People Mover – Cane Trash

Off the back of their most recent single ‘Cane Trash’ – a lo-fi gem packed with nostalgic, small town charm – Meanjin/Brisbane jangle-pop trio People Mover now proudly reveal their anticipated debut album of the same name.

A collection of songs shaped by the Queensland heat permeating throughout childhood homes and share houses, ‘Cane Trash’ captures the messiness of being in your twenties through relaxed lyrics, assured guitars and melodies that stick like a seatbelt in summer. It’s an unpolished portrayal of pushing through pessimism and the guilty struggle between holding on and letting go of distant memories.

“I wanted the lyrics to feel accessible and for people to be able to create their own meaning from the sentiments foregrounded,” expresses vocalist Lu. “Every song is set for me in Bundaberg or in Brisbane, and I hope that comes through.”

Along with the lead single and title-track, ‘Cane Trash’ flourishes with earworms. ‘James St’ opens the album inside a creaky Brisbane sharehouse, imminently facing gentrification, while album focus track ‘Explaining’ channels frustration in its chorus yet keeps its emotions stone-faced. Burying heavier themes underneath a bright, nonchalant soundscape is People Mover’s biggest charm, allowing the listener to slip into the hazy instrumentation of tracks like ‘Habit’ and ‘Trying’. Both songs hit hard with themes of lost love and heartache.

“Maybe the next album will be a bit happier, but for me I think it is fun to write songs that are a bit distressed lyrically and cheer them up through the instruments,” says Lu. “Maybe that will help someone else who is trying to figure out their highs and lows”

To celebrate the release, People Mover will launch ‘Cane Trash’ across Australia’s East Coast this October, stopping at Petersham Bowls Club in Sydney, Merri Creek Tavern in Melbourne and The Junk Bar in Brisbane. Having already graced the stage with Girl and Girl, Pinch Points, Babaganouj and plenty more, People Mover embody the nostalgic fuzz of bands like Twerps and Dick Diver, laced with authentic storytelling and an appreciation for their small-town upbringing.