40TH PARALLEL

TRACK REVIEW: CLEANER AIR BETTER WORLD

Words: Joseph Maranta

Images: Lachie Ruscoe

Within the Lofoten archipelago, imposing cliff faces act as custodians of a pristine shoreline. The lapping water leaving the fjords seeks refuge amidst the lush greenery of hills harbouring quaint, brightly coloured cottages. Playing to the rhythm of the tides, it serves as the percussion in the natural orchestra on the small island of Brakøya. Elks shriek and eagles cry as they complete the ensemble, and a grey seal even makes a brief cameo, breaking for air and soaking up what sun he can find in the arctic circle. 

Observing this profound symphony is a conflicted teenage multi-instrumentalist. Far away from his childhood residence of Albany, the wunderkind finds himself lost in a swirl of perspectives and reservations of his future. 

What would come of this moment would be career, and near life-altering for Jeremy Staude. Upon his return to Australia, he would reconcile with the artistic direction of his now former band Spacedive. Currently close to two years removed from his Norwegian expedition, Staude has found inspiration in his new solo project 40th Parallel. 

His sophomore single Cleaner Air Better World delves into the very emotions he experienced during his time in Scandinavia, as well as his other travels in the similar landscapes of New Zealand and Tasmania. 

“The song is essentially about my experiences travelling to places like Tasmania, Norway and New

Zealand, and then returning home. I felt trapped, suffocated and uninspired. I experienced a lot of frustration in wanting to leave, but not wanting that desire to affect my relationship.” 

Sonicallym it's the most mature and complete composition he’s released to date. Influenced by international acts such as King Krule, Massive Attack and contemporary Western Australian bands like Alison Parade and Humble Armada, the song drifts through a multitude of genres in spite of the track’s relatively short runtime. 

The opening guitar riffs are buoyed by a crashing of percussion, keys and supplementary guitars - creating a heavily sombre sound which lays a platform for Staude’s first verse. His lyrics consistently revolve around his mindset regarding his current relationship with his partner, and his need for “cleaner air”, referring to his desire to escape the familiarity of home and explore the path less travelled. The internal conflict that arises from this desire drives the emotion in this track, and there is a tangible passion felt on the song's finale. The final refrain, is made all the more impactful by Jack Arnett’s wailing saxophone play and the powerful percussion courtesy of Jeremy himself.

“Can you see us in a better world? I only see us in a better world. Do you still see us in a better world?”