady in its lyricism, sonics and delivery is somewhat of an organized freedom.

The group outline and tease their body of work with an abstract cover art. Shot on film, the small light leak is a perfect summation of the album. The fortunate accident stands as a visual representation of the album’s focus on imperfection. Creative direction led by the band featured one of their favourite locations at home in Wollongong. Their charge and interactivity in the album cover is a precursor to what you can expect from the album. Full-fledged control and taking the reins over the art they create.

Whilst remaining dauntless as always, there is a noticeable cautiousness in The Pinheads’ arrangement this time around. The structure is refined, with the band making “a conscious effort” to capture chaos in a contained and fluid manner.

Their attentiveness to “making the album cohesive” is what makes their body of work addictive and engaging. It’s easy to get lost in these tracks, but in the best way possible. The Pinheads’ versatility feeds all listeners, spanning from the flaming ‘Feel it Now’, packed with verve, all through to the more melancholic and dim, ‘So Alone’.

Moving through the album, the Pinheads concoct a range of defiant sounds, with one common string that ties their collection of songs together. Their candor is at its greatest as they narrate and reflect on elements of isolation and inner battles. These thoughts and perceptions of self have always existed in some form, yet “are heightened by the life [they] lead” and the demands of life as a musician.

The Pinheads approach to recording is one that hasn’t strayed too dramatically. In the past, their creativity has spiralled in their own home studio, known as the Pinshed. The familiarity and intimacy came following their Europe tour, where the group were “really tight, because [they’d] played all these songs on tour”. The DIY approach continued, with Luke revealing “we just did everything ourselves”.

The group nourishes their existing sound, but with a newfound appreciation for experimentation and letting their instinct guide them. We see this through their opener ‘Pure Hate’. An eight-minute track, driven by consistent riffs threads the entirety of the album together sonically and thematically.

As connected as ever, the band opted for an immersive and bonded recording atmosphere, translated through the minimally refined and live sounds they conjure. Trying to “go pretty live, [with] everyone playing at once”, cements the band’s outlook on audaciousness. After attempting to record “separately, overdubbing everything, it just didn’t work”. Yet again, The Pinheads’ novel scrupulousness is important to note.

Despite never handling live recordings to this extreme, the group “went back and did it all again… everything including vocals in the same room”. Though taking on a foreign concept, nothing deemed them unqualified. “We were really in sync with playing, really intimate, spending whole days… together and it was really good”.

The spark and magnitude of their connectedness is clear. Although each track details heavy despair, the band’s presence and alliance with each other manifested a noteworthy lyrical and sonic juxtaposition. Pioneering confident arrangements with lyrics that question the band’s presence in the world are evident on ‘On & On’ and ‘Not Like You’.

With whimsical energy and warping how they explore their identities, the band brings psychedelic rock into a new age. Their instrumentation serves as a fun riot, attributed to the spontaneity they were gifted from going live. The five-piece felt “in the moment a little bit more,” taking approaches to music that they “wouldn’t usually do… to get the right thing”. They certainly “ended up with different results”, but that’s what makes The Pinheads’ sophomore album so distinguishable from their past work, and from the work of the outside.

The group build a complex dome based on thoughts of the self, and the flaws rooted within them. Nevertheless, in an album that weighs heavy on The Pinheads’ identities, there can be a positive taken out of it. “The really good thing about a sadder album is having a release and [letting go]”. And for the listener, the most uplifting moment is reaching the end, and realizing that you are validated. You are never isolated in any troublesome spirals you endure.

The Pinheads’ sophomore album ‘Is This Real’ will be available Friday 24th May.