LB was born on a waxing crescent moon, which you never should underestimate what can do. His father’s an empty bottle, and his mother, well she’s a turtle. Born and bred in Melbourne, Australia, where’s main claim to fame is the Big Koala, about 3 hours drive West of the CBD.
“Well, folks, that’s about it – you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. It’s all right now and it’s all right here. In the Everywhen. Thanks for coming.”
Produced by Footy and Lochie Bradfield. Recorded and mixed by Lochie Bradfield. Mastered by Mikey Young. Cover photo by Sashi Douglas.
Review of Footy ‘Record’ by Jason Allen @ Cyclic Defrost
Record is the second album from Melbourne piano duo Footy, Paddy Gordon and Lewis Mulvey. Informed by 19th and 20th century art music by everyone from Debussy to Brian Eno and John Cage, Footy combine their musical education with their Australian upbringing to create a unique and quietly angry sound that exists between punk, art and improvisation.
Footy delight in changing genres and moods suddenly. You might get a minute reminiscent of Erik Satie’s more experimental work that suddenly turns into an echo of yacht rock. Chord progressions that imitate 70s singer songwriters will give way to passages that could have been written by Terry Riley or Morton Feldman. Much like 2013’s Mobile Cemetery, the astonishingly dry and unedited production creates a claustrophobia giving the musicians and the audience nowhere to hide. The aesthetic owes more to downtown New York classical recordings than anything in rock or pop, even with the chirping of birds in a suburban backyard in the background.
Footy’s meandering but never uncontrolled works are like a Howard Arkley painting of a double fronted brick veneer; familiar to anyone who grew up in the suburbs, but identifiable for anyone in the know as viciously angry and satirical. The tension in Footy’s music is cultural. It captures the anger and disappointment of growing up in an isolated but bucolic world of lawnmowers and cricket, out of reach of the music and art happening beyond its borders. From the duo’s name to choice of album title, contempt for mainstream Australian culture is never far from the surface.
While mostly instrumental, Footy occasionally break in with laconic vocals, either talking over each other in philosophical riddles in the opener ‘Consciousness’, or drawling chillingly about losing on ‘The Price Is Right’ in 1992. It’s this track, with its mournful absurdity over a hopelessly dramatic chord progression, that more than any other lays bare the bubbling anger under the polished surface of Footy’s exquisitely economical compositions.
Burundian drummers performing @ Emerge in the West, Footscray. Photo by Lochie Bradfield
Despite a few showers in the afternoon, people were out in Nicholson St, Footscray, dancing to the sounds of Sudanese pop, Ethiopian jazz, Azmari banter, Somali pop, traditional Burundian drumming, West African dance and Cape Verdean reggae. The best part? All the performers now call Melbourne home.
There were performances fromAjak Kwai, a Sudanese singer from the Malakal Region of the Upper Nile. She sings in her native Dinka language as well as Arabic and English – songs of freedom, love, peace, death, marriage and cows.
One of the highlights of the afternoon, technical difficulties aside, was the pop stylings of Somali group, Aussom Band, led by Abdi Mohamed Abdi, aka ‘The Man with Ten Hands’. Abdi is is originally from the southern Somali port of Kismayo. Since the civil war in Somalia, which saw the banning of music (among other things), many well known musicians have been persecuted by fundamentalist insurgents, including Abdi. He lived in exile in Kenya for 18 years before settling in Australia in 2008. It was amazing to hear the Somali group here in Footscray, reconnecting with their country’s music after such a long and dislocated experience.
Other highlights included Ethio-Jazz ensemble, Jazmaris, led by Ethiopian pianist Danny Seifu, with powerful vocals by the ever-exceptional Seble Girma. This band just finished supporting the legendary Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed on his recent Australian tour in January 2013. The band was sounding tight, well rehearsed and very comfortable with their arrangements.
Bitat Seyoum, accompanied by Anbessa Gebrihiwot, played a wonderful set in her native Amharic language, even as the rain fell and audience members sought cover underneath the roofs of shops in Nicholson St.
The Burundian Drummers provided a trance-inducing set of traditional Burundian rhythms with 7 big drums or ingomas, knocking out ever evolving polyrhythms. In Burundi the use of the ingoma was historically a symbol of power, used to commentate on the daily life of the king. The drums were believed to bring peace and unity throughout the kingdom, a belief that continues to present today – 12 years of civil war notwithstanding.
The afternoon came to a close with roots reggae outfit Ras Jahknow Band, fronted by Cape Verdean born Jorge Abreu (aka Ras Jahknow) They sing songs in English, Portugese, and Creole. The band never strays far from the deep and slow rhythms of roots reggae and created a good vibe to end proceedings on.
‘Emerge in the West’ was a fantastic opportunity for many of the people and communities who make Melbourne’s West what it is – to show their talents, share culture and partake in some good ol’ fashioned dancing in the street.
