Sam Wrangle – Norman Cres (2022)
Formed in 2020 during the “pandemic period”, Australian singer-songwriter Sam Wrangle decided to create a unique spin on post-punk meets alt-rock and dream-pop. Inspired by the likes of The Church, Morrissey and Kevin Parker, Wrangle brings a familiar 80s sound to modern-day audiences. This is my introduction to this multi-instrumentalist, but Wrangle has been captivating listeners across the globe with coverage from international blogs and radio stations. The latest addition to his discography is the EP Norman Cres.
Produced by Sam Wrangle between mid-2021 and mid-2022, Norman Cres is an expression of where Wrangle is musically and personally. Inspired by life in its entirety, the four-track EP touches on themes of addiction, escapism, anxiety, self-doubt, relationships and isolation. Interestingly enough, while the underlying themes of Norman Cres seem morbid, they are not all expressed in a melancholic way. Actually, there are sonic elements that see the lighter side of a topic instead of full-on doom and gloom.
Opening with the track ‘Always New’, Wrangle jumps into “a lot of heavy ideas – drug use, escapism, self-doubt, negative core beliefs…” Despite being noted as a difficult song to produce, ‘Always New’ is an elegantly well-textured and layered rock single. Merging the haziness of post-punk with pounding drums and rock guitars, there is a hard-hitting feel to the track; however, an ambient haze also surrounds the song highlighting Wrangle’s versatility and eclecticism.
As with ‘Always New’, the second track ‘Circles’ has an 80s rock style in its melody taking listeners back to the synth-rock sounds of yesteryear. Yet, Wrangle takes a diverse transition in ‘Circles’ moving to a slower, more soothing pop sound. Wrangle explains that ‘Circles’ is about dating where you trick yourself into a relationship “due to loneliness and validation” – a vulnerable process that is clearly translated in the hazy single.
While Wrangle retains a haziness throughout the EP from ‘Always New’ to ‘Spare Room’, his leaning toward rock is heard in ‘Victoria Brixton’. The heavy staccato beats add a chaos to the melody. Moreover, a desperation is evident in the brash vocals really expressing the bluntness and brashness of the musical concept.
I would compare Sam Wrangle to Talking Heads or REM, but after listening to Norman Cres I hear a distinctive sound that is uniquely his own. Sincere, sentimental, reflective and filled with brutal honesty, Wrangle intoxicates audiences with his new EP.
For more from Sam Wrangle check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
