ALBUM REVIEW: Blah Spa - Hyper Wellness

Art-Rock quintet Blah Spa were new on our radar this month but their vibrant performance style and concept album exposing problems within the wellness industry were impossible to ignore.

Their debut album 'Hyper Wellness' arrived with little warning, with no singles being offered up prior to the full release. However, this is a testament to how much of a concise, thematic package the 10-track collection is. Every song radiates a playful angst, channeling very real frustrations with exploitation through a Funk-infused, expressive sonic lens in a style comparable to Shame and Youth Sector.

Standout songs such as 'Cowabunga' and 'Anything To Get It' pair angular, interlocking riffs with impassioned vocal calls that have a chaotic expression. The guitar work has the infectious layered effect and gritty tones of Gang Of Four yet with a more modern Art-Punk flair. The instrumental breakdown in 'Anything To Get It' is the perfect example of the instrumental flavour they offer as a jungle drum beat creates a tension while a sharp barrels forward.

There are moments of spaced out Psychedelia with 'Do Watcha Say' and moments of high-octane dance beats with 'Da Bomb', providing a range of tones and textures yet always delivering them with a fire and flair. The multiple vocals bring an audible camaraderie as well as an added force to the biggest moments in the album and really hammer home the purposeful messages of each track.

A fantastic new discovery for us! We can't wait to hear what these guys do next.