Despite what Tame Impala chief Kevin Parker might think, we actually have a very rich and sprawling psychedelic rock scene absolutely jam-packed with great bands here in Australia.
Names like Love of Diagrams, Lowtide, Alex Jarvis Group, Fierce Mild, Hideous Towns, The Citradels, Willow Darling, Mosaicz, Parading, and Contrast come to mind.
They’ll all be playing Tonal Shift, a new psychedelic rock and shoegaze mini-fest set to hit the Corner Hotel as part of Leaps and Bounds festival this weekend.
We caught up with some of the bands to ask them about what the current state of Australian psychedelic is like and what they see for the genre’s future Down Under.
See all these bands and more at Tonal Shift at the Corner Hotel this Sunday, 10th July – check out more details here.
Kevin Parker: There Is No Australian Psych Scene
Tom from Parading: I think this lineup itself proves there’s a pretty strong community of bands around Melbourne that dig each other’s music. For example, the LP we are about to send to print was produced by Richard from Alex Jarvis Group – Alex himself dropped some guitar on a track. Alana from Hideous Towns did some amazing vocals and Jack from Contrast just recently gave me some really sound advice for a track.
Giles Simon from Lowtide: I played a set at the Forum in Melbourne supporting Tame Impala when I was playing with The Sun Blindness a while back, so when Lowtide played with Pond at Camp A Low Hum in NZ, with Kevin still on drums, naturally I went over to say hi. He didn’t remember me at all and when he apologised he told me that his manager tells him to say he has face blindness, so my next move was to tell him that I was the mother of his children from that ‘time’ after the Forum show and he totally freaked out and gave me all his mushrooms and a wad of cash. The psych scene gets nasty when the smoke clears.
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But seriously, hippies from Perth just seem like neo-liberals on training wheels waiting to have their dreadlocks shorn before entering the sharing-economy to me, especially from the vantage point of West Melbourne. I like the TI hustle gang though, and Kevin – if you’re reading this – I accept your apology. I named our child Spartacus Rainbow Winegum and sent him to work in the mines.
Troy Rainbow from Fierce Mild: I remember at the exact moment this article came out was when we’d just announced our own psych festival – Stargazed. That was following on from other scene-based festivals including Roogaze, which Lowtide were involved in. It seemed absurd to make that sort of comment, even though it was probably taken out of context.
I think the local scene has evolved a lot since Kevin Parker, Tame Impala and even since King Gizzard. We (Fierce Mild) don’t necessarily even consider ourselves psych, but we definitely contain some influences from bands who lean that way (e.g. Gong, Swervedriver, Inspiral Carpets, The Coral, King Crimson, Redneck Manifesto) and the genre as a whole – whatever that means at this point. I think it’s more about the new interpretations and evolution of the stylistic hallmarks of the genre and the moods you can bring about by doing so.
Curtis Goodfellow from The Citradels: To be honest, Kevin is doing a lot of interesting things which has such a wide variety of influences, so I don’t really think he is searching too much for other psychedelic bands. I like Currents a lot but it’s something different, so he is looking outside the box, not just at one genre. To me, that is what psychedelic music is meant to be. Plus I’m sure if he sees that every second psychedelic band sounds like Tame Impala he doesn’t bother to listen.
Cahill from Willow Darling: I would agree and say there is no ‘psych’ scene in Australia – in fact, the term ‘psychedelic’ used as a genre confuses me. I’ve heard Crowded House on LSD and it was terrifyingly psychedelic; any music can be ‘psych’ or have moments of it. I think ultimately there’s a bunch of people who are doing ’60s revival-style bands, or trying to modernise that sound, and end up ripping off Tame Impala. Hanging around the Doom/Stoner Rock scene is probably as close as you’ll get.
Angus Crook from Mosaicz: There’s definitely a pretty vibrant psych scene happening in Australia right now. Doesn’t seem like Kevin’s spent much time to find out, because I’m constantly still discovering new crazy good bands around our country, especially in Melbourne.
Luke Horton from Love of Diagrams: I think the influence of psychedelic music is evident in the music of a lot of Australian bands, and obviously there’s many beyond the few Kevin mentioned, but I wouldn’t say we’re a ‘psych’ band or part of a ‘psych’ scene – or part of a scene that can be defined by a genre of music at all, in fact.
How Healthy The Psych/Shoegaze Scene Actually Is
Giles: If we’re currently in a post-hung-election mood which calls for collective navel-gazing at the federal level, and assuming the live music scene in Melbourne (I’m non-genre binary) can be positively compared to the current state of political stale-mateyness then I’d say the health-factor is off the (Louis) Richter scale. I’d say it’s about as healthy as a dole-bludger living in a squat on the northern beaches, just down the road from Kathy Jackson and Michael Lawler. That kind of level of health. Super-food-see-through-the-
Troy: I think we’re killing it at the moment. Especially given the size of the country. We’ve seen awesome stuff that is of this ilk in pretty much every place we’ve played. Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth have killer psych, post-rock and shoegaze scenes with some really incredible musicians and there is definitely a big cult following around it. It’s also pretty happening in some smaller areas like Wollongong and Bendigo. It could do with more attention, which is why showcases like Leaps and Bounds are so important in shining a light on it.
Cahill: Again I don’t really think it’s much of a scene, but there is a large group of people putting out some really good quality ‘psych’ and ‘shoegaze’ music in Australia at the moment. I don’t speak for everyone but I’ve found most people who delve fully into these styles of music aren’t necessarily the kind of people who want to be overly social and don’t really feel the need to create a scene.
