Arbes’ debut album, Counterways, arrived on November 1st, via Third Eye Stimuli Records (Australia) and Earth Libraries (USA & Europe). This long-anticipated release ushers listeners into a world that exists on the edge between ethereal mystique and the unapologetically bold allure of psych-pop.
Counterways crafts a gorgeous sonic landscape with rich atmospheric textures and haunting melodies, echoing the post-punk of New York, from the vibrant pulses of Blondie to the eclectic audacity of Gang Gang Dance.
The dreamlike qualities of Cocteau Twins shimmer throughout, while gritty art rock inflections intertwined with ambient layers recall the magnetic allure of Deerhunter. Add a dose of psychedelia reminiscent of Melody’s Echo Chamber, and you have an album that feels boundless and meticulously crafted.
With ten tracks exploring themes of romantic yearning, elusive understanding, and the delicate dance between connection and distance, Counterways is a reflection on the emotional puzzles we grapple with.
As frontwoman Jess Zanoni said, “Counterways reflects the multiplicity of emotional memory. It’s both confession, and a fear of this confession. Desire is the throughline across the record, manifesting in many conflicting selves.”
Zanoni’s soulful voice floats above a tapestry of intricate guitar and brushstroke percussion, each element tinged with an unearthly resonance. Silence and space weave subtly between the notes, creating a dreamlike quality where each lyric treads lightly but with profound depth. It’s a vast and layered listening experience, the kind that allows room to wander.
Arbes set out to create “foreground music”—tracks that demand engagement rather than allowing for passive listening. With every note, they draw out the emotional core of each song, guiding listeners to surprising and, at times, mysterious destinations.
Counterways was written and recorded over five years (2017-2022), evolving from sessions in the bedroom studio of guitarist Sam Pannifex’s family home in Williamstown—a suburb in Melbourne’s inner west where Arbes was born—to the band’s shared studio in Coburg North. The songs underwent numerous transformations, crafted with patience and intention.
Melbourne-based producer Theo Carbo added his own magic, his innovative production techniques perfectly complementing Arbes’ expansive vision.
Counterways balances warmth with a subtle undercurrent of punk spirit—raw and exploratory rather than polished or commodified. There’s an interplay between the mythical and the urban: ghostly reverberations collide with the hum of the city.
Yet, more than anything, the album evokes a sense of something blissfully airborne, held just close enough to the earth to ground it. This is Arbes’ unique space—a haunting, introspective, yet vibrant world.
Check out Counterways by Arbes on Bandcamp here.
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