One of Melborune’s most underrated, underground psych-rock crews The Citradels recently unleashed their latest album Are They Still Here? (out via Psychic Ric Records) and it’s potentially the band’s most impressive effort yet.
The sixth (yep!) LP from the five piece was crafted when the band decided to camp out in a 50 year old disused butter factory in rural Victoria. After five days in the empty, eerie and potentially asbestos ridden factory drinking crappy beer and recording in isolation the album was done. It’s all in a week’s work for the band, who have released six albums in just three years – as well as three EPs (which they released from 2010 – 2013).
Influenced by more classic names like Slowdive, Ride, spacemen 3 and Primal Scream as well as local contemporaries Sydney siders The Grease Arrestor and Melbourne locals Luna Ghost, Are They Still Here? sees The Citradels proving that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for quantity.
To celebrate the release of Are They Still Here? the psych-rock collective are about to embark a three date tour rolling though Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. We caught up with the Citradels founder Sunny Down Snuff to get to know a little more about one of the hardest working bands in Australia.
The Beginning
The Citradels original started as my a bedroom project, which was around mid 2010. I (Sunny) never meant to write songs, I was more experimenting with sounds. Slowly I learned that I loved writing songs just as much as producing the sounds. I’ve gone through quiet a few members to get the band to this point (about 15 I think).
The first two years I put out 3 EPs which were mainly just me experimenting and finding out what I loved in the sonic realm. Then in 2012 I moved from my home town to Melbourne, put out six albums and slowly found the members that would make up the current line up. Are They Still Here? is definitely a band album and The Citradels now has expanded much beyond just being my project.
Writing The New Album
Well Are They Still Here? was the first album where we all worked together to create the songs. Normally I or one of the other guy’s would create a scratch track and slowly we would work on it until it was ready for the band to learn it. But yeah we decided to work together this time, and actually refine the songs.
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‘Anchor’ (the last track on the A side) had a complete change from a ’60s jangle song to a more VU sound. Defiantly a big stepping stone in terms of the quality of songwriting as we finessed over every little detail. So everyone was picking at the songs try get the best final product.
Major Influences
[include_post id=”449648″]We listen to all types of things we all have varying eclectic tastes, we constantly search and share stuff with each other. At the moment we are listening to the Kinks a lot. Along with the obvious one such as Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Velvet Underground, The Beatles, all the hit makes and groovers from the ’60s.
A lot of Shoegaze such as Slowdive, Jesus and Mary Chain and Primal Scream. Panda Bear is defiantly someone who had a huge effect on me in the last year, his music is amazing and his attitude towards creating it is extremely interesting.
I find I’m influenced by not only the things I love and adore but things I dislike. I try figure out way I dislike it and make sure I never end up there. Also Brian Wilson would have to be our biggest influence. Not only was he one of the most prolific songwriters of the ’60s he is an amazing producer and arranger. Stick to formula.
Recording In An Old Butter Factory
We recorded the album in a old butter factory that Curt’s parents own out in country Victoria. It’s be disused for about 50 years with huge high ceiling and isolated rooms. It was pretty basic accommodation wise with us sleeping in our cars in the factory and cooking on the floor.
I think it really worked in our favor to create a darker sound. We really pushed ourselves to work as hard as possible and to get the best take, with there being limited distractions and dark vibes it produced the fuel to create Are They Still Here?
On Being So Prolific
We have several songwriters and everyone in the band makes music every day, which is how i think it should be. I don’t really think we are prolific, in fact I reckon we don’t work hard enough.
Maybe this year we will get our shit together. I mean I love doing music and everyday I’m thinking of ideas for a new song or a way to improve one I’m currently working on. I feel maybe to a lot of people it’s quite a social thing to jam (which is fine) but for me it’s more of a daily habit.
Favourite Local Venues
The Evelyn, Catfish, Old Bar, Telstra dome Anywhere that accepts us.
Favourite Local Bands
Luna Ghost, Contrast, Wesley Fuller, Full Moon Flower Band, Dead Heir, James Seedy, Trappist Afterland Band.
2016 Plans
We are currently working on an album of obscure, jangly pop tunes recorded at our home studio in the NONG (its working title is Where’s One). It’s a lot poppier then any of our other stuff but it is also quiet strange.
Much more influnced by 1960s psychedelic stuff like The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, The Kinks, Tomorrow, JK& Co, with too many to name them all. After that’s finished I have started writing down ideas for album No. 8 and how I want it to sound. I would love to take some of the storytelling angles from Where’s One and make a whole album which sort runs like a day in the life.
Upcoming Tour Dates
26th February – The John Curtain, Melbourne
11th March – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
26th March – Frieda’s Bar, Sydney
Tickets and info at the band’s Facebook page.
