THE
FRONTLINE
IN THE STUDIO WITH BRYGET CHRISFIELD
OUT, DAMNED SCOT It’s time to investigate a band from the ‘Wasn’t A New Album Promised Yonks Ago?’ file: Franz Ferdinand. We last heard from the stylish Glaswegian archdukes when they released their third studio album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand way back in January 2009. An album-length dub version of Tonight…, titled Blood and produced by Dan Carey, followed in June of the same year. And then a further companion piece for Tonight… was released this year to coincide with Record Store Day, with a slew of awesome artists such as LCD Soundsystem, Stephin Merrit (The Magnetic Fields), Peaches, ESG and Debbie Harry (who recorded a duet of Live Alone with the band) recruited to cover tracks from the album for the imaginatively titled Covers EP. Interestingly, Franz Ferdinand have been known to play a cracking cover of Blondie’s Call Me during their live shows. Franz Ferdinand’s guitarist Nick McCarthy certainly hasn’t been resting on his laurels, though. He revived his side-project Box Codax, which sees the Franz member teaming up with his wife Manuela Gernedel plus Alex Ragnew, a German poet/lyricist. The trio released their second album Hellabuster, part of which was produced by Metronomy frontman Joseph Mount, in May this year. Box Codax obviously explore a lighthearted approach to music making with warped synths, porn basslines, sped-up choruses and hysterical video clips (you need to head to YouTube and experience their track I Won’t Come Back specifically). McCarthy has also collaborated with his friend, the German puppeteer Philipp Pleßmann, in composing music for The Isle Is Full Of Noises: The Tempest Puppet Music Show. Who knew McCarthy grew up in Bavaria? The guitarist described his relationship with Pleßmann during their formative years to The Guardian: “We did everything together: a lot of drugs, playing music, all those teenage experiences.” And yes, the duo’s puppetry extravaganza is accompanied by a live music score and based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The Isle Is Full Of Noises: The Tempest Puppet Music Show went down at Wilton’s Music Hall in London last week and, according to The Guardian’s review of the show, McCarthy’s role demanded that he sing “Shakespeare’s words to music that’s part glam-rock, part sea shanty, part jagged Franzish pop”. Sounds like a contender for next year’s Melbourne Festival to us. It turns out that McCarthy was working on this project while Franz Ferdinand were recording Tonight… and this cross-pollination can be heard on album track Dream Again, which references Caliban’s “the isle is full of noises” speech. Granted, there was also a long gestation period before the release of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, which the foursome were said to have been recording in Glasgow since mid-2007, but come on guys! After announcing they were working on new material way back in February 2010, there have been no updates. Franz Ferdinand’s last gig took place in December 2010 as part of the Belle & Sebastian-curated All Tomorrow’s Parties in Minehead, UK and no new material was previewed during their set.
BIP ON THE RADAR If you’re a fan of Neon Neon, Boom Bip (AKA LA-based multi-instrumentalist/producer Bryan Charles Hollon)’s collaboration with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, you’ll be tickled pink to hear that Hollon’s third solo album, entitled Zig Zaj, is slated for release on 7 October through Inertia. In The Studio is geeking out over the Luke Steele-featuring track New Order, believing it showcases the Empire Of The Sun singer to perfection. There’s also a gorgeously desperate guitar solo courtesy of Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, angelic backing vocals that filter through alternate earbuds, frenzied strings, cowbell and whispering that sounds as if it’s your own early-onset dementia. You can stream New Order via The Guardian website. Other stellar artists to make it onto the Zig Zaj liner notes include the wonderful Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand’s frontman), Cate Le Bon (Neon Neon) and Money Mark as well as members of Warpaint (Jenny Lee Lindberg) and Bon Iver (Mike Noyce). The opening track All Hands is also available for your ears at inertia. com and demonstrates a vastly different sonic palette – much calmer atmospherics that explode into a celestial baptism around the halfway mark. After an advance listen to the album, Zig Zaj’s other eight tracks serve to further express Hollon’s versatility and the way he manages to coax unexpected performances from his guest artists. For instance, in Goodbye Lovers you’d need to refer to the liner notes before confidently trainspotting Kapranos’s vocal contribution: there’s a newfound understatedness that allows his voice to sit within the mix rather than belligerently out front as it does when fronting Franz. Another standout track entitled Manabozh puts Money Mark in the thick of R2D2 bleeps, T Rex drum patterns and general outer-space mayhem. Boom Pip also references UNKLE’s impossible-to-foresee arrangements as he utilises hypnotising basslines, insistent drumming and unidentifiable percussion objects.
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INDUSTRY NEWS BY SCOTT FITZSIMONS
VELOCIRAPTOR LEAD THE NEWLY- HYPED Brisbane garage rock collective Velociraptor wowed an audience full of punters and industry figures at last week’s BIGSOUND music conference, held in Brisbane. After playing the conference’s Live showcase series on Wednesday, the band’s management announced that booking agency Artist Voice have come onboard to represent the band. While there was considerable interest from labels during their set, the band have not yet agreed to sign with anyone. Velociraptor’s manager Jesse Barbera said, “I don’t want to be too specific at the moment” but “there was a lot of label interest”. The band hit Melbourne Thursday for a number of shows this weekend.
