Mystery Waitress – Bright Black Night (Flying Nun) (13th Floor Album Review)

Four years after releasing their debut album, Wellington band Mystery Waitress return with Bright Black Night.

In the intervening years the band has grown from a trio to a quartet and re-tuned their sound along the way.

Bassist Xanthe Rook is the newest Mystery Waitress joining ranks with drummer Olivia Campion, guitarist James Morgan and Tessa Dillon who sings, writes the songs and also plays guitar.

As the album title would indicate, the sound has gotten darker with Tessa’s vocals awash in reverb.  I’m picking up a 90s post-grunge vibe just as the ominous chords of the title track kick in.   Tessa sounds dreamy or nightmarish, depending on your state of mind.

Track two, Console, is a bit more “upbeat”…think a brooding, “goth” Sheryl Crow.

Mountain is drenched in distortion, a begging to be turned up loud as it builds up a mighty head of steam.

Nightbug, the first single, is the “catchiest” of the lot and I find the more the album moves along the more I’m getting lost in it.

Fans of Joy Division will find something to celebrate in Pt2. Tiger while album closer,  In A Shell, features a seductive vocal that might have some reaching for their copy of Dark Side Of The Moon.

This is an album that wants to wash over the listener rather than demand your full attention. Let the cleansing begin!

Marty Duda

Bright Black Night is released Friday, August 2 on Flying Nun. PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE ‘BRIGHT BLACK NIGHT’ HERE

 

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