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SOUNDS OF THE CITY
When you're in the thick of it, it's easy to take it for
granted. Sometimes it takes an "outsider" to see how special
it is. Joe Grimes grew up in the UK, where he says "Aussie
music never got much respect - with the exception of Nick
Cave and The Go-Betweens, it never featured in the music
press." Joe settled permanently in Melbourne last year,
falling in love with this city's music scene. He was saving
for a house; he decided to start a record label instead.
Sound of Melbourne Records is about to launch its first
compilation, "Sampler 2011", featuring 13 local acts. "It's
my unsigned Melbourne mix tape," Joe says. It reminded Howzat!
of rooArt's Youngblood series. Mix tapes are wonderful because
they document a time and a place. The wildly diverse disc
kicks off with Gotye's girlfriend, Tash Parker, and also
features the orchestrally awesome Autumn Gray, singing sisters
The Bridges, and the impressive indie kids The Ocean Party.
"Right now, for me, The Ocean Party are the best band in
Melbourne," Joe says. "They are this generation's Go-Betweens."
The launch gigs are happening on December 17 and 18 at Pure
Pop. More info at soundofmelbourne.com.
READ ABOUT IT
Stuck for a Christmas gift? How 'bout giving an Aussie album
and book? Dolores San Miguel celebrates the St Kilda scene
of the late-70s, early-80s, "a time of individuality, experimentation
and creativity", in the warts-and-all The Ballroom ($30,
Melbourne Books). "Every week," Dolores writes, "I saw and
experienced another milestone in Australian music." Sadly,
it's also a tale of loss, as many members of the scene failed
to survive.
The prolific Jeff Apter pays tribute to Marc Hunter in Chasing
The Dragon ($30, Hardie Grant). Former bandmate Tommy Emmanuel
remembers a guy who was "a caged animal, a spoiled child,
an uncontrollable monster and yet, at times, as soft and
caring as a person could be. Kind, gregarious and cruel."
Howzat! saw Marc's generous side when we shared a stage
at a Logies after-party in 1997; we also saw his difficult
side during an interview in 1995. He battled weight issues
(once telling a schoolmate, "You know, Rose, I wake up fat
every morning - it's the only dependable thing in my life")
and drug problems. Eventually, cancer claimed Marc's life
in 1998. He was just 44.
Music plays a big part in Geoffrey Edelsten's autobiography,
Enigma ($33, New Holland). Even during his darkest days
in jail, Edelsten lists his favourite songs. He worked as
a pop producer and promo person in the '60s, most notably
with The Town Criers (Everlasting Love), Cam-Pact (featuring
Keith Glass and Chris Stockley) and Pastoral Symphony (with
Glenn Shorrock). He tried to manage ABBA, and he provided
a place to stay for young Aussies when he was based in LA,
including Mark Holden and Air Supply. Edelsten chose medicine
over music, claiming payola put him off. "I've often wondered
how things would have turned out if I had stayed in music.
Would I have become the same controversial figure that medicine
turned me into?"
Finally, there's Dino Scatena's Powderfinger tome, Footprints
($45, Hachette). When the book was announced, one cynic
suggested, "There is a story doing the rounds that on a
couple of occasions the band didn't all agree on the set-lists."
The 'finger were like the modern version of Chisel, but
times had changed and it was more about hard work than hard
living. The book is like a 'finger song - clever, accessible
and beautifully presented. And no doubt these words will
come back to haunt them: "There are those within the Powderfinger
camp who emphatically promise that they will never, ever
perform together again, ever. You can make all the Farnesy
jokes you want - they mean it."
THE LIVING DEADS
If Melbourne's the music capital of Australia, Ballarat
might be the regional capital. One of Howzat!'s favourite
'90s bands, The Dead Salesmen, are re-forming to play at
the Corner on Saturday, 17 December, sharing the stage with
two other Ballarat acts, The Turnarounds and Juan Alban
(ex-Epicure). "There are always new acts popping up," says
Ballarat booker and manager Shaun Adams, who highlights
the recent success of Yacht Club DJs, Goldfields and Hunting
Grounds. "We could have one of the best music scenes in
Australia, well at least regionally." It's a one-off reunion
for the Deads, but singer Hap and guitarist Ryda are always
writing, so, who knows, there might be another Deads release.
CHART WATCH
Reece Mastin spends a second week on top.
Good Night REECE MASTIN (number one, debut)
Don't Worry Be Happy GUY SEBASTIAN (six)
Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (seven)
I Love It HILLTOP HOODS & SIA (18, debut)
Galaxy JESSICA MAUBOY & STAN WALKER (20)
Raining Diamonds RICKI-LEE (39)
No Aussie albums in the Top 10, despite the ARIAs.
Moonfire BOY & BEAR (number 11)
Making Mirrors GOTYE (12)
All For You COLD CHISEL (14)
Let's Go DAVID CAMPBELL (25)
Let The Music Play STAN WALKER (27)
Footprints - The Best Of POWDERFINGER (28)
Vows KIMBRA (36)
Fingerprints & Footprints POWDERFINGER (39)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Shakin Like A Leaf THE OCEAN PARTY
Already Said Goodbye JD LOVE
The Smoke THE TIGER AND ME
Turtledove JAIME ROBBIE REYNE
Tentative THE DEAD SALESMEN S
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