Anna McMichael, Erik Griswold and Vanessa Tomlinson - Peak Plastique (2025) [Hi-Res]

In Peak Plastique Australian duo Clocked Out, Erik Griswold (piano) and Vanessa Tomlinson (percussion), team up with Anna McMichael (violin) in an examination of the ubiquitous presence of plastic across our environment. Through 11 contrasted compositions, they reflect on the paradox of plastic, the powerful material that has become indispensable to our safe, technical existences, while causing exponential damage to our planet through its seemingly unstoppable proliferation.

In this kaleidoscopic album, each piece explores a musical textural world of its own, being inspired by a specific synthetic or natural element, ranging from polypropylene and PVC to seaweed packaging. Intricate rhythmic patterns mirror the structures of plastic molecules while the trio's instrumental practices incorporate plastic bags and other plastic found objects while. Extended instrumental explorations include McMichael playing violin with plastic bottles to produce pitch slides and percussive effects; Griswold interweaving nylon fishing line with a grand piano to conjure haunting, ethereal drones; Tomlinson covering a vibraphone in bubble wrap to create a spiky musical counterpoint.

The music explores a complex dynamic, evoking the feeling of both fascination for plastic and a deep sense of precarity. Some pieces express a nostalgic longing for a time when seas were cleaner, while others present a stark, reflective look at the friction between futuristic hopes for sustainability and the tough realities of our plastic-filled world.