Rachel Haircut – Reserve EP (2012) [Aural Sects] // Grade: B

Aural Sects netlabel is known globally for putting out killer release after killer release. They went from cute tomato seedling to little shop of serious-contenders faster than a bell clapper in a goose’s ass. Which means a pretty busy and sudden rise to global popularity. I’m pleased to announce that one of their best releases of 2012 is the wildly loved Melbourne Australia boy-duo Rachel Haircut (James Hewson and Hayden Quinn) “2 boys who met in 1998. The music they make spans decades: future garage meets 90s gangster rap. Witch House meets 70s Vintage Synthesizer music.” They dropped the Reserve EP with Aural Sects these past months and have played a whole bunch of awesome live shows around Melbourne, which I recommend you see.

If you caught their pre-launch party live set and interview on PBS Radio’s Zen Arcade, you would have heard a pretty sweet set but also heard them talk up micro genres such as seapunk and nu-rave. Sure, it has some of these flavors. Ok lots of these flavors. Seeing the duo have been making music foreverrrr in a day, the production on Reserve EP is pretty impressive and friendly through all quality systems for a listen at high volume. There is a clear and stated influence in 90s house and all things url-punk. The second track “Make U Move” is almost pure rave 1992-94. Where the trend in Witch related releases was to always be ungooglable, plenty of bands have realized that a highly googlable topic as a name for a band helps out pretty much completely when an image search is conducted. I suspect the band either really really love Jennifer Aniston or they think maybe having their logo up against one of the most online-searched women in the world isn’t such a bad idea.

Formally known for pacey big beat under the name Paqman, there are still elements of this old persona minus the lounge, funk and dub. “They have supported major acts such as Akufen, Garth Emery, Endorphin, The Aston Shuffle and D’opus/Roshambo, and received national airplay on Triple J [thee major Australian indie radio broadcaster]. Their version of The Salmon Dance was runner up in a global Chemical Brothers remix competition” According to Last FM. Well, now Rachel Haircut have cut all that right back and injected their sounds with pure URL lust. It does feel circumspect but nowhere near over. It will be exciting to see where they go next. The best part yet is that their awesome must have Aural Sects Download Reserve EP is Free! Free! Free! So no excuses -go get it.

- Theway Peoplestare