There has been a lot of excitement about The Telescopes’ latest record, Of Tomorrow, and rightly so. Yet earlier in the year, the historic act from England put out another record through the small, independent Aussie record label Weisskalt. Experimental Health is the ying to Of Tomorrow’s yang, tilting much more towards the experimental side of the band, but without forgetting their post-punk and shoegaze roots. The introduction with “Because They Care” is a stunning example of these two worlds merging. The dream pop-infused vocal delivery, surrounded by walls of noise and intricate sound design, creates a warm ambiance. An industrial repetition further defines this pensive, yet soothing procession as the mantra hypnotically repeats.
The reach of The Telescopes is spectacular. It has always been the case, but through Experimental Health they cross so many boundaries and touch on a plethora of sounds and motifs. The similar industrial approach applied on the opening track further flourishes through “Repetitive Brain Injury.” Here, the space is re-configured, the ethereal soundscapes becoming harsher and reaching a dark ambient quality. Suddenly, the process transforms into a quasi-tribal ritual, filled with primal energy and yet delivered in a cerebral and precise manner. This connection to a primal self goes even further, as The Telescopes take us through a bizarre trip through their roots. The folk foundation of “The Turns” is undeniable, the main melody pointing towards a past era, but one put through the meatgrinder. Through some serious and intense signal processing and sound design, this tradition is redefined.
At times, it is these bizarre ideas, the collection of disparate motifs and influences that find their way into Experimental Health. In any other context this decadent Luna-Park-like theme of “45e” would feel out of place, but not there. Similarly, the theremin-reminiscent quality of “Wrong Dimension” creates a vibrant background, bringing energy and purpose. It is all wrapped masterfully through this psychedelic soul, capable of navigating through different sonic territories. “When I Hear The Sound” travels masterfully through space rock grandeur, as slow-moving noise artifacts fill the panorama. And through all these intense moments, The Telescopes do not lose sight of their underlying identity.
Beneath it all, there is still the beating heart of a post-punk act. The one that produced such exquisite works as Taste and their self-titled record (although some may call Untitled Second.) “Leave Nobody Behind” is one of the strongest reminders of this side, the shoegaze identity shining brightly but with the electronic component and the noise heavily pushing. It encapsulates so much of the core quality of Experimental Health. It features this elegant balance, not just between different forms of music, but between different eras of The Telescopes. To package so much history, so many different sides of themselves in one record is quite an accomplishment, and it shows in the end result.
