1.The First Record I Bought
Red Sails In The Sunset by Midnight Oil. I was learning drums and Rob Hirst was a monster to be sure. I remember sitting there trying to get my hands and feet to be independent. Not long after that I swapped to guitar. By the way, my grandmother gave me Number Of The Beast – best nanna gift ever!
2.The Last Record I Bought
I’ve been listening to a bunch of music from war-torn Mali. Last album was Music In Exile by Songhoy Blues. The rhythmic approach is hypnotic. I was looking for other musical perspectives. I found a reference to them in the street press, did some research and found that they’d been taken under Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)’s wing.
3. The First Thing I Recorded
My first recordings were with a band called Pioneer Disposals, a duo – the other half was Craig Schuftan. Our music was created using lo-fi tape loops of found sounds and live reconstituted guitar. Our early shows were in art galleries. When I listen back I hear the exploration into the possibilities of music.
4. The Last Thing I Recorded
Stormcellar are Michael Barry (vocals/harp), Paul Read (slide guitar/mandolin), Bill Williams (bass), Theo Wanders (drums/percussion) and me (electric/acoustic guitars). Jo Fitzgerald adds harmonies. We recorded across three studios – one in Kansas City, and two in Sydney (A# and Everland). Everywhere Feels Like Home is a collection of music, a soundtrack, inspired by our adventures in the American Midwest. Guests? Yep: Curtis Mayfield’s younger brother DC Bellamy, a co-write with Kansas City blues luminary Ron Teamer, cello virtuoso Dr. Geoffrey Gartner and national treasure Bukhchuluun Ganburged on horsehead fiddle and traditional Mongolian two-tone singing. Most of the songs are played as recorded. Our album launch is on December 10 at Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville and we will have Geoffrey, Bukhu and Jo on hand to present the songs as recorded. This is a rare event and promises to be a special evening.
5. The Record That Changed My Life
Instrumentals: (No Pussyfooting) by Fripp and Eno completely broke down my ideas of what music could be. Soundtracks: one of the earliest was Local Hero by Mark Knopfler. The main theme starts out ambiently – hinted at – but by the end it’s this triumphant piece that has a healing force to it. I go back to them when I need to get out of a funk or need to be reminded of the possibilities.
Everywhere Feels Like Home is out Friday December 11 independently; and you can catch Stormcellar at Lazybones Lounge on Thursday December 10.
