You might know Michael Whitney from underrated Brisbane brooders Nite Fields (who actually have that long-gestating album on the way - Chinese Democracy mk II!!!) but he has also been floating around in the ether as the incredibly difficult to do anything with moniker, You. The subtle, embryonic pop that Whitney styles as You has brought about some intimate and affecting shows in the past. Having brought on Luke Zahnleiter (ex Tape/Off and The Rational Academy guitarist) though You takes on a new light, with Whitney becoming increasingly bolder in his compositions. His first physical release is coming in the form of a 7" out through Lost Race Records (responsible for Nite Fields, Cobwebbs and Loomer releases), and you can sample the discombobulated jazz blues of 'Caprice' below. The haunting sax is such a beautiful touch here, somehow sparking Whitney's dreary, downtrodden warble into life (just) and providing a shimmering layered sound. Then there is the B-side 'Old Man', which is a studied strum on laconic downer spirals, designed solely to spirit ice down your spine. Breathtaking.
You can get You's limited edition 7" on Friday - pre-order it here. You plays in full band mode (Heidi Cutlack and Alec Tullio round out You) Thursday August 7 at The Bearded Lady in Brisbane alongside SM faves Dag and No Magic.
This has been in the wind for about a year now, but excellent local label Lost Race has finally released Loomer's debut LP Ceiling on vinyl! I was lucky enough to be walking past Rockinghorse Records on Monday after Lost Race's Danny Venzin dropped off some preliminary copies (the release date isn't until May 30). Originally out on CD in December 2010, Ceiling showcases the burgeoning talents of the dark shoegaze-driven quartet. I got to see them support Swervedriver in 2011 (which I reviewed here), and looked forward to their imminent explosion as the year went on. Unfortunately that was not to be - the band imploded, with members going on to focus on other sonic efforts such as Per Purpose, Spite House, Slug Guts, Eastlink and Lakes. Thank God for Lost Race then, because Ceiling is a minor masterpiece all atonal bluster and feedback wash corralled by Brea Stanbridge's soothing vocals, a hint of menace barely held in check. This kind of music is a rarity in Australian circles, and almost never done this well. The vinyl sounds incredible too, and fittingly displays a band that could have been so much more.
You can pre-order Ceilinghere (there are only 100 copies, which is Lost Race's MO). You can also get it from Permanent Records here.
Lost Race Records are a new boutique "un-pop" label here in Brisbane that over the past year have put out the Happy New Year/Nite Fields 7" split, the Caterpillar Hood cassette and have the new Cobwebbs, Nite Fields and the long-awaited vinyl re-pressing of Ceiling, the only album from the sadly now defunct Loomer records in the wings. To celebrate they are putting on their own day-long festival at Cooparoo Bowls Club on Saturday November 17. Besides Nite Fields and Cobwebbs launching their albums on the day, Secret Birds will be releasing their In Hex cassette (a review is on its way) and hopefully some vinyl, whilst one of Australia's best young psych bands Dreamtime have their second LP ready too! PART-Y! Along for the ride are a plethora of local and interstate bands. This is going to be goddamned incredible, and being the day before Harvest, will mean a weekend of excellent music the likes of which you aren't ever likely to see! Tix to the show are $15 here, or $20 on the door - talk about a bargain!! See below for a list of bands with links, and a "mixtape". SO GOOD!
It’s a small crowd gathered at the Zoo at eight o’clock. This is my first time back to the Zoo since coming back to Brisbane, and the rush of nostalgia is a welcome rush. I love the fact that in a city that loves to refurbish the fuck out of anything minutely good until it looks like a futuristic bedpan, the dinginess, gallon drum tables and work-healthplace-and-safety-defying ceiling fans of the Zoo is a true testament to owners and supporters that relish the right things about music, and intend it keep that way...
A few people turn up early to catch Loomer, Brisbane’s progeny to the shoegaze, no-wave gods (I mean, look at the name - come on!), and they don’t muck around, launching into tracks from their recent LP Ceiling. They have some difficulty reining in their sound – much of the reverb-heavy effects bleed into each other – but there is some brute strength behind these songs. The cyclical verve that infuses their penultimate track is probably the true indication of what Loomer are capable of. This is further highlighted by the drummer’s frenetic skin bashing, unwittingly forced centre stage by the small confines. ‘Shit, they’re good aren’t they?’ is uttered behind me – a sentiment that Im sure will grow throughout 2011.
If the crowd – mid 20s to late 40s – isn’t enough to remind everyone of the main act’s genesis, then the next support does the trick. Giants Of Science have lain dormant for years – hell, the last time I saw them, the Healer still existed! – yet this unabashedly Swervedriver-loving hard rock band show no wear or tear, ripping into their back catalogue like they have just finished headlining a festival tour. Drawing mainly from last album Here Is The Punishment, the boys prove that they are still lean, hungry, and know this rock business inside out. They rock, laugh, drink, and give a shout out to another much-missed Brisbane band, the KT26s. Now, if they could only get some more beers into them…
Yet despite this lead up, the excitement is palpable. Its been a long time coming - 13 years in fact – but when they do emerge,Swervedriverdon’t waste any time asserting their authority, sound as relevant now as they ever have. Sci-Flyer swirls, double helixing guitars ricocheting around the room, Adam Franklin’s croon the stuff of legends. Meshing the slack sonics of Dinosaur Jr with the wall of sound of stable mates My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver’s sound tonight is crisp and electrifying – Jim Hartridge handles his myriad pedals with laconic grace, Steve George providing the backbone and Graham Bonnar back behind the drums, fusing the band together into an organic beast. They move through much of their entire back catalogue – songs from Mezcal Head and Raise dominate, yet Juggernaut Rides takes us to their early EPs; Scrawl & Scream and the excellent Neon Lights Glow showing even their B-sides aren’t off limits tonight. There is little interaction or banter from the Oxford four-piece, but that just adds to the atmosphere – every person is in thrall to the sonic brilliance on display. Personal favourites Girl On A Motorbike and She Weaves A Tender Trap are highlights, but you could take your pick really - there is not a dud song here tonight. Its been 13 long years, and 90 minutes of glorious guitar abandon and meticulously executed pop songs is not enough to fill that void. Nevertheless, Swervedriver assert the notion that they don’t build 'em like they used to – and the music world is all the poorer because of it.
This week is a big one for The Zoo here in Brisbane - Caribou/Four Tet selling out last night, Black Mountain and The Night Terrors tomorrow, The Like on Friday, The Books on Saturday, Tricky on Sunday - fucking hell! And lets not forget tonight - the almighty Swervedriver will be running through their guitar frenzy overloaded shoegaze grunge masterpieces for all who turn up - which should include YOU! Tix are still available. There is some great support too - the perennial Giants Of Science (who have shown their love of the Oxford legends by covering their songs in the past) and young Brisbane shoegaze acolytes Loomer. It promises to be a great show, if their performance in 2009 at ATP's A Nightmare Before Christmas was any indication...
