Selfless Orchestra respond to the current plight of Murujuga with new single 'Absonant'
- Veronica Zurzolo
- Nov 21, 2024
- 2 min read
Photo Credit: AJ Coultier
Western Australian post-rock band Selfless Orchestra are a group that stands for social and cultural issues. With the release of their second album Terra Nullius, on the horizon, the group unveils their latest single, Absonant (out 6 November), alongside a launch/ fundraising event for 'Save Our Songlines' as a response to how fossil fuel mining companies are destroying Murujuga, a significant site of ancient Aboriginal rock art and starting place of the seven sisters song line on the Burrup Peninsula.
Influenced by bands such as Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, and Mono, and inspired by the efforts of those fighting for justice and freedom for the environment and those marginalised or oppressed, Steven Alyian (he/him), the band’s guitarist and leader shares that “This song [Absonant] like all others on our upcoming album responds to the impact of the designation 'Terra Nullius' has had on the relationship to our land and the traditional owners of these places.”
Opening with swirls of electric guitar and strings, Absonant delectably evolves throughout its near-7-minute duration, with grounding bass, driving drums, the subtle hammer of keys, and accents of ethereal vocals providing rich textures to this bold symphony. Capturing feelings of sorrow and rage, underpinned with glimmers of love and hope that harmony can be rekindled, the message that “enough is enough” when it comes to the desecration of historical sacred sites and the loss of knowledge that is held within them is weaved throughout the song's tapestry, alongside a deep yearning for awareness, action, and change.
Originally written on guitar by Steven on country whilst doing activist projects in the central desert, “the song was taken to the orchestra and expanded into this version that was tracked as a live take in Loop studios in Perth. Only the vocals are overdubbed, but the entire instrumental recording is a single take of all musicians in the room together. This is how we always record, as an organic being dynamically reacting in real-time, capturing the essence and the reality of how we perform together, no headphones, amps blasted at each other, a cacophony of sound that is messy, wild, but honest.”
Selfless Orchestra’s new single Absonance is out now via Stock Records
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