As a final thought, I was struck by the Burundian drums – upon which they have painted the Australian flag, alongside the Burundian flag. Hitting the sides of the drums with their sticks, the Union Jack on the Australian flag looked as though it were being beat in to submission. I, for one, am very excited about the impact these cultures, musical traditions and musicians themselves are going to have upon the future of Australian music.
The Emerge Festival continues until July, with ‘a colourful series of performances and unique cultural experiences encompassing music, dance, visual arts, exotic foods, ancient crafts and ceremonies.’ These include:
– ‘Main Event’ at Fitzroy Town Hall on Sunday June 16th (12-5pm, FREE)
– World Refugee Day Rally 2013at Melbourne Museum forecourt, Sunday June 16th (rally will march to Fitzroy Town Hall)
– Remastered Myths, Sunday 2nd June at the Toff in Town (3-5pm, $10)
– Don’t Be Left Out in the CALD– a series of Music Business Skills Workshops for musicians from CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds. Topics include: Getting Gigs, DIY Releasing, APRA & Licensing, Music Law, Grant Writing, amongst others. Saturday 8th June – Monday 10th June. Places are limited and acceptance is by application only. You can send expressions of interest to: projects@multiculturalarts.com.au or call (03) 9188 3681 for more details.
The program was established in the 1930s, in order to supplement the income of film industry techs (eg. set designers, lightning technicians and camera operators), who worked intermittently under short-term contracts, so that they could remain available for future projects. These days it extends to performing artists of all kinds – musicians, actors, dancers, circus artists, puppeteers – protecting them from the inevitable downtime between jobs that those working in the entertainment industry perpetually face.
World’s End Press are popping their head out from under the bed, after a stint in the UK recording their upcoming debut album with Tim Goldsworthy (DFA Records, Mo’ Wax) who has produced The Rapture & Cut Copy, amongst others. They’ve got an official single coming out soon, but in the meantime here is a slice from their upcoming album.
The new track ‘Deadbeat Sweetheart’ is a deep psychological, mid-tempo dance number. And with coverage from SPiN magazine, the group is getting ready to turn up!
“I know that you’re mine / You’re with me all the time”
There is a not so funny joke that circulates around musicians’ circles regarding the general public’s views on the cost of music –
A guy calls the musician’s guild to get a quote on a 6-piece band for a wedding. The rep says,
“Off the top of my head, it’ll be about $3000”
“What? Just for music?” the guy responds
“I’ll tell you what. Call the plumber’s union and ask for six plumbers to work from 6 until midnight on a Saturday night. Whatever they quote you, we’ll work for half of that.”
Footy‘s debut album ‘Mobile Cemetary’, produced by Footy and Lochie Bradfield at Ah!Puch!Studio! will be released on May 3rd through Lost & Lonesome records.
Album launch on Sunday, May 12 at Northcote Social Club, featuring Pearls, Mad Nanna and Backstabbers…
.Here is what Mess & Noise has to say about the new album –
What:Mobile Cemetery by Footy. When: May 3 through Lost & Lonesome.
Key notes: First album from Melbourne’s experimental electric-piano duo, featuring Dick Diver guest keyboardist Lewis Mulvey and Paddy Gordon of “pagan devotional” trio Stre4m. Influenced by “underground pop; the cerebral jazz of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and other ECM alumni; and the clean, driving Kraut-rock of Neu! and Cluster.” Also by “restless, meandering drives through the industrial fringe suburbs of Melbourne’s ‘mid-west’.” Follows a 2011 cassette. Vocals appear only on ‘Workin’’ and the title track. Launching on Sunday, May 12 at Northcote Social Club with Pearls, Mad Nanna and Backstabbers. Stream and download the rippling closing track ‘Sea Home’ for free below.
From the presser: “A nuanced and exploratory album, thematically cohesive and even ‘conceptual’.”
I am lacking in the words department for this tribute and just the whole bigger picture in general. Cliche is employed to many odd effects in post-humous matters, so the main thing I got to say is..
Ingram was a beautiful soul who gave massive love and loyal friendship to many.
This night is for anyone whose life was touched by Ingram, will be soundtracked by Ingram’s music with mix/live stuff from his musical community. If you wanna hit the mic to share what Ingram meant to you, funny stories and the like this night is for that also.
I really hope all those who would like to be there can make it, so please share this event round to all relevant corners of the interweb.
The video features our late (great) brother, Ingram Lethborg – hiding from the sun’s rays behind a newspaper, street signs and lamp posts. For those of you who knew Ingram, hopefully it will be a nice reminder of his presence. We miss you, Ingram!
I want you to visualise your face like your looking at a new Client Liaison video, and allow the tiny muscles around your forehead, and your eyelids to let go…and RELAX!
