So here’s an idea: A post every week or two about music from different parts of the world. I’m thinking less in terms of genres typically associated with particular countries (i.e., Celtic music) than I am about those geographic idiosyncrasies that appear in good ole rock and/or roll (i.e., Brit-pop). Let’s start things off by heading down under to check some music out of Australia and New Zealand, scenes which produced not only international pop sensations like new-wave darlings Split Enz (and later Crowded House), but also an array of outstanding rock outfits in the 1980s. Propelled by the legendary Flying Nun and Propeller Records labels, the bands in this latter category were early adopters of the jangly lo-fi experimentation that a decade later became staples in American indie music. They combined this 4-track aesthetic with a number of post-punk trademarks: angular arrangements, tenebrous lyrics, frantic guitar work, and unconventional instrumentation—i.e., all that is good in the world. Anyhoo, here’s the breakdown:
1. “Death & the Maiden” by The Verlaines, off Juvenilia
2. “North By North” by The Bats, off Daddy’s Highway
3. “Sparkle That Shines” by Straightjacket Fits, off Hail
4. “Song of the Silents” by Tall Dwarfs, off Hello Cruel World
5. “Pink Frost” by The Chills, off Kaleidoscope World
6. “Point That Thing Somewhere Else” by The Clean, off Anthology
Wow, so much good stuff here. The Verlaines, Straightjacket Fits, and The Clean are all solid, but that track by The Bats is absolutely incredible. The bass player is just ripping it the entire song and that high-pitched distorted guitar solo is oh so good. Frenetic bass playing is one of the best aspects of this era in music imo — see “Telephoto Lens” — which has unfortunately been lost in recent iterations of this sound.
That track by The Chills is really good as well. The singer reminds me a lot of the guy from Whitest Boy Alive. Or I guess the guy from Whitest Boy Alive reminds me of this guy… Ya that one.