Moody restraint is the theme of ‘Strange Tastes’, the killer new released from Ballarat rockers Apes.

For a start, there’s the deliberate nonchalance of the intro, with its punctuated drum beats, which slips effortlessly into a slinking haze of fuzzed up guitars.

Then there’s frontman Ben Dowd’s cooly detached and slightly caustic vocal delivery, which builds in vitriol towards the end of each verse. Add to that the perfect chorus of melodic falsetto and 90s grunge pop hooks, and in ‘Strange Tastes’ you’ve got one sultry garage rock gem.

With a roundly venerated recent performance at Bigsound, a recent signing to Native Tongue Publishing, and an upcoming UK, Apes are on the rise. Play this one on repeat.

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