I’m still in a “cockatoo” state of deep astonishment since last week. I’ve clumsily stumbled upon some Cockatoo hailing from Edmonton, Canada. I’ve spent the last seven days massively injecting their début album “Present” into my eardrums.
My first impression was a mixed feeling between an aural hallucination and unexplained time travelling. I felt that I had been compulsively brought back to early 80s while I kept asking myself how could the Cockatoo’s come from Edmonton?
It was like existential doubt meets 21st century reality. It sounded so literally non possible that this seemingly very finest re-enactment of the post punk aesthetics could have been made miles and miles away from Bromley, London, Leeds, Manchester or Liverpool...
Unlike others that may feel much of Xmal Deutschland and Wolfgang Press influence in Cockatoo’s sonic statement I tend to sense a whole lot more of The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and Echo and The Bunnymen as well as some bits of The Sisters of Mercy.
Anyway if I'd had to define Cockatoo’s sound i’d say that they blend with gorgeous artistry the heritage of albums such like: “Seventeen Seconds”, “Pornography”; “Heaven Up Here”, “Porcupine” but also “Kiss in The Dream House” and “Hyena”.
Cockatoo has all the main features acknowledged to a purist post punk sound: a palette of torturing and textured bass lines defying some tribalist energized drumming tied in a fuzzy glass breaking 12 string guitar with a slight and sweet eastern flavour reminding of both Will Sargeant and John McGeoch guitar playing. All of it refurbished with haunting dreamy vocals in cascade.
Superbly WELL DONE Robyn, Rod, Robert and Rich!