Cable Ties has been known for their fiery live performances since they played their first gig at Wetfest in 2015, the backyard non-binary-inclusive D.I.Y. music festival in Melbourne organized by Jenny McKenchie with her other punk band, Wet Lips. The following year they were the first opening band to earn the “Golden Boot” at the Meredith Music Festival where the crowd unanimously held their boots and shoes aloft in ecstatic approval. Their self-titled debut came out in 2017, and while it didn’t have songs as catchy as Wet Lips, there was a really promising mix of influences, from Sleater-Kinney and Team Dresch to Au Pairs and X-Ray Spex. The ambitious 9:46 “Paradise” shows hints of slashing guitar noise via Public Image Ltd. to The Fall’s more long-winded poetics.
On Far Enough, there is, not quite a progression, but rather a gear shift, with less skittering staccato post-punk and more thwacking rock and proto-punk, such as the seething “Tell Them Where To Go.” There are still songs that go well beyond the average length of punk songs, reaching the seven minute mark on “Anger’s Not Enough,” which could have concluded at four minutes, but continues for another three with squalling feedback like mid-80’s Sonic Youth. The 7:26 “Lani” is anchored by a fat, distorted bassline, allowing the vocals and guitar, surprisingly ethereal here, to hover on top. Do the tracks need to be this long? Probably not — I imagine they are trying to replicate the power and visceral experience of their stage show, when a few more shorter songs would give the album greater impact. Then again, those fully on board with Cable Ties’ passion, vitality and mission will cherish every minute, and go searching for more (hint, the B-sides “Choking To Choose” (2018) and “Walking Out” (2016) are also top shelf).
