Album Review: Swimwear – The Kissing Machine EP

Swimwear – The Kissing Machine EP
(2012, self-released)

Breezy and bright, Sydney’s Swimwear is a colorful collage of synths, dance beats and guitars. The Kissing Machine is a feel good debut E.P. to keep the record player bathed in sunlight until the winter sets in the Northern Hemisphere. Swimwear is the alias of Tim Derricourt – a name already familiar to regular Ball of Wax readers via October’s post on his other band, Dappled Cities. His solo adventure is not a complete break from Dappled (keyboardist Ned Cooke lends his wares across The Kissing Machine), yet Derricourt manages to carve an identity of his own and indulge in some fun beats in the process.

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Derricourt’s energetic on-stage presence with Dappled Cities appears to have been channeled more clearly into his Swimwear music; the rap in the middle of “Highs and Lows” accurately describes his bouncy and bounding performances:

I’m like a bouncing ball // multicolored and all // living only through your throw and bouncing back and forth

This energy really does make the E.P. a lot of fun to listen to; “Highs and Lows” caused an impromptu dance-off between my girlfriend and me in the kitchen (Incidentally, the moves that followed may be the blueprint for Swimwear’s very first dance routine [in the style of Whigfield’s Saturday Night or the Macarena]. If you are reading, Tim, please send a cheque in the post and we’ll send over the actions). Derricourt exercises his mellow muscles on “Easy High,” providing his signature guitar licks and stirring lyrics. The Dappled-ness of the track alludes to Swimwear not being a fleeting thought between non-solo tours and records, but an actual platform for Derricourt’s obvious wide-ranging talent. I’d like to see what apparel he will offer up for the making of an album – he is already comfortable in Swimwear.

The four tracks are available from Swimwear’s bandcamp  (PWYC) or to stream on Soundcloud.

Dappled Cities’ fourth album is done and dusted – they are currently looking for the right suitor.