As word begins spreading about the “funky spunk rock” trio that is the
Debauchees, let’s clarify a few points of interest. 1) They are all
19-20, and two of them had little-to-no experience on their instruments
until fairly recently. True. But you’d never know it from hearing the
fantastically creative ways they manipulate their strings and drums into
an accessible yet artsy take on underground rock that barely even
sounds like something as boring as “rock music”. Drummer Cameron Lowe
and bassist Ashley Bowen’s approach to rhythm is classically post-punk
in every way, yet adds so many more textures, tempos and accidents to
their songs; guitarist/vocalist Sydney Chadwick’s jagged riffs clear a
path for them while bouncing off walls like a parkour champ.
Yes, they fit neatly into the basic template of the late ’70s elevation
of punk perfected by Wire, The Slits, The Au Pairs, The Raincoats and
Gang of Four, a genre out of fashion in recent years. But between the
dynamic of the three members together, the modern influences that
inspire their lyrics, and their current-day ease with other influences,
from the Strokes to forward-thinking hip-hop, The Debauchees pull off a
stunning debut album. It’s hard to imagine anyone hearing this and not
getting excited.
