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AUSTRALIAN SNIPER
John Baxter laughs when Howzat! calls his new band, Five
Mile Sniper, an indie pop supergroup. But they certainly
have pop pedigree. John has done his time in Holocene, Alcotomic
and Prettymess, then there's bass player Douglas Lee Robertson
(Icecream Hands), guitarist Matt Balfe (Motor Ace), drummer
Geoff Barnes (P76) and guitarist Paul Inglis (Prettymess).
And Motor Ace's Damo Costin drums on Evolve, the opening
track on Five Mile Sniper's debut album, The Sound Of Trees.
"Some of us do have considerable histories," John acknowledges,
"but I'm not sure how many of us would qualify for a supergroup!
I just like the idea of bringing talented people together
and seeing what comes of it and, in all honesty, it had
nothing to do with attempting to create a high profile lineup."
Initially, John didn't even want to mention the members,
wanting to be "anonymous and be judged only on the music,
but I was talked around by PR. But, you know, all we want
is focus on the music, not the personnel." We're pleased
to report that fans of the guys' previous bands will dig
the tight, punchy pop. A highlight is When You're In Love,
a duet John wrote with former Holocene singer Kerrie Hickin.
"When it comes to melody and lyrics, Kerrie's pop sensibilities
make this song shine." Another song, Fly Like A Bird, refers
to the break John took to focus on fatherhood. "If I was
going to do it [music] again, it was going to be with my
favourite people and for the right reasons." Becoming a
dad is a big theme of the album - there is a combined total
of 14 Five Mile Sniper kids. As for the band name, it came
from John's wife's grandfather, who served alongside Welsh
entertainer Sir Harry Secombe in Northern Africa in World
War II. "Five mile sniper" was their term for bombers and
artillery divisions, which John thought was "very fitting
for a band of seasoned musicians about to make an assault
on the tough Australian music scene". The Sound Of Trees
is their first shot. It's being launched with a family-friendly
gig at Brunswick's Railway Hotel at 3pm on 14 Feb.
GRANTED
As we enjoy The Go-Betweens' box set, we remember the great
Grant McLennan, who would have been 57 on 12 Feb.
WAVE ROCK
The new Skipping Girl Vinegar album is going to be called
The Great Wave.
SUMMER REYNE
James Reyne is getting set to record a mini-album with his
new band, The Magnificent Few. It will include a new song
called What A Pain In The Arse It Is To Run Into You Again.
HOT LINE
"The inner-city's fine if you can spend your time on 10
types of coffee and low-fat food" - Perry Keyes, Sunnyholt.
CHART WATCH
Daniel Johns' solo debut, Aerial Love, lands at number 50.
Elastic Heart SIA (number five)
Talk Is Cheap CHET FAKER (eight)
Cosby Sweater HILLTOP HOODS (14)
Take Me Over PEKING DUK (17)
Linger GUY SEBASTIAN (18)
Sugar Man YOLANDA BE COOL (23)
Chandelier SIA (34)
Do It Now MASHD N KUTCHER (35)
High PEKING DUK (36)
Freaks TIMMY TRUMPET (40)
Sia's album returns to the Top 10, jumping from 11 to seven.
Built On Glass CHET FAKER (number five)
1000 Forms Of Fear SIA (seven)
Walking Under Stars HILLTOP HOODS (nine)
Triple J's Like A Version, Volume 10 VARIOUS ARTISTS (12)
Down To Earth FLIGHT FACILITIES (13)
The Veronicas THE VERONICAS (18)
Indian Summer HELLIONS (19, debut)
The Very Best INXS (20)
Madness GUY SEBASTIAN (28)
Let The Ocean Take Me THE AMITY AFFLICTION (29)
Dream Your Life Away VANCE JOY (32)
Rock Or Bust AC/DC (33)
Blue Planet Eyes THE PREATURES (36)
Angus & Julia Stone ANGUS & JULIA STONE (37)
Jukebox HUMAN NATURE (38)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Sunnyholt PERRY KEYES
The Day We Met SAM SHINAZZI
Pontius Of The Past MONTAIGNE
When You're In Love FIVE MILE SNIPER
Trying To Get To You COLIN HAY
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