EP Review: Camp Cope / Cayetana - Split


Words by Daniel Rourke

2016 was a year to forget. Whether it was celebrity deaths, disastrous political events, or the Instagram update that shook the world, everything that could go wrong did. Whilst the cataclysmic year left us broken down at the side of the road, Camp Cope and Cayetana shone through the haze, meeting our anxieties and doubts with beautifully relatable songs that went toe-to-toe as some of the best of the year.

Less than a month into 2017 the bands are not only back, but they’re back with a split EP through Poison City Records. 

Opening with Camp Cope’s Keep Growing, there’s an air of familiarity from the off. It’s like coming home after a long trip. The opening drum beats are met by the all so familiar Camp Cope bass tones, before vocalist Georgia Maq blows the listener away with as a tale of love and mental health ensues: “I never wanna do anything / maybe I haven’t learned anything / I loved you more than anything.

Trading song-for-song, Cayetana are up next with the musically uplifting Mesa, as the intro sounds like something stuck between The Cure and Beach Slang. Musically it’s a nice change of pace from the dower tones of Keep Growing, but lyrically the track shares many of the same themes found on Camp Cope’s opener.

As Cayetana’s introduction leaves the listener somewhat uplifted, in step Camp Cope again with the exceptional Footscray Station. It is in Footscray Station in which the true quality in Georgia Maq’s song writing shines through. Centred around the western Melbourne station, the track tells story after story, touching on working life class life, love, and Australia’s Liberal Party politician Scott Morrison. It’s truly a remarkable song that goes down as one of Camp Cope’s best.

Given the brilliance of Footscray Station, Cayetana are left with the tough job of not only following, but also closing out the split EP. Trails sees the band slow things down to a more Camp Cope like pace, and it works extremely well. The indie tinged sound of Trails proves to be a beautifully sincere closer, as the building drums and bass work exceptionally well with Augusta Koch’s vocals.

Camp Cope and Cayetana will probably never become household names, their brand of music and the messages they choose to portray just don’t hit the mainstream like they should. However, the sincerity and hauntingly exquisite storytelling on show from both bands is enough to long for a changing of the guard.