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CONATION / HORSELL COMMON / JAPAN 4 DEC 12, 2003 The Indie Temple Brisbane, Australia. Following the shock closure of the new Club Sabotage this week, Brisbane’s venue situation is as dire as ever. Luckily, we have some hard working DIY promoters who still manage to find a venue, accommodate amazing interstate bands, and put on a great show ensuring we have a sporting chance of enjoying a repeat of tonight’s effort. The first show of its type at the Indie Temple, I am not quite sure what to expect from the 80’s trance club come amateur artist venue, but the strip club-esque mosaic mirrors and strobe lights only add to the charm of the place. Ten Dollar spirit jugs, huge dance floor, heaps of seating and bar staff dressed like Orgy cements the vibe and Japan 4 soon start things rolling.
Melbourne’s Horsell Common are back for their second Brisbane show in as many months,
Josh Weller
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I will afford Japan 4 the concession of being a new band, because they do not do much to impress at this stage. Music vaguely reminiscent of At The Drive In circa El Gran Orgo, poppy New Found Glory like vocals and token screams from the flanking guitarists although sounding like an odd combination, still offers nothing new. 
predictably armed with the same set list and the same sound. A three-piece band easily filed under the overcrowded banner of emo core, Horsell Common’s sound is consistent with the driving half time and whiny Americanised vocals of their genre, not forgetting of course the gratuitous background scream echoing the melodic vocal delivery. Undeniably tight, yet predictable and samey.
Conation have never disappointed me. However, I feel a smear on their perfect live record is forthcoming. Although charged with a new album and a shortened set list, my fears turn out to be unfounded as Conation still manage to squeeze in older favourite tracks and a coerced encore. The new release, Troubled Waters and Fortresses provides little deviation from the impassioned precedent set by previous effort "The Dichotomy of Earth and the Human Race" which is by no means a negative. Live or recorded, Conation are a band with a message that hits you with the duality of passion and noise.