The new single ‘Second Day Uptown’ from Melbourne outfit World’s End Press is out & about. The track was recorded at Ah!Puch!Studio! and produced by Dan Whitford from Cut Copy. World’s End Press are about to head to Los Angeles to record their much anticipated debut album, which some of us have been waiting a very long time for – I guess that’s the fate of listening to a band that exists at the world’s end. Bring on armageddon & don’t forget your dancing shoes!
The hip-shaking, credit-card wielding, cocktail-sipping Client Liaison are getting ready to release their debut video for ‘End of the Earth’ soon. In the meantime here is a little teaser to whet your appetite.
There’s a big weekend of music coming up in Melbourne, for those of you not heading out of town to Golden Plains! Including 6 performances by everyone’s favourite originators of the stylefree movement PROPHETS! Featuring Birdbrain, Ctrl-Alt Man, Groovy G, Finntaz, and your humble narrator, Ah!Puch!
2.15-3.15pm Moomba Festival at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr (down by the river next to Fed Square)
4-5pm Westspace Gallery 225 Bourke st, Melbourne. 8-9.30pm The HornEthiopian Restaurant, 20 Johnston St Collingwood. Followed by The 7Ups Afro-beat ensemble.
Sunday 11th March
11.45am -12.45pm Moomba Festival at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr
3.30pm-4.30pmMoomba Festival at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr
Monday 12th March
3.30pm – 4.30pmMoomba Festival at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr
A glimpse of PROPHETS performing last time they performed in Melbourne –
+++
+++
Also on Monday 12th March, JABULA! featuring Tawanda Gadzikwa, Ajak Kwai, Passi Jo, Gerald Frederic, Karen Berger, and Lochie Bradfield will be closing the Moomba celebrations with the Letter String Quartet and Asanti Dance Theatre.
Did you ever break your Backbone?Kid’s Rocking Reggae did & they’ve written a reggae hit about it! Come down to Horse Bazaar & help them launch it on Wednesday 15th June from 6-11pm.
DJ’s
♫ Press Club (Rhys & Sashi from ‘World’s End Press’)
♫ Ah!Puch!
Live visuals by Joel Zika!
A limited edition ‘Backbone’ single will be on sale for $5 each, and if you’re lucky you might be able to get the kids to sign it for you!
Live visuals by Joel Zika!Delicious Japanese food available until 9pm, from the talented kitchen at Horse Bazaar!Not to mention all this will be unfolding during a Full Lunar Eclipse!!!
Photos from Kid’s Rocking Reggae‘s upcoming video for their single ‘Backbone’.
Thanks to the family, Ewan McLeod for his help with lighting, shooting and all things green, Pitimati Nimmanheminda for all your help, James Deutsher + Bianca Hester for letting me use your cameras, Ezeldin Deng for sourcing the greenscreen, Bec Reid at Footscray Community Arts Centre for letting me use their greenscreen, and the maintenance team at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, for keeping such a beautiful garden!
Currently working on a full length album this EP acts as a precursor to the album which should be finished some time later this year. Click here to listen to the album’s distant cousin –WiLSON – Do You Have Any Tobacco?
Happy New Year everybody! I know it’s February already, but better late than never, right? 2011 is looking like it will be a busy year for Ah!Puch! A new album from my pet project ‘WiLSON‘ is well under way and will hopefully see the light of day before mid-year, a film clip for Kid’s Rocking Reggae’s ‘The Biggest Bone’ is in the works, a brand new website for Ah!Puch!, new tracks from Ponytail, including a remix by Sammy K, as well as the debut album from the Fruitiest Preacher from the Land of Marsupial, Monte Morgan, possibly a new album from Kingston. Next week will see the triumphant return of Data Pigeons’ Charlie Crang to the studio, after his much deserved sojourn in New York City.
In the meantime, here is a message from Kid’s Rocking Reggae – ☮ ♥ ♫ ☺
My friend Ingram died yesterday. He was the beatmaking genius behind The Slum Boys. We were planning on making music when he got back from his trip overseas, but he hasn’t made it.
I’ll try to get hold of some more of your music & get it up here so people can hear how talented you were.
Peace, Ingram – to you, your family & all your loved ones xoxo
here’s one track in the meantime – It Hurts So Bad
Ah! Hello all. Thank you to all of you who came down to the Ah!Puch! Compilation Launch No. 1 Party last week. It was an amazing night, with brilliant sets from Varuni, Bangs & Ez, The Slum Boys, Monte Morgan & TGV. So amazing that I recorded the entire evening and have created a special live mix for everybody. So for all of those of you who were there you can experience some flashbacks, and for those who weren’t you can hear what you missed out on! I’ve also put some videos up of Bangs & Ez + Monte Morgan. Enjoy!