***Dumbells are my favourite new band to see live in Sydney since, well, when live music started happening again. They embody a quality apparent in many of my favourite Sydney groups, where pre-existing music scenes blur and new alignments form. Whatever forces brought Sam Wilkinson (Shrapnel, Sachet) , Jen May (Tee Vee Repairmann), Ben Schattner (Shrapnel, VIPP) and Ishka Edmeades (Tee Vee Repairmann, Satanic Togas.) together has unlocked a certain hard-to-describe quality of rock n roll I personally yearn for.

Its hard to quantify this particular quality of rnr without a long list of nerdish reference points, but I think its how non-aligned with any particular sub-genre, or era, or tacked on caricature-ish style they are in their approach to amateur rock music that makes them not just another band in the endless sea of music.

On one hand, a child, or even a Pavement fan could immediately be wooed by the immediacy of the hooks, melodies and charismatic group dynamic expertly, but not too expertly, captured on Up Late With Dumbells. On the other hand, cold hearted cynics will have their record collector cockles warmed by a feeling akin to discovering Big Stars Radio City or Thomas Jefferson Slave Appartments Bait & Switch.

Dumbells cross examine the classic / independent rock dialectic in a manner thats musically informed, but more importantly intuitive. They arent in reaction to, or embracement of, any micro-trend but embrace the big picture of being in a humble rock band; Dumbells do shit with their guitars, bass, drums and voices that we all know feel good, natural and exciting, but maybe in a world rife with self consciousness and cynicism, often get lost in the sauce.Nic Warnock (Repressed Records, R.I.P Society)