‘SYNCHRONICITY’ ISN’T SELLING OUT BIGSOUND’s Synchronicity panel explored the many options that currently exist for artists to sync their music with other industries and while some of the talk was bleak – Michael Nieves of US company Sugaroo Music said, “Selling records is no longer a viable option to make a living”, for example – there was a sense of excitement about the possibilities different mediums could bring for musicians with regards to their exposure. Powderfinger were used as an example, their Drifting Further Away track attracting 10,000 downloads after being played on an episode of US show Grey’s Anatomy. Similarly, Nieves explained how Neko Case had a song that was nine years old reach number two on the iTunes chart soon after being used in an episode of True Blood. While in the ‘70s and ‘80s many artists believed using songs in commercials was selling out, panellist Simon Moore of Kobalt Music Publishing stated, “People now recognise sync as part of the strategy in developing an artist.”
OZ HIP HOP UNLIKELY TO CROSS OVER At BIGSOUND’s New Zealand Music panel, panelists agreed that Australian hip hop music would not be likely to crossover to NZ listeners. Tom Larkin from Kiwi rockers Shihad, who now also works as a producer and band manager, gave his opinion: “The Australian voice is important to Australian hip hop acts but that seals them off to other territories,” he said. On the other hand, panelists stated that bands such as Birds Of Tokyo and John Butler Trio would be likely to achieve success given the genres they represent already have strong followings in the New Zealand contemporary music market.
FRESHLY INKED Emma Louise, another of the more hyped artists to feature at the BIGSOUND conference, announced last Tuesday that she has signed to Universal Music Germany, in a deal that will also include a contract with B1M1 Recordings for Continental Europe. The Brisbane-based artist has recently received airplay in the Netherlands as well as entering their sales charts, while locally she picked up three awards at this year’s Queensland Music Awards. Her management, Ground Control Music, commented, “It’s a great achievement for Emma Louise and it speaks volumes for the connection she is making on YouTube. People totally get her as an artist without coming to a live show.” Fellow Brisbane band Mosman Alder have signed with esteemed Brisbane label Dew Process after only being together as a group for one year. The moody indie outfit played a well-received set at the BIGSOUND Live showcase event on Thursday night. Co-Operative Music, the new kids on the (Australian) block, announced their first signing in the dying hours of BIGSOUND last week, with Sydney jungle pop outfit Jinja Safari the first local act to have a release on the label. In late October Co-Op will issue a release that bundles their current catalogue, which includes their debut EP and this year’s digital-only EP Mermaids & Other Sirens with current singles Hiccups and Mermaids. The band are expected to launch their debut record mid-2012.
GOTYE: BIGGER THAN LEE HARDING? As it begins its fifth week at the top of the ARIA singles chart, Gotye and Kimbra’s smash hit Somebody That I Used To Know becomes the first Australian track to spend that long at the top since Gabriella Cilmi’s Sweet About Me, which topped the chart for a total of five weeks in two separate hits. The last Australian to notch up five weeks consecutively was Lee Harding, whose Wasbabi track did so over the summer of 2005/06. On the albums front, Adele remains at the top of the pile – this week is her 17th in the top position. Gotye’s Making Mirrors manages to sneak up a slot this week, dropping into second position, while Kimbra’s long-awaited Vows debuts at number five. Pete Murray is the other Aussie to debut in the top ten this week, his Blue Sky Blue dropping in at number six – making it his fourth top ten record – while on the international front, Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter IV debuts at nine. It has been ten years since we saw it in the ARIA top ten, but the digital release of The Beatles’ 1 has seen it reappear, albeit into the number ten position. Melbourne band Strange Talk top this week’s Billboard Uncharted list, the first Australian act to do so since it began in January this year. Uncharted tracks acts who have not appeared on other US sales or airplay charts, the chart measured by artists’ popularity online at sites such as YouTube, MySpace and Twitter. Strange Talk’s ascendence in the chart was helped by their track Climbing Walls hitting number one on Hype Machine and being YouTube’s most viewed Australian video of the month. Last month Sydney’s The Jezabels spent time in the Uncharted list and this week also sees Melbourne’s Miami Horror enter at 45.
