Tag Archives: Australia

Take no prisoners – The Jezabels

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I’ve been waiting for this for quite a while – in fact, ever since I heard the opening goth-rock splendour of ‘Prisoner‘, the title track of Australian quartet The Jezabels’ debut album Prisoner. And now, joy of joys, The Jezabels are hitting our sleepy little town. Rest assured I won’t be missing out!

After leaving the sunny, laid-back shores of Byron Bay, NSW, singer Hayley Mary and keyboard player Heather Shannon landed at Sydney University, where they met Nik Kaloper (drums) and Sam Lockwood (guitar), and formed The Jezabels. After releasing of a number of EPs, a groundswell of support from the Oz music industry saw them widely feted as the Next Big Thing. Labels aside, Prisoner is an impressive debut that mixes melodramatic goth-rock with a hint of 80s pop and emo.

‘Rosebud’, the latest video from Prisoner:

The Jezabels play @ Abart, ZH, Wednesday, 14.03.12. Tix here. UPDATE: the show is now sold out!

Prisoner is out now.

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Live review: Cloud Control @ Hafenkneipe 28.02.11

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Definitely no need to give up my day job for photography

Monday night @ Hafenkneipe is proving to be easily one of the best nights of the week. Last Monday a decent crowd steadily gathered for Cloud Control – by the time the band stepped up on stage the place was full. The special Cloud Control mix of tambourines, harmonies and irresistible clap-along melodies soon warmed the audience up, from a slightly frosty start (also helped by RAM*). Singer Alister Wright’s laid-back, shy charm was a perfect foil for the statuesque glamour of Heidi Lenffer (keyboards, vocals and tambourine), while Heidi’s brother Ulrich and Jeremy Kelshaw did banging jobs on drums and bass (plus vocals of course) respectively. Continue reading →

Cloud Control – Bliss, Blue Mountains and handclaps

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Cloud Control by Daniel Boud

I just got back from seeing PJ Harvey in Paris (more on that later), and it’s a dreary, rainy, miserable Monday morning with nary a croissant or steaming hot Café crème in sight *sob*.

Thank god cheery Australian psychedelic nu-folksters Cloud Control are playing tonight (28.02.11) @ Hafenkneipe to wrench me out of my post-Paris doldrums. After playing with the likes of Vampire Weekend and Tame Impala, The Temper Trap and Local Natives, Cloud Control have embarked on a European/UK tour ahead of an appearance at the massive SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, and the release of their current album Bliss Release in the UK in March.

Hailing from the Blue Mountains, Sydney, I’ve been getting the buzz about Cloud Control from my friends down under for a while now, and they’ve won a slew of awards back in Oz. Now, with a rapidly rising international profile, it could be your last chance to see them in a tiny, intimate venue – that’s the benefit of living somewhere a little out of the music mainstream – bands that would ordinarily play in much larger venues elsewhere play in small cosy clubs here. Love that! So beat those winter SAD blues and get out of the house – prepare to clap along and be charmed.

Clap along here with ‘Meditation #2′:

Cloud Control play @ Hafenkneipe tonight 28.02.11. Tickets here or at the door (if available).

Bliss Release is released in March on Infectious Music.

Interview: Christopher Christopher @ Zurich Openair 29.08.10

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On narcissim, Nimbin and Volksmusic

It’s unreasonably early (for me at least) on a cold and muddy Sunday morning, and I’ve just waded through a few acres of mud to speak to young Swiss band Christopher Christopher after their great gig on the last day of the inaugural Zurich Openair festival. Matthias (guitar/vocals) and Olivier (guitar/vocals) are relaxing backstage, surreptitiously trying not to stare at Kate Nash at the next table. Hailing from nearby Baden, Christopher Christopher are a bright new spot on the Swiss music scene, as evidenced by their winning of the 2009 M4Music Demo Clinic. They’ve played the Montreux Jazz Festival and Open Air St Gallen this year, and supported Stereophonics at their recent Zurich gig with their sweet, fresh pop sounds. Things are definitely looking promising for a band who didn’t really plan to make music their career.

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Track of the day – ‘Fitzroy Strongman’ by Sodastream

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An Australian (Melbourne, via Perth) band in honour of Australia Day!

Music is such a powerful evocation of time and place. I played this track, from Sodastream’s first album Looks Like A Russian this morning and was immediately flung back to Sydney, circa 1999/2000. Living beachside, new baby, new life, all strangeness. I loved the album and played it endlessly, looking out over the beach and gradually adjusting to my new circumstances.

Sadly, Sodastream broke up in 2007 after releasing and touring their fourth and final album Reservations. I never saw them live; guess I won’t ever now (unless they reform and do a grand revival tour – please please do!). That’s a shame, because their beautiful melancholy strings and quiet lyrics were always a pleasure to listen to, in the quieter moments of life.