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LITTLE SCOUT, BIG RECORD
After hearing their two EPs - 2008's The Dead Loss EP and
2009's Different In The Distance - Howzat! had Brisbane's
Little Scout pegged as a little folk-pop band. I was wrong.
Their debut album, Take Your Light (out now through MGM),
is ambitious and atmospheric. "We still enjoy playing those
sweeter songs," singer Melissa Tickle says, "but we thought
it was time to step into something a little darker."
A cinematic expedition, Take Your Light perhaps sounds more
European than Australian. "We wanted to try some challenging
stuff on this record," explains guitarist Patrick Elliott.
"We've really tried to push ourselves in many ways." The
EPs had a charming innocence; Take Your Light is moody and
cryptic, filled with apocalyptic imagery and intrigue. "We
could never have made this album without those EPs," Patrick
adds. "It was definitely the right time to make an album,
because we'd grown together as a band - and as people."
With Little Scout, The John Steel Singers, Hungry Kids Of
Hungary and Skinny Jean, there's definitely something going
on in Brisbane. The vibe there hasn't been this big since
the early days of Powderfinger, Custard and Regurgitator
in the '90s. Little Scout made Take Your Light in Jonathan
Boulet's garage in Sydney, after 12 months of pre-production
with their good friend Darek Mudge from Intercooler. Jonathan
recorded and mixed, Scott Bromiley from The John Steel Singers
produced, and drummer Miro Mackie took care of catering.
Word is Miro has now produced a cook book, which he'll be
selling on the Little Scout tour. They're playing at the
Workers Club on Friday.
CHERRY RIPE FOR MAX'S BLUES
Cherry Bar owner James Young is a massive Carlton fan, so
when he sent Howzat! an email with the subject "Blues",
we were reluctant to open it. Fortunately, the missive wasn't
about Juddy's march towards another Brownlow - it was to
promote "Max's Sunday Sessions". Yep, Melbourne's rock home
is getting the blues on Sundays, with Triple R legend Maxwell
Von Crawdaddy spinning the tunes and Melbourne's best blues
acts hitting the Cherry stage. Cherry Blues will be happening
on the first Sunday of every month, before going weekly
in summer. It kicks off this Sunday at 2pm, with a live
set from Cold Snap. It's free entry and there's a barbie
in AC/DC Lane.
JUST A PHRASE
Howzat! is surprised that Phrase is not a bigger star. His
third album, the genre-busting Babylon, debuted at 29, but
slips from the Top 50 after just one week. It deserves much
better.
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
"Been messing around with guitars a bit, but it's 23 years
and there's still no hits." So sings Andrew Cox in Nothing
On The Go, a track on one of The Fauves' forthcoming albums,
German Engines. The Fauves remain our most successful unsuccessful
band; it's a remarkable tale of endurance. "Sometimes I
feel like giving up," The Doctor sings, "sometimes I feel
this sport's too tough." But The Fauves remain in peak physical
condition, getting set to release not one, but two new albums,
even though Coxy concedes, "Life's got a way of fucking
us all." A mate, who's heard the albums, remarked: "German
Engines purrs beautifully; Japanese Engines is a bit soft."
But Howzat! loves The Fauves' middle-aged melancholia. Japanese
Engines is out on September 16; German Engines will follow
early next year.
SWITCHED ON
New band The TV Set are definitely more analogue than digital.
This is an indie supergroup doing classic covers (think
Cheap Trick, Kiss, The Move and The Records). Fronted by
Michael Witheford (The Fish John West Reject, Lust In Space),
The TV Set also features members of The Devilrock Four and
Kim Salmon's Precious Jules. They're playing at the Victoria
Hotel in Brunswick on Saturday.
CHART WATCH
Gotye becomes the first local act to spend more than two
weeks on top with a single since Gabriella Cilmi's Sweet
About Me in 2008 (five weeks at number one). He is also
the first Aussie male solo artist to enjoy a three-week
reign since Damien Leith's Night Of My Life spent four weeks
on top in 2006.
Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (number one)
Inescapable JESSICA MAUBOY (five)
Love Is A Drug ESKIMO JOE (38)
We Run The Night HAVANA BROWN (39)
Gotye becomes the first Aussie act to have the number one
single and album in the same week since Silverchair did
the double in April 2007 with Straight Lines and Young Modern.
Making Mirrors is just the second Aussie album to top the
charts in 2011, following Drapht's The Life of Riley in
April.
Making Mirrors GOTYE (number one, debut)
Yes I Am JACK VIDGEN (three, debut)
Only Sparrows JOSH PYKE (four, debut)
Moonfire BOY & BEAR (nine)
Ghosts Of The Past ESKIMO JOE (11)
Smoko At The Pet Food Factory FRENZAL RHOMB (14, debut)
Get 'Em Girls JESSICA MAUBOY (17)
Like Drawing Blood GOTYE (19)
Seeker Lover Keeper SEEKER LOVER KEEPER (22)
Rrakala GURRUMUL (23)
Double Platinum THE TEN TENORS (25)
Roy DAMIEN LEITH (28)
The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating THE LIVING END
(31)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
In The Air LITTLE SCOUT
Don't Say When THE FAUVES
Velvet Glove PHRASE & BARNESY
Covered By Snow DEAD LETTER CHORUS
Dark Magic SAND PEBBLES
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