The sophomore album of jazzy Melbournian Dan Webb is Hyperspace Clearance, a four track EP. Hyperspace Clearance carries a sweeping dynamic throughout its four tracks, with each song smoothly introducing the next. Opening track “Way Out”, resonates a strong Beatles-esque sound, with chiming piano riffs and a sharp drum beat. Webb’s vocals pitch to an impeccable highness, then dive into lower keys to build a rocky and inconsistent melody.
“Weathered Mind” brings in a whole new dimension of keyboard sound, catchy and poppy, and with Webb’s rapid vocalising creates an embodiment of musical happiness. The aural imagery built up with the layering of keyboard melodies – up to six layers in each track – makes it impossible for listeners to listen in paralysed silence, it urges involvement and enjoyment. The chiming final notes of “Weathered Mind” draw in the opening keys of “These Walls”, a far more jazzy sounding and chilled out tune, like something out of a backstreet 70s detective film. With less layering of sound, Webb’s soft vocals account for the majority of the melody in this track, with a sort of innocent flimsiness.
Final track “Weekends” seems to be merely a culmination of the previous three tracks, and fails to stand out with a sound of its own. Webb’s music creates a refreshing and pleasant revival of 60s and 70s music, but becomes repetitive and almost banal as it seems he uses all his best techniques at once, and has nothing left to offer towards the end of the EP. Regardless, Hyperspace Clearance is an inspiring showcase of Dan Webb’s talent and uniqueness, and deserves a listen (or five).
Review score: 8/10
