Bedroom Suck Records began as the present tense of Joe Alexander and Sam McCabe, two down-and-out sharehouse types direct from the steamy sauna of Brisbane suburban living. One day the amount of good music snaking out from under the doors of friends and distant relatives became too much to bear, and in early 2009 what became known as ‘bedroom suck’ was born.
Five years later and the label has become a local institution, releasing music from some of Australia’s most talented (and overlooked) acts including Boomgates, Blank Realm, Bitch Prefect, Terrible Truths, and so many more.
They’ll be celebrating this milestone with the release of a double-LP compilation. With a total of 27 tracks, the release of this collection aims to document the label’s inception in Brisbane and growth throughout the country.
The LP will be released online and on vinyl October 6th (via Bedroom Suck, obviously). Joe gave us a track by track run down on his connection with the bands and songs on the upcoming LP.
for more info visit www.bedroomsuckrecords.com
A1. Blank Realm – ‘Digging Up My Bones’
“I first saw Blank Realm at what might have been my first ever rock show, it was out the back of a vegan restaurant in Brisbane and they played a set of brutal psychedelia, sweaty hair all over their faces. They were also one of the first bands to ask if we could help them make a record, so we kick off the compilation with this brand new, unreleased track. It’s amazing.”
A2. Folk Foulk – ‘Pussy’
“Folk Foulk is the solo project of Sam McCabe, who was my original partner in the label and the guy that helped kick it off. We used to record cassette tapes of shabby experimental music on the weekends and listen to them together at school, younger kids would run past and make fun of us. Fuck em.”
Slug Guts – ‘Packed To Lose’
I played with Slug Guts for a while; although memories are vague we think this was recorded just outside of Melbourne on what became the last tour we did in Australia. Previously unreleased, this recording features Jimi Kritzler, James Dalgliesh, Falco, Cameron Hawes, Nick Kuceli and myself. Tensions ran hire on that tour, fruit was thrown, and that was that.
A4. Marl Carx – ‘Claus’
“I vividly remember Glen Schenau approaching me at a bookstore in Brisbane and asking if I would help release the first and only Marl Carx album. They were one of the first local bands I followed and played some incredible shows over the years. I was overjoyed and we quickly put together the album Sits Obvious. I think Glen approaching me that night was something that made me realise the label could be worth sticking to.”
A5. Knee Chin – ‘Tropics of Comfort’
“One of the best Brisbane bands of all time, these guys ran a house on Fagan Street in Brisbane’s northwest and had one of the few swimming pools in town, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. They never got to release an album before going on hiatus, however this track was recorded by a newly reformed Knee Chin not 4 months ago. Things are looking up.”
A6. Chanbara – ‘Appleseed’
“An outtake from the aforementioned shabby tape recordings done by myself and Sam McCabe, for which kids made fun of us. Recorded in Brisbane’s north in 2008.”
A7. Per Purpose – ‘Blind and Assistant’
“Per Purpose drove from Brisbane to Adelaide over a couple of days, straight through a desert and a state of origin footy game. We played at a beautiful warehouse set up by Format Collective; this was recorded earlier that day in the middle of that empty space, it was a dream. One of my favourites from a yet to be released album.”
B1. Peak Twins – ‘China White’
“Previously released on the Peak Twins LP, and one that deserves a second helping. These boys have been doing this for years and know exactly what they want. There’s not much else to be said for this except that I admire them enourmously.”
B2. Terrible Truths – ‘False Hope’
“I met Terrible Truths at New Zealand’s Camp A Low Hum festival, when their drummer got turned away by passport control and I ended up doing some fill in. I’m still with them, and this is track is a sneak preview from the long-awaited LP, due out early 2015.”
B3. Bitch Prefect – ‘Special Boy’
“Another Scott O’Hara classic and a second helping from these boys, previously released on the Bird Nerds LP in 2013. Bitch Prefect were one of the first bands I met from outside Brisbane, and dad did they know how to make guests feel welcome.”
B4. Boomgates – ‘Tight Knit’
“An unreleased gem from Boomies, possibly the last we may see from them in a while. It has been an honour working with this group of people, and I would never turn down an oppourtunity to drive them around town, listening to Paul Simon on repeat (probably more my choice than theirs). I’m positive they’ll buy a house in Brisbane one day soon and spend their days sitting in the sun.”
B5. Absolute Boys – ‘At Last’
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get a new track from these guys, with the entire band still AWOL somewhere in the Pacific Islands. This track is one standout of many from their Heavy Flow LP. Please call in any sightings or report information to your local authorities.”
B6. Scraps – ‘SYBIMH’
“Laura Hill is one of the true faces of Brisbane music. She has had the ability to pack a room any night of week for as long as I can remember, and sits in the heart of anyone who passes through that town. This is a modern rework of a Scraps original from back when the record label was just a gleam in my postman’s eye.”
