One of our favourite indie electro bands in the country, Sydney/Melbourne trio Retiree have returned from a stint overseas with their new tune, and are throwing a launch party to celebrate.
“’Continental’ features a field recording of water lapping in a Venice canal,” the band say of their latest number. “It’s not about Brexit. It’s about selfie sticks, love, photo albums and tourism.”
Entirely appropriate themes considering the track was written in a Venetian hotel room, and recorded across Berlin and Sydney.Finally, it was brought back to Melbourne for mixing and mastering by audio genius Andrei Eremin, and the end result was well worth the repeated trips.
Aside from all the jet-setting, we thought we’d take the opportunity to welcome them home by picking their brains on some of their other influences – namely, the six records that changed their lives.
‘Continental’ will get the launch treatment in the dark confines of Melbourne’s Boney on Friday October 29 with some excellent supports in CORIN and SHOUSE – we can highly recommend you head down.
Arthur Russell – Calling Out Of Context
I can’t remember how old I was the first time my friend Josh showed me ‘Wild Combination’ but it was a while ago. I remember saying “yeah the start is good” to which he replied “the whole thing is pretty good.” I was really young – he was really right. Come to think of it, this friend put me onto most of the music I cherish now. So, thanks Josh Barker!
Since then I’ve probably listened to this record about 10,000 times. It’s so fragile and so strong at the same time. Arthur Russell made me realise dance music can still make you cry. – Tori
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWeEVRJqELevRz8-lwK3CrD-lr_U0D07z
Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
I remember listening to this for the first time in a friend’s car on the way back from the first ATP at Mt. Buller. I was wrecked, still a bit acidy, half napping and had wild dreams to it and was hooked. At the time I was mucking around with loopy, beatsy Dilla rip off sort of stuff. This cinematic record made me so hungry for new sounds and inspired me to have a crack at writing melodies and adding my own layers to some of the sampled stuff I was doing already. – Tori
Julian Lynch – Terra
This album was a game changer for me. I was so mesmerised by the subtleness/mellowness of it and how nicely it was recorded. It’s truly a journey that gels so well and influenced my recording style and music production significantly. – Marco
Steve Hiett – Down On The Road, By The Beach
An album that I’ve drawn inspiration from as of late. It’s calming, gentle and hits all the right notes and I’m a sucker for home studio sounding albums. This one is exactly that, on more of a “recording by the beach” tip. – Marco
Talking Heads – Remain In Light
I’m not consciously aware of how this has changed my life but it’s always there, informing ideas and reminding me of things, and I’m certain it comes out in ways I don’t realize. It has the ability to both invoke nostalgia for me and inspire new stuff. – Matt
Mindsnare – The Death
There was plenty amazing hardcore albums before and after it, but this one landed on me right at the right time. It blew me away & I still keep going back to it every now and then, and I’m pretty proud that I can still play Bulldozed all the way through even if I haven’t listened to it for ages. Those china crashes still make me feel like doing naughty stuff. – Matt
