The BLURT staff put our heads (and ears) together and we have the latest pick for our Blurt/Sonicbids "Best Kept Secret": it's The Glimmer, from Newtown, in New South Wales, Australia. This makes our 18th BKS selection since commencing the program of spotlighting new and under-the-radar artists back in 2008.
 
The group is described in its bio thusly: "The Glimmer is a 4-piece rock 'n' roll outfit from Newtown, NSW, influenced mainly by the raucous rock & roll bands and sassy girl groups of the 1960s. With a sound that's grittier than Best Coast but prettier than The Dead Weather, ‘The Glimmer are the very model of a certain inner-west indie band. Bluesy, some frayed country around the edges, and for some flavour, add some surf guitar buzz and up-to-four-part boy/girl harmonies. Goes with the requisite rumble and swagger.'"
 
 The Start A Fire album was released this past June. It was cut with Andrew Beck (Amiel, Modular Lounge) and the legendary Kramer (of Bongwater, Galaxie 500, Low, etc. fame) in Australia, and Kramer subsequently mixed it at his studio in Florida. The press immediately latched onto the guy-girl vocal mix, not to mention the deep, primal twang that reverberates through all the songs. And with a pure pop vibe at its core, the group clearly hearkens back to the mid-‘80s Australian golden age of alternative rock, but there's also a distinctive postmodern aesthetic at play too.
 
The Glimmer: Cassady, on guitar/vocals; Dereck, guitar/vocals; Nikki, bass/vocals; Jules, drums/vocals.
 
They're one of the good ‘uns, trust us.
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Produced by Kramer (Bongwater, Galaxie 500, Low, etc.), Australian quartet The Glimmer take their name from a Mick Jagger /Keith Richards writing pseudonym, and their debut album certainly carries an early Stones R&B influence, though it’s just one of many. Surf, power pop, alt. country, ‘60s beat and a certain noirish quality pervades much of the material, and both the former and latter attributes have led to comparisons with the soundtrack collections of Quentin Tarantino. The fact that Kramer produced Urge Overkill’s “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” probably facilitated the association.

“Start A Fire” is the band’s debut, and although very much a product of their influences, it’s an utterly fresh and enjoyable record. All four members sing, and the two female vocalists Cassady Maddox and Nikki Ponymeadow bring a real dark twang to the proceedings. The songs, which cover revenge, sci-fi themes, and a lot of love-gone-bad, perfectly suit the mood. Look out for the single “Pistols At Dawn”, and the wonderfully titled “Cannibal Magnetism”. Countrymen, The Lime Spiders, would have been proud of that one.
www.theglimmer.net
Rob F.
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A versatile release, The Glimmer’s debut album blends numerous genres and influences. The 12-track album, Start a Fire, embodies a distinct Southern rock feel on some songs and a country twang on others. In fact, it’s no wonder that the band adopted their name from Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ pseudonym, “The Glimmer Twins.” With obvious rock flavors, rock icons like the Rolling Stones and even Pat Benatar come to mind with alternating male/female lead vocals throughout the LP.
Start a Fire begins with a seductive percussion beat and wavering guitar riffs on “Burn Down Tradition.” Reminiscent to the start of an old Western film, added Southern influence is apparent before swift vocals enter. Soon after, the beat picks up and the song transforms into more of a rock number as the singer assesses “all these things that I haven’t done.” 
While the lyrics throughout “Burn Down Tradition” bring to mind reflections that typically make up a country song, the track eventually transitions with heavier percussion and dark bass parts. As a result, the song soon resembles punk rock tendencies with an underlying country roots influence. An intriguing start to the LP, the listener is not quite sure what to expect and The Glimmer adequately burn down traditions of what’s anticipated.
Next track, “In It for the Money” quickly picks up the pace and impresses with female vocals. Alternating singing between female and male vocalists throughout the majority of the LP, The Glimmer manages to keep things fresh and give a new perspective on each track. A danceable number, the driving guitar and drum beat beg the listener to put on his dance shoes. Soulful guitar interludes and catchy backup singers continue to exemplify the band’s staying power.
“Dance with Me” embodies classic soul music from the 50s with backup singers reminiscent to a chorus from the doo-wop days while “With Love from Space” provides a futuristic approach. Ambient musical accompaniment intrigues complete with guitar fuzz, ethereal backup vocals and a heavy percussion beat. A darker track, one would never think this was the same band. 
The cover of 1959’s “Sleep Walk” by Santo & Johnny is a dramatic deviation from the heavy hitting “With Love from Space.” The slowed music introduction is strikingly familiar to female acts from the 60s like The Shangri Las and Nancy Sinatra. With sultry vocals and a steady bass beat, the singer is at the forefront, as she should be.
The fast paced “This Day Forward” follows suit. With a blend of rock, soul and even country, there is so much going on throughout the track it’s hard to focus. The country fused “Unhappy Hour” switches gears with delicate strums of the acoustic guitar and melancholy lyrics. “My wife has divorced me/My house is burnt down/Need someone to talk to/But there’s no one around.” Wavering slide guitar and soft percussion accompaniment further flush out the country track. 
The remainder of the LP continues to offer much diversity. From distinct vocals on “I’m Not Sorry” to the guitar fuzzed “Pistols at Dawn,” it’s hard to place The Glimmer in one genre. While tracks like the energetic “Cannibal Magnetism” brings to mind effervescent female rockers like Pat Benatar, album closer “Into the Sea” offers a more tranquil approach. With slow strokes of the piano, eerie string accompaniment and dark backing vocals, The Glimmer keeps the listener intrigued and, at the end of the day this is the goal. 
However, throughout Start a Fire it is often hard to pinpoint who The Glimmer are. Do they embody classic rock vibes, or are they a country act on a quest for something bigger? Some acts relish being indefinable, but Start a Fire seems all over the place and it’s hard to decipher just who The Glimmer are trying to be. More cohesion could have greatly helped them on this release. But then again, it is their debut album so there are plenty of opportunities for them to figure out who they are and be it. No matter the genre, the mere fact that this quartet keeps the listener wondering what will happen next is a feat within itself. One can only guess what the band has in store next.
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