C1. Ela Stiles – ‘Misplaced Charity’
“Ela has been a joy to have around the office lately; her solo record came out of nowhere and is totally awesome. I feel like she is only at the beginning of a big musical exploration, so it’s exciting to be a part of that. This is a previously unreleased track, recorded specifically for the compilation by Jack Farley.”
C2. Full Ugly – ‘Same Familiar Street’
“These are some of the nicest guys in Melbourne; I’ve never seen anyone look so at home working a stovetop espresso machine than Nathan Burgess. Our meetings are always punctuated with a few cold beers and I couldn’t be happier with that arrangement.”
C3. Hissey Miyake – ‘Waste Time’
“At last! A glimpse into the lost Hissey Miyake album, which has been rumoured to be floating around these past few years. I first came across the Gryffydd twins in their band Me, Mu & Meow; the hits are as strong as ever.”
C4. Primitive Motion – ‘Bodies of the Placid Furnace’
“I was lucky enough to be in attendance at Primitive Motion’s first show, at a warehouse in Brisbane’s south. I hounded them to release a record for ages afterward, and when I got to hear the Worlds Floating By LP for the first time, it really did feel like the quintessential bedroom suck record. It was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to get involved in. This is a preview from their follow-up, Pulsating Time Fibre.”
C5. Superstar – ‘Glistening Bliss’
“Somewhat of an anomaly, this track is a refrain stretching back to Superstar’s 2013 debut, A Toast to…. The band have built upon the original track, incorporating elements from their yet to be released follow-up, Table for Two. The result is (dare I say) a moving piece of music.”
C6. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding – ‘1993’
“I can’t remember when I first met Craig Dermody, but he has become a big part of the label and my life, as I’m sure he does to all he meets. This was recorded by Craig in Sydney, at a rehearsal for an Australian tour that included Ela Stiles, Joel Carey and Gill Tucker in the S&CW band.”
D1. Circular Keys – ‘Baby (Lite)’
“We were devastated at the news of Absolute Boys going on extended hiatus when it reached our ears just before the release of their debut album. It felt like all three of those young men were just hitting their creative stride, so it was a relief when Dennis Santiago immediately came out swinging with his Circular Keys project. Philippa Omega forms the second half of this group, lending her beautiful vocal style to Santiago’s masterful guitar work.”
D2. Totally Mild – ‘Take Today’
“Totally Mild are a relatively new outfit, and a topic of hot conversation within Melbourne music. Their debut LP has just been mastered by the wonderful John Lee (Lost Animal, Pikelet), with cover artwork and press images photographed by Darren Sylvester. The LP is due to reveal itself in early 2015; keep an eye out for more from this band.”
D3. Peter Escott – ‘The Missing O’
“This is an outtake from Escott’s brand new album, The Long O. If you haven’t heard, Escott forms one half of the incredible Native Cats, and his solo LP is the perfect opportunity for an extra helping of the bizarre Australian poetry he often spits out on stage. It’s a beautiful track and a beautiful album; take note of the pop-inspired Nintendo epilogue.”
C4. Leighton Craig – ‘Catch Me, I’m on Fire’
“Leighton Craig is one half of Brisbane dream-duo Primitive Motion. He has one solo record under his belt, released through Brisbane experimental powerhouse Room40. His follow up, Diamond Eye, is due for release early 2015 through BSR. This is a particularly somber track, originally performed by Brisbane cultists Fig.”
C5. Silly Joel & The Candymen – ‘Heroic Hearts of the Candymen’
“Newcomers to the game, MC’s Silly Joel, Fred Soque and Rob Feelins have just released their debut single, Dr. Seuss. This follow up track is previously unreleased, and is a great demonstrator of the group’s powerful rapid-fire delivery and creative sampling. There is sure to be some stirring of the pot before these fellows are done.”
C6. Love of Diagrams – ‘Eyes’
“After a few years of quiet since their powerful third LP Nowhere Forever, the Diagrams are back! They have been secretly perfecting a fourth full-length, Blast, due for release on March 2, 2015 thru BSR. This track is an outtake from the recording sessions of that album, and a very exciting indicator of what is in store for hungry fans.”
C7. Angel Eyes – ‘Bed’
“To close, we have a mournful (?) serenade by the always incredible Angel Eyes, a.k.a Andrew Cowie. I first met Andrew performing under my house in Brisbane, and have been hot on his trail ever since. His music holds a special importance for me that I haven’t quite deciphered yet, and it seemed important to end the compilation on this note. Somehow, Cowie summarises the nostalgia felt in looking back over these past 5 years; the people met, moments proud to witness, connections lost and feelings of elation, too. I wonder what Cowie thinks of the song. Probably not that much.”
Bedroom Suck 5th Birthday Dates
Saturday, October 4 – Format Festival, Adelaide
Sunday, October 5 – Newcastle Weekender, Newcastle
Saturday, October 11 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
Sunday, October 19 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
Friday, November 7 – Good God Small Club, Sydney
For more info visit the Facebook event
