SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE 2002

XPRESS
Picture this you're watching a movie, a really dramatic, thought provoking movie, and it's the pivotal scene. It's the scene that sets the direction for the rest of the film the fresh beginning, the new perspective, the moment of truth. And around this moment there's that little piece of mood setting background music. So what's all this have to do with Decoder Ring's 5 track EP. It may not be the intention of the eastern states four piece, but each of the live songs sounds like a movie soundtrack, a really good movie soundtrack. A brilliant balance of romance, melancholy, reflection and inspirations seems to pour out of every track harnessing beautiful melodies with effective and memorable arrangement all the while utilizing a vast array of organic and electronic instruments. The perfect soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon sun shower.


BMA Magazine Issue 156
Ali Shwow
A beautiful blend of moods, a deft mix of styles. Soulful, mournful, happy, angry: the five songs on this CD put you through a month of emotions in the space of 25 minutes. Decoder Ring have been described as 'defiantly instrumental' and indeed they are. Each track is devoid of all lyrics, bar the swaying female voice on The Night Shift. This allows the instruments - all of which are played very lovingly - to soar from the speakers and wash over you like warm sea water. While the mood differs, it nevertheless retains the same nuanced sound throughout. And they're Australian.


OZ MUSIC PROJECT
Nick Coppack
Sydney instrumentalists Decoder Ring have produced one of the finest recordings of the year...Many instrumental bands fall into the trap of overcompensating for the lack of vocals and cram too much into their songs. Not Decoder Ring. Much of the beauty here is in what they don't play and the way they manipulate the space between notes to create atmospheric moods. Spooky Action At A Distance is a must have, an epic, a breakthrough release, an innovative take on contemporary sonic art. It doesn't really matter what you call it. All I know is it's been a long time since instrumental music has sounded so good.


PRODIGY - Issue 7, 2002
Wow, I'm shocked, some nice tripped out melodies coming out of Australia, well Sydney, they're still part of Oz right?? Sydney 6 piece Decoder Ring builds a beautifully crafted set of melodies out. of a cunningly carved mixture of acoustic style guitar, drum, and electronic harmonics. Light on the vox, heavy on the Floyd style organs and riffs in parts, the single/album starts off with the mildly uplifting collapse coming on before descending into the darker but still mellow The Night Shift. You don't get a rest though as you are quickly whipped back to the upbeat Protein Express before being left to languish in Snowstorm. Slip off the rave pants after a hard night partying, light up a splif, snuggle up to your patter and get ready to be transported to a very cosy, but mildly twisted place. Oh yeah, by the way, it's great for background music at house parties too. No lyrics you can bop along to and sing in the shower, but hey, it's not aimed at you pop star fashion victims. Discerning listeners need only apply. Sit this one beside something like Pink Floyd's Ummagumma and Dark Side of the Moon for easy listening, easy reference.


REDBACKROCK
Mark Fraser
Mind altering soundscapes just unfold so beautifully out of this one... the tripped out caress of Collapse Coming On...with its infectious loops and trickling warmth. No vox, but then, none needed. The Night Shift sets up its subtle electro bliss... a little more ravaging... before the floating cries of Jodie Phillis wander thru the mix, giving it an even more drilling personality. And a befitting dedication to The Triffids' David McComb it is too... Protein Express equally drills its way in with its squelched keys, daunting pockets and urgent siren like rhythmics... intense... penetrating... controlling, before the soft falling flakes of Snowstorm hit tranquility mode in the most inspiring and unobtrusive of ways... Huge wafting visuals swim out of the delicate guitars of Unswung before it winds up and tears around the dance floor in a semi-crazed stupor... and then winds it all back down again. Beautifully aquatic, swirling aural scenes that unravel, dance and romance their way into your realm with the slightest of ease. Magical!


THE CANBERRA TIMES May 10 2002
****
It's been a while since a debut, especially a mere EP has showed this much promise. Decoder Ring's smooth spacey instrumentals may remind you of groups like Air or Radiohead. But even with the presence of keyboards they are able to maintain a more organic texture similar to that of 70's era Pink Floyd. Though one track does contain vocals, Decoder Ring are unashamedly an instrumental outfit. Can't wait to hear the album.