Jack: I think the bands that play psychedelic, post punk, dream pop stuff in Australia are brilliant, not to mention word class. I think its a shame that there isn’t a scene here that thrives to the same extent as in America and the UK to appreciate it, but lucky us having it all to ourselves I guess.
Angus: Is definitely in really good nick at the moment. Not only just good music but the quality people make it a really easy going scene to make new friends, and share and see new incredible music.
Luke: On one level I have no idea. I don’t feel that I am, or my band is, part of music scene that is defined by a style of music, it’s never been important to us, we’re drawn to bands and musicians who we think are doing interesting things. We share an ethos rather of a style of music, and sometimes not even that. Also, these genres are pretty amorphous and mean different things to different people. I would say though that there are a lot of bands around who are obviously indebted to and influenced by bands who are considered psych or shoegaze and I like some of the bands you could say this about.
The Appeal Behind The Music
Giles: The wetness -dampness of the pub rock venues still helps to conceal those untimely body odours that the smoking ban suddenly thrust to the forefront of the publican social scene. Because of this it makes me think of that Rachel Hunter ad for Pantene. “It won’t happen over night, but it will happen.” That’s the working title for our new album I think. Cleanliness is godliness and God has been cast down.
Troy: The ability to explore new possibilities and ponder and reflect on everything. It’s a good genre for wandering around, mumbling to yourself and staring at the ground. This is necessary in a busy world.
Curtis: I can only really talk about what drew me to psychedelic music as i think some people may have different reasons as it seems to be a bit of fad at the moment, but what drew me was the album “Rubber Soul” by The Beatles. It covers so many genres and sounds but still seems to have this overall feel. What drew me into that was the belief that your could encompass more then just what ever genre you were in. You could have a country songs, next to a indian sounding song next to a R’n’B number without having to have 3 different bands, as long as it all came natural through you.
Cahill: Drugs.
Jack: I think its appealing in the sense of being able to experience a song for the world that it exists in and in the energy coming out of the guitar and being able to gain an instant feeling from a song that’s more than just an attachment to the lyrics and melody to a regular pop song. Having said that I don’t think it has to be ‘psychedelic’ to do so. Bands like low and sonic youth create the same effect using space or noise. Having said that I think all the bands on the bills songs stand up with out the sound but are also masters of their crafts sound wise
Angus: There’s so many different styles and sub genres of psychedelic music, it’s free form, everyone’s always creating something different and there’s no real limitations as to what you can make yourself. Simply the best.
Luke: I think of these two genres as pretty different, and historically distinct, but in broad terms, something they have in common is loud, immersive guitars. Layered, contrasting guitar sounds and melodies is something I’ve always loved. Perhaps this immersive quality is the main thing people love in this music.
Lesser-Known Pillars Of The Scene
Giles: We aren’t looking for heroes and champions, it’s not about that. We’re here for a good time, not a long time. The leaders have failed and now it’s time for the technocrats to take over. Just lay down and forget about it. But remember this: apathy is your greatest potentiality.
Troy: We are really digging the work of Breve, they offer a dark and brooding psych element combined with some really interesting soundscape pieces. They are currently tearing it up in Europe and have developed a great dynamic sound full of both muted and explosive colours. Breve are also very active in the scene and work hard to support everyone else.
Curtis: I suppose the champions to me are the people that create albums for themselves and not too concerned about the wider public and there opinions of what they think. Producers like Joe Meek, Phil Spector and Spectrum. As for bands The Beatles, The Beach Boys (Brain Wilson), The Brian Jonestown Massacre (Anton Newcombe) MGMT and Panda Bear. On the Shoegaze side Slowdive and JAMC are the peak for me. The songwriting and textured layering is defiantly something I hold in very high regard.
Cahill: Our bass player Lain, his uncle played in this Australian psyche band in the ’60s called Tol-Puddle Martyrs, they did quite well and still have a single kicking round on that ‘Australian Nuggets’ compilation that was released not to long ago. Oh and Spectrum, obviously.
Luke: A few of them are on the bill on Sunday. Parading are great, Lowtide are too, and I’m looking forward to seeing a couple of others for the first time. Zond are probably my favourite local band who take some of these elements and make them their own.
Best Emerging Acts
Giles: This great new band I saw on the weekend called Ride the Lightning. They don’t even have a Facebook account yet and still they had 300 people turning up to their warehouse show in Preston on word of mouth alone. Sick.
Troy: Melbourne two piece Beloved Elk create a breadth of tones with whimsical harmonies often breaking into long instrumental elements, featuring some fantastic guitar lines. The Dark fair are another one that draw you in with spacey, slow evolution. Sydney based Mossy has released a very impressive EP with lots of gliding bass lines and synthy guitar tones. He’ll be featuring at Big Sound this year. Expecting big things to come!
Curtis: Contrast are definitely a band to watch. I saw them play a few weeks ago just as a three-piece and a drum machine and it was the toughest set I have ever seen. It was like marble. Also I really dig the self titled EP by ZIG ZAG and all The Frowning Clouds albums.
Cahill: The Electric Guitars, Krakatau, Sugar Teeth.
Angus: Hollywood Real Thoughts are definitely worth a listen/see with their ambient trip hop sorta noises. Gonzo and Seasloth are also killin it.
Luke: I’ll probably have a better idea of that after Sunday.
Tonal Shift – Leaps & Bounds
Love of Diagrams
Lowtide
Alex Jarvis Group
Contrast
Hideous Towns
Fierce Mild
Parading
The Citradels
Willow Darling
Mosaicz
Sunday, 10th July 2016
Corner Hotel, Melbourne
