Around this time I saw the video to 'Theophilus Thistler' featuring a couple of Tellytubby-esque characters running around singing this freaky wordfilled song. The band, sonicanimation had previously impressed me with their Underworldy 'Love Lies Bleeding'. A friend bought me the album for my birthday this year and I havn't looked back. Hearing them on Triple J on Live At The Wireless further solidified my love for the band. I demand that bands be able to play their music live, the main reason I used to not like dance music, but sonicanimation can pull everything off live, as well as improvise as well as any live band.
If you pick up thier second album 'Orchid For The Afterworld', be sure to find the 2CD version. The second CD contains much of the material they play live at raves and includes the not-to-be-missed live favourite 'Joyride', the song that greets me when my phone rings.
sonicanimation are now on tour with their 'The Monogamy File Tour' to promote the release of the 'I'm Afraid I Think I'm Human' single (with free glowstick to early purchasers). I plan to go to the Hi-Fi Bar Melbourne gig on the 22nd July. Check out the website for more gig dates.
Pre_Shrunk
EV's Croydon, 23rd July 2000
Pre_Shrunk's first gig in Australia since the recording of their new album 'Digital Sunrise' (released late July / early August) was a low key affair. Only about 100 all-agers were at the tiny hall venue in Croydon. Croydon's distance from the city would not have helped the crowd numbers.
Shrunk were full of energy as usual, having just been to Japan on a successful tour. They played up to the young crowd, sticking mainly to popular songs and the heavier songs in their set. Two new songs, the likely-to-be-single "Gamer" and "Ritual", were greeted with much enthusiasm and sounded fantastic live. "Accelerate", the 10-15 minute long dance jam is still the crowd favourite and was called for from the beginning of the set. It gets better every time I hear it and this time was no different.
Check out more info on the gig at my Pre_Shrunk gig database, Home Bass.
Recording Industry
More interesting articles
I think the most interesting thing MP3 and Napster have done for all involved is to expose just how the industry works. I have previously posted linking to a rant by Courtney Love. That article was apparently based on this article The Trouble With Music - by Steve Albini.
I am still waiting on my interview with Black Yak records. Hopefully I'll have something up soon.
Interestingly in Australia, the GST (Good and Services Tax) about to be implemented here (on July 1st) has also exposed how bad some bands have it with their companies. The extra complication involved with bands running as a business has pointed out some interesting problems with the current system.
Read this article, AnGST Rock, from Beat, a Melbourne street paper while you still can (will most likely be gone on Wednesday, the next publication date).