Australian post-punk band Radio Free Alice are back with a bite, releasing their first single of the year ‘Empty Words’.
Lead vocalist Noah Learmonth’s acerbic vocals lend to the band’s brazenly distinctive sound, cutting through the cacophony of sharp twangs and murmuring synth. Having two EPs already under their belt, the Naarm/Melbourne five-piece have a promising year ahead, starting off strong with ‘Empty Words’. It’s intense and concise, though a tenderness lies beneath the brooding rises and falls of dreamy distortion. ‘Empty Words’ builds upon “the feeling of social stagnation that a lot of young people experience”, echoed in a fervent abruptness that sears throughout, flirting with a callow nostalgia. Reflected in the accompanying music video, it strips back with its cool-toned melancholy. The punchy guitar riffs and razor-edged lyrics mixed with the slip of saxophone permeate their experimental, New Wave swagger.
Birthed from a jam session while between shows on the UK leg of their 2024 tour, the track reintroduces the subject of Katie, a compelling nod to a character appearing in their earlier release ‘Look What You’ve Done’. Soon to perform at SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, Radio Free Alice have constructed a solemn sincerity with their music that’s reached global acclaim.
Photo by Finn Robilliard
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