Umpire – Now We’re Active

Since their beginnings in 2006, the three founder members of Umpire (Simon Struthers, Geoff Symons and Michael Lake) have taken their avowed aim of ‘making the studio into an instrument’ quite some considerable distance. Focusing on recorded rather than live performance, Umpire developed their songs and sound in the studio, not venturing out until they were quite satisfied with the results. In a world where either pressures of time, or artistic approach, or often a combination of both often force bands to produce songs seemingly to the prevailing demands of the industry, taking more time to create the finished article is something more musicians would probably want to do. Now We’re Active is both a testament to the bands faith in their own work and a smartly crafted collection of guitar songs which, while it won’t win any awards for groundbreaking artistic imagination or surreally inspired experimentalism, is probably exactly what you might want to listen to when driving from the bands Australian hometown of Perth to anywhere else on the map.

Opening track “Green Light District” has already received a glowing appraisal here and it’s obvious why, all that time spent in the studio has provided Umpire with a very tightly scored guitar sound that gives the song’s tune added bite and depth, without veering into histrionics the harmonics are subtle and uncluttered, without too many overdubs to complicate the song, and it’s a skilful rather than just competent performance. It’s a little bit grunge, a little bit techno, and isn’t dominated by overly effusive keyboard or mixing board pyrothechnics. It’s also a little deceptive, Umpire are about to reveal themselves as a band whose imaginations are very far from limited by their mastery of the soft rock format they introduce themselves with. Second track “Corner An Owl In An Alcove” is an anthemic, swaying ballad which suddenly bursts into a brass midsection which I (and I often hear owls near my own home) wasn’t fully prepared for. This gives the song exactly the added impetus it’s title requires and conjures an air of mystery over what’s an already glorious, celebratory melody. “The Canyon” is a near collision of powered drumming (from newest member Josh Watkins) and a brightly plucked guitar riff that bursts suddenly into a slew of grinding powerchordage. “On The Fringes” is an acoustically based ballad with a bluesy, late night sound and some virulent lead guitar to back up the reflectively paced strumming. Finally, “Cyclones Into Sunshowers” shows Umpire once more stretching their abilities: again, a deceptively simplistic one chord intro takes sudden flight as Umpire bring their symphonic talents to a near overwhelming conclusion.

Now We’re Active is an album which reveals a band whose imaginations are now finally within their own grasp as musicians. Alternately full on, grandiose and brilliantly inventive, Umpire have very nearly made a prog rock masterpiece, and I say nearly only because their more ambitious ideas are continuing to develop. That journey from Perth to Melbourne won’t seem quite so long with this on the car stereo.

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