James Garner
South African rock bands may come and go at a rate that makes the turnover of Bafana Bafana managers look comparatively pedestrian, but Cape Town four-piece Lithium are one group that has managed to keep things together and develop their sound over a period of time.
Many people felt that the band’s days were numbered after their split from EMI, but the Lithium crew of vocalist and guitarist Dave Owens, drummer Simon Portlock, bass guitarist Paul Opie, and guitarist Ian Watson decided to follow the independent route and have just released a new album, Zennon Supertroopers.
Lithium established a sizeable following with their debut album, Broken, and the Take Out EP (both released by EMI when the band were still signed to the label), but with Zennon Supertroopers the band have produced a collection of songs that takes them to a whole new level.
Whereas Broken and the Take Out EP relied heavily on big, anthemic riffs that sent moshers into a frenzy at live gigs, the new album showcases a more diverse approach and a willingness to experiment.
The meaty rock riffs are still in evidence on tracks like Chariot and Slice, but Zennon Supertroopers shows that there’s more to the band than many had previously given them credit for.
Asked what his favourite track off the new album is, Owens selected the brooding and densely layered Grinn, a song that may not be an obvious choice for daytime radio play, but it does highlight how the band are starting to think more about song structure and atmosphere. Owens describes Grinn as having “a slightly moody undertone” that illustrates how the individual band members have been “thinking a lot more about melody, lyrics, and structure”.
The album also contains a couple of tracks that display a humorous, experimental edge. Dear Neighbour, for instance, features a distorted voice reciting a disturbed warning about a lonely dog’s potential behavioural problems.
Lithium have always believed strongly in performing live, and recently completed a nationwide tour with fellow-Capetonians Juice as support. The strength and loyalty of their live following was forcefully brought home at the recent Wingerdstok music festival in the Boland. Despite strong winds that caused eye-stinging sandstorms, festivalgoers came out in large numbers and immediately set the tone by chanting the band’s name before they started their set.
Those who braved the adverse conditions responded enthusiastically to both the older, more familiar rock-outs and songs from the new album – a positive sign in a country where changing a winning formula often results in being accused of losing the plot. “We made a definite attempt to change our sound with this album,” states Watson. “We wanted to take a step forward and I think we’ve achieved that.”