Tropical Fuck Storm: Moonburn EP

The plates keep on spinning in the world of Tropical Fuck Storm.

When the Aussie goliath release anything new, it pretty much a cause for celebration, and following the release of their film/live performance, Goody Goody Gumdrops and – more recently – their split single with fellow antipodeans King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, the band drop surprise new EP, Moonburn.

Having recently toured Europe, which included a blistering show at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound (was anyone else in that circle pit?), the four-piece barely hit the Melbourne Airport tarmac before getting back into the studio to produce the goods.

“We all dream about detours that ain’t real” sings Gareth Liddiard on the eponymous opening track. A track almost too good to spearhead an extended play, and along with a reworked version of Aspirin – Slight Return, this is Tropical Fuck Storm by the campfire. Their swampy mutant blues scorched by the flames. It’s a nice change in pace and one that would most certainly be welcomed in the future.

Then there’s Ann, as Fiona Kitschin unravels the carnage left by The Stooges all those years ago. Well, almost. Ann receives the necessary TFS treatment, as Lauren Hammel’s cannoning percussion and Erica Dunn’s warped sea-sick guitars create the kind of ungodly racket that would leave Iggy hurling his guts up overboard.

And via the storm at sea, Tropical Fuck Storm cross paths with the Talking Heads; or rather their song, Heaven. It may be the best cover they’ve given us yet, following on from Liddiard’s beautiful rendition of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s West Palm Beach via his side hustle with Jim White and Chris Abrahams as Springtime. Here we see Liddiard, Kitschin and Dunn parting with the kind of spirited performance that feels ripe for a eulogy.

It’s a beautiful end to a release that many were unaware of just weeks ago. That’s Tropical Fuck Storm, though. Always ones to spring a surprise, and they’ve given us another with Moonburn. Expect the unexpected: a mantra more bands should adopt. Naturally they don’t, which makes the Tropical Fuck Storm story all the more special.

Moonburn is out now via Joyful Noise Recordings. Purchase from Bandcamp.