Brisbane (15-ish piece) musical collective Velociraptor have just released their self titled debut album this via Dot Dash/ Remote Control.
Since their formation, the guys have released an EP in 2010, and a ‘mini LP’ titled The World Warriors in 2012, but it’s only now that they’ve got a full length LP to unleash on the world, and it’s killer. In celebration of the self titled release, Velociraptor member Jeremy Neale has given us a track by track run down on the record.
Be sure to catch the crew on their seven date national tour alongside Sydney punks Bloods. For more info visit www.remotecontrolrecords.com.au.
Robocop
Yeah it’s badass to be a cybernetic law enforcement officer but in this instance ‘Robocop’ is symbolism for living a lifestyle that is very demanding of you and requires an investment that is detrimental to a lot of other aspects of your life. Yeah maybe you’re doing it for the greater good of your future lifestyle or relationship but you end up sacrificing and destroying a lot of stuff along the way.
From a record that in demo phases sounded a lot like the Ramones this is probably one of the only tracks that still carries that original intention. Classic studio album.
The Right To Call You
When you’re full of the best intentions but still don’t know if you should call. Gang vocal party. Julien James shredded some mean guitar solos on this one.
Trivia: George Browning (drums) played the lead guitar line in the chorus. Shredder returns.
Hollywood Teen
Being poor fucking blows sometimes. You totally butcher yourself, physically and mentally, trying to make cash to get by, then working a bit more on top of that to get some bonus round money to chase your dream. You know if you’d had a sweet trust fund you’d look healthier and less tired. But you know what? Once you find someone who loves you, they’ll like you for you and respect your journey and determination and in this instance, I guess, still think you’re a star.
Shane Parsons drunkenly stumbled into the studio, punched everybody in the face and made us take a long hard look at ourselves before he shredded some appropriate lead guitar and arranged the outro to end all outros on this one. Thanks Shane-o!
Ramona
“Ramona I told you I can’t sit next to you in the cinemas when you’re texting other guys” – real life Events Cinema based story. The trials of maintaining a friendship immediately post-relationship.
This track was really the catalyst for wanting to do the album. It existed for a long time as a demo and has been in the set for the last 18 months. When it came time to finally record it, Sean Cook (co-producer) challenged the original arrangement of the song and I’m glad he did because now I couldn’t imagine it any other way.
The track ended up in party town with lead guitar by Rohan Dodd and a wailing guitar solo by Julien James.
All You Need
This was one of the tracks recorded by the Raptor Euro Division (James X Boyd, Michael Fletcher, Joshua Byrd) with Simon Berkfinger at Golden Retriever studios in Berlin. International man of mystery James sent this message about the song.
“Hey it’s James X. Boyd here. I hope that you like this track because it’s about you. XXXX”
Monster Mash
When somebody loves you but you make them sad. Maybe you can’t get your life together. Maybe you’re really sad yourself and it’s somewhat contagious. Regardless of the day-to-day reality, the love is true, you’d do anything for them and you’re full of hope of one day being happy. In a lot of ways this is my favourite song on the record. Lyrically at least.
Most people think of Simon Ridley as the loveable drummer of DZ Deathrays. In this instance he is a loveable guitarist of Velociraptor and shredded a pure triumphant metal lead line in the verses. Not only did George Browning nail the drums on this album but Hollywood Teen is a prime example of his powerfully tasteful backing vocal ability. Also featuring a brief appearance by Sweetie Zamora.
Leeches
“I don’t wanna be fooled by you, I just wanna be turned to stone with you”. Regardless of the reality of being with someone who might not be good for you, you can’t imagine not being together.
It’s quite a different sound for your friendly neighbourhood raptors. Leaning closer to New Wave than Garage Pop. The lead line that Corey Herekiuha put on this party starter really made the track. Pair that with a Yuri Johnson bass walk / backing vocal combo and Lauren Jenkins’ penchant for dark synths and you’re right where you need to be.
One Last Serenade (Feat. Sweetie Zamora)
Two people on the same page but you still can’t get it right. If you’re honest about it, if you’d truly wanted to make it work you would have and now it’s just time to accept that that time in your life is over. The addition of Sweetie (of Sydney punks Bloods) helped convey these sentiments. Most importantly she was a whole lot of fun in the studio.
The post-chorus lead guitar and synth work is a Shane Parsons / Lauren Jenkins combo that completely took the song where it needed to go and highlight the darkness in what otherwise could have been misconstrued as total bubblegum pop (…which it probably still is).
I Don’t Know Why
Another track form the Berlin sessions. Songwriter Joshua Byrd sends this message: “James X. Boyd and I had just been on a day trip to Abbey Road Studios in London (read: Day Tripper, one way ticket yeah), and I had started listening again to a lot of early 60s tunes and also to a lot of those Phil Spector sounding girl group songs of the 60s like Be My Baby, Baby, I Love You, Baby Love, Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby to name a few. I didn’t have a guitar when I first started living in London so I came up with the chords on a synth program on my laptop and some of the lyrics, wanting to keep things supremely simple and to the point, and retaining that original Ronettes influence. A few months later up in Edinburgh visiting James X. Boyd, I had bought a guitar by then and wrote the rest of the lyrics and we both fleshed out the structure and demoed the song in James’s cold and grey Edinburgh living room.
I Don’t Know Why (It’s You) was the first song we recorded at Golden Retriever and we intended to knock it over quite quickly and move on to other songs, but it turned out sounding quite nice and we came back later to put in some extra parts. It was was originally quite a bit faster, but Simon Berkfinger persuaded us to experiment a little with the tempo a bit until we got it to that laid-back dreamy feel. It was a little difficult on a tight recording schedule but the aim was to get a touch of that high reverb, high tambourine, wall-of-sound vibe in the song with old 60s stylings and still slipping in some more modern Raptors sounding elements here and there.”
Cool Baby, Cool
You just wanna be chill. Why can’t it always just be chill? Well. See. Sometimes you being chill and doing your thing is totally not chill for somebody else. So. Maybe try and consider how to be chill together.
Sneakers
“I put my sneakers on, I leave the house in a rush. Whatever. I’m trying.”
Ever try really hard to be on time / make things work but still kind of fail? Judge not my action but my intention I guess. Sometimes the motivator you need to get your life in order is somebody else. It’s a great motivator too because this way, even if you don’t end up together, you’ll be in boss dog shape for a great love that’s no doubt just around the corner. Believe it.
Velociraptor National Album Tour
Thursday 21 August – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Friday 22 August – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Friday 29 August – The Brightside, Brisbane
Saturday 30 August – The Cooly Hotel, Coolangatta
Saturday 6 September – The Causeway, Perth*
Sunday 7 September – The Newport Hotel, Fremantle*
Saturday 20 September – Pirie Street Social Club, Adelaide
*Bloods not appearing
