When we think of alternative rock, it is often an image of leather clad, sub-metallers who seem more concern about sponsorships, synch deals and their complicated hair than any real love for the music they make. That’s what goes on in my head anyway. And that’s why stumbling across The Pink Dust feels like a breath of fresh air. Fathom is a wonderful blend of almost progressive rock vibes, subtle indie innovations and hazy, neo-psychedelic textures and the supplely and subtlety that they use to weave it all together is just brilliant.
Yes, it is rock’s job to be bombastic, escapist and fun, but stick the moniker “alt” in front of it and you give yourself licence to rebrand those core principles in any way you see fit. That is just what The Pink Dust do here. It’s still rock more than it is anything else but it is the almost otherworldly feeling that they coat the song with, the unhurried nature of the sonic journey, the ability to explore the spaces between the notes as well as using the music to drive things along which makes Fathom a bit of a gem. Perhaps this isn’t alt-rock but alt-alt-rock…a sort of musical double negative which really frees them up to be able to reach their full potential. And as great as Fathom is, I’m sure that this is just the start of that process.
[…] Fathom, the single, was an unexpected pleasure, so much so that it made me keen to hear what else this musically astute duo had up their sleeves. With the arrival of a four-track e.p. of the same name the question is answered and alongside the title track we are offered up three more slices of music which seems to wander many generic paths. They explore rock’s weight and pops addictiveness, digital potential and analogue traditions, proggy structures and psychedelic flights of fancy, the then, the now and the what if! […]