Adilita
INDIE AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED The nominees for this year’s Jagermeister Independent Music Awards have been announced, with Magic Dirt frontwoman and newly minted solo artist Adalita and Sydney indie-dance group Seekae leading the pack. Adalita, who released her eponymous debut album in March, has picked up four nominations, including Best Independent Artist, Best Independent Album, Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year and Best Independent Single Or EP (for her single Hot Air). The record has been critically lauded following its release and these nominations cap off what has been a successful album cycle. Left-of-centre Sydney trio Seekae also snagged four nominations: they’ll be up for Best Independent Artist, Best Independent Album, Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album and Best Independent Dance/Electronica Or Club Single. Not quite as critically adored – though certainly embraced by the general populace – are Sydney’s Art Vs Science, who picked up nods for Best Independent Artist, Best Independent Album, Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album (for their The Experiment debut). Perth’s Abbe May scored two of the same nominations – Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Album – while, unsurprisingly, The Jezabels picked up a couple of noms as well: they’re in the running for Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Single Or EP. Fresh faced chanteuse Emma Louise and Aussie hip hop purveyor Illy were the other acts to pick up more than one nomination.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HAVE FACED THE MUSIC In a breakthrough deal for touring artists in Australia, Virgin Australia have offered to the music industry a new baggage allowance when travelling on their planes of 32kg across three pieces of checked baggage for individual artists – with an extra 32kg able to be purchased in advance for just $15. Bands can now also ‘pool’ their baggage allowance across the group of people travelling. Multiple music organisations from around the country have played a part in developing this deal and it will be available to any touring musicians who hold association with their respective non-profit music organisations, a list of whom will be announced shortly. At the announcement at the BIGSOUND official launch party last week, Virgin Australia’s group executive Richard Tanner said the music industry’s “concerns and costs around baggage are over”, to a rapturous roar from the industry assembled. Later he commented in a statement, “Ours is a brand that has a long and historic association with music… It has been a pleasure to work with the industry to develop a solution that will deliver real tangible benefits to Australian artists on a daily basis.”
WHAT CAN MELBOURNE LEARN FROM AUSTIN? More than 70 expert presenters will attend Melbourne’s not-for-profit music conference Face The Music on 18 and 19 November, bringing with them a wealth of experience and knowledge in a huge number of industry sectors. Delivering this year’s keynote speech is Brent Grulke, who has been creative director of Austin’s South By Southwest Music conference for more than 16 years. Organisers hope Grulke will be able to shed some light on how the conference, which has been running for 25 years, has managed to garner so much support from the Austin Council and Texas Government. From the management sector the likes of Bill Cullen (Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, Seeker Lover Keeper, Clare Bowditch), Catherine Haridy (Eskimo Joe, Jebediah, Bob Evans), Correne Wilkie (The Cat Empire) and Mark Richardson (Bertie Blackman, Kimbra) will give their insights, while a series of musicians, record label representatives and other industry figures will also feature on panel discussions.
AMP AMBASSADORS TO PROMOTE ‘ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVITY’ Gotye, Heidi Lenffer (Cloud Control), Kram (Spiderbait), Catherine Britt and Phrase have been announced as the five respected and talented ambassadors for this year’s Australian Music Prize. The prize is known for being about originality and creativity, and is awarded by a judging panel comprised of industry types (music, media, artists and retailers) – who are supposed to reward “excellence based on the merits of the album alone – not sales, radio play or media coverage”. Enlisting ambassadors is a new initiative for The Amp and they have already begun their job of speaking
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about the prize and its place in the country. Gotye said of the prize: “The Amp showcases the incredible depth and diversity of creativity there is in Australian music. It’s important we celebrate the amazing songwriters, performers, and producers we have in this country”. Heidi Lenffer said “The Amp is a great self-awareness exercise in discovering a broad range of home-grown music releases that deserve attention”. Phrase, Catherine Britt and Kram were aware of the award’s importance also, with Phrase commenting, “I’m a big believer in credit where credit’s due. Especially in a world where status and popularity seems to have become more important than the skill, love and passion for the art.”
FUSE LIGHTS UP AUSSIE GARAGE Garage rockers Royal Headache and Total Control will both have albums released through Fuse Music this month, the label also announcing the release of two Eddy Current Suppression Ring repackages. Royal Headache (whose album was released last week through Sydney’s RIP Society Records) have been compared to the likes of Husker Du and early Buzzcocks, and have received plenty of positive press: Dom Alessio from Triple J describing the album as “the ultimate antithesis to modern music: totally intuitive, devoid of any kind of pretension, seemingly spurred on by something totally subconscious and primordial”. Total Control, whose album is out this Friday, have been described by Fuse as “something of a garage punk all-star outfit featuring members of the UV Race and Eddy Current Suppression Ring”. The first Eddy Current Suppression Ring release will comprise their self-titled album and its follow-up Primary Colours (which took out the 2009 Australian Music Prize) packaged together; the second is a 22-track compilation of the band’s singles called So Many Things.
MUSIC RULES CREATIVE ARTS EMMYS There were a few musical winners at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the weekend, with Justin Timberlake, Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein, Lady Gaga and Harry Connick Jr amongst those picking up awards before the major ceremony this weekend. Timberlake previously won an Emmy for his input on The Lonely Island musical skit Dick In A Box in 2007 and again in 2009 for his guest spot on Saturday Night Live. This year he doubled his collection, scoring the gong for Oustanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series and Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics, once again for his re-occurring appearances on SNL. Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball special was recognised for its editing while the comedy series Portlandia, created by Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein, was honoured for its costumes and former Hey Hey It’s Saturday guest Harry Connick Jr won for the music direction of his filmed Broadway concert. Got news? Announcements? Gossip? Unsubstantiated but hilarious rumours? Send them all to frontline@streetpress.com.au.