Still Water by Trigger: A Forgotten Gem of '97 Indie Rock
Alright, let’s talk about Still Water, the criminally underrated debut album from Australia’s Trigger. Released in 1997 under their own label (because who needs gatekeepers when you’ve got raw talent?), this indie rock masterpiece is a wild ride through emotion and grit. It’s not perfect—heck, it doesn’t even try to be—but that’s what makes it so damn memorable.
The album kicks off with its title track, “Still Water.” And man, does it set the tone. The guitar work by Matt Randall feels like someone took all your teenage angst and turned it into six strings of pure fire. Paired with Francois Tannouri’s thunderous drums, this song hits hard without being overproduced. You can almost hear the sweat dripping off the cymbals. It’s one of those tracks where you’re just vibing along, then BAM—the chorus sneaks up on you like an emotional gut punch. I mean, how do you forget something that raw?
Then there’s “Letters Unsent,” which might as well come with a warning label for anyone trying to keep their cool. This tune drags you into its world with haunting backing vocals courtesy of Randall himself. The lyrics are cryptic enough to make you think twice but relatable enough to stick. It’s like reading someone’s diary without feeling guilty about it. The percussion here adds layers you don’t expect, making it feel more like a conversation than just another song. Honestly, if I could describe heartbreak as a sound, this would be it.
Michael Alonso deserves props for engineering and producing this thing. He kept everything tight yet loose enough to let the band breathe. There’s no shiny polish here; instead, you get the sense that these guys locked themselves in a room somewhere in Oz and poured every ounce of soul they had into these recordings. That DIY spirit? Yeah, it shows—and in the best way possible.
What sticks with me most isn’t just the music itself—it’s the vibe. Listening to Still Water feels like finding an old mixtape at a garage sale. It’s dusty, unpolished, and kinda mysterious, but once you press play, you realize it’s gold. Tracks like “Re-Decline” and “Building Pyramids” round out the album nicely, offering up plenty of head-bopping moments and lyrical depth to chew on. But honestly, it’s “Still Water” and “Letters Unsent” that’ll stay stuck in your brain long after the needle lifts.
Here’s the kicker though—how did this album slip through the cracks? Like, seriously. In ‘97, everyone was busy losing their minds over Oasis or Radiohead, and meanwhile, Trigger was quietly crafting something special Down Under. Maybe it’s better this way. Sometimes, the best albums are the ones only a few people find. Feels kinda sacred, ya know?
So grab yourself a copy if you ever stumble across it. Listen loud. Let it mess you up a little. Oh, and hey—if you see Matt Randall or Francois Tannouri around, tell ‘em we’re still waiting for another round of chaos.
