EP PREMIERE: Big Dead - Shell

Stalwart Brisbane alt-rock/art-rock outfit Big Dead have been plugging away for six years now, but they're still proving a most bountiful source of engaging, eclectic and intelligent tunes, and their new release — third EP Shell — is absolutely no exception.

Proudly premiering on The Music today, the EP's release tomorrow, 28 July, follows an earlier teaser in the form of last month's wonderfully loopy, glitch-ridden, sax-dappled single Sad Machine, the video for which was released earlier this month and visually tackles big themes including gender stereotypes, violence and death, in an eerily picturesque, almost unsettling, way. 

The five-song EP is a sonically wide-ranging collection of meticulously constructed indie-electro-jazz-rock wonderment, a moreish and replay-worthy effort in its entirety, from the Broken Social Scene-esque urgency and soundscapes of opener Atomise, and the brushed drums and hypnotic currents of the release's instrumental title track, right through to the dying breaths of atmospheric, wandering closer — also largely instrumental — I'm Not Sure.

Big Dead will launch their excellent new EP with a show at The Foundry, in brisbane, this Thursday, 28 July. They'll be joined by support acts Motion Picture Actress, HAARP and Kill Frank.

Give the EP a listen above, then hit the band's Facebook page to stay on top of their upcoming movements and projects, or check out their Bandcamp profile to get across their previous discography.