Live Review: Foreign/National take psych to the disco on 'Tristesse'

FOREIGN/NATIONAL are back after "countless trips between the city and coast" with 'Tristesse' our first listen in on their debut album. (Spoiler alert it's really, really good.)

Foreign/National describe themselves as "sad disco" and as far as descriptions go it's a pretty accurate one. With beats that clearly take inspiration from the quick paced dance tracks of the disco era and strong, twangy bass there is no denying that 'Tristesse' follows in the footsteps of their prior work. However, 'Tristesse' has subtle differences that give the song and, if this track is anything to go by their album, a different flavour. 'Tristesse' would feel perfectly at home on a nightclub dancefloor no remix needed, something few of their other tracks could boast.

This change is certainly an organic one within the band's writing dynamic, as they have changed very little about the way they make music, continuing to work with long time producer Joey Walker (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) and returning to the familiar surrounds of the Mornington Peninsula.

'Tristesse' is described as a 'lovesick postcard' and is a memory frozen in time, the recollection of a failed long distance fling in true Foreign/National 'sad disco' style.

Words by Cailey Moroney

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