'ROCK BANDS DON'T NEED TO RESTRICT THEMSELVES TO GUITARS'
The ring's the thing
The spectral, widescreen rock made by Australian newcomers Howling Bells sound like those big open spaces where they were raised reckons David Pollock.
tumbling across Australian invaders who have
set up camp in the UK isn’t tnuch of an oddity.
although none of them have (‘oldplay to thank for their extended visit to the country. All. that is. except the Sydney-founded quartet Howling Bells. who have been resident in London for two years now.
‘We had vague word from the producer Ken Nelson.‘ explains vocalist Juanita Stein. ‘that he would be interested in working on our album. But he was working with Coldplay at the time. which took forever. So we had already come to London. and ended up there for eight months instead of three weeks.
‘Once we'd made it our own territory. though. once we'd gone out to see bands and meet people. we knew we didn't want to go home. We knew it was the place to be to make this work.’
Their eponymous debut album was worth the wait. Like a more pastoral version of Glasgow‘s Sons and Daughters. the band (Stein. her guitarist brother Joel. bassist Brendan Picchio. drummer Glenn Moule) create a sound that could quite easily have come from
the Midwestern plains of America. an update of
country-rock that's at once urgent. mournful. and often
keenly sexy. ‘Broken bones may hurt.‘ go the lyrics of
‘Broken Bones‘. 'but a broken heart will never mend.‘ Rather more ominously. the gorgeous. shuffling ‘A Ballad For The Broken Hearts' tells us: ‘l‘m not crying any more / ‘cos love isn't love ‘til you bleed'.
In person (or on the phone. at least) Stein doesn‘t give the impression of the big-hearted sexual delinquent her songs conjure up. She graciously describes the recording process as ‘amazing‘. and —
pushing for another word to sum up the collaboration with Nelson »- politely almost gushes that it was ‘remarkable'. ‘We had waited so long to get into the studio.‘ she says. ‘and we connected so well with Ken. He didn't push us in any direction. he jUst gave the record the space and warmth that it needed.‘
Indeed. space and warmth are two concepts that Stein returns to in describing her band and its sound. and they're both things that their home country is abundant in. ‘We reflect our landscape and environment.' she says. ‘()ur drummer grew up in the most barren country you could imagine. it's literally red earth. There's so much space in Australia — you can breathe. and walk for miles. l think that affects you.‘
Yet. will their new surroundings affect them any differently"? lift a huge believer in progression and change.‘ muses Stein affirmatively. ‘I get really bored with one sound for too long — in fact. I think were bored with the sound of guitars at the moment. and I think we‘re in a good position to do something different now.‘ she laughs.
‘What form will that take‘.’ 1 don't know. we might bring in a hip hop producer for their perspective. or maybe just use new instruments. A rock band doesn‘t need to restrict themselves to guitar. bass and drums. do they? All the best bands and artists challenged themselves to perpetually progress.‘
Before they get their ears around crammed-together London. though. we can only advise you enjoy the beautiful sound of space.
King Tut’s, Glasgow, Tue 8 Aug.
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THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ 8 FOLK
3!: De Rosa, Emer and Mt. De Rosa's (pictured) debut album Mend is an understated gem and this wee jaunt round the social should only help further bolster their growing live prowess. Woodside Socra/ Club, Glasgow, Thu 3 Aug. (Rock & Pop)
>l= Howling Bells and The Cinematics See preview. left. King Tut '3, Glasgow, Tue 8 Aug. (Rock a Pop)
=2: Ray Wylie Hubbard and William Elliot Whitmore Top blokes with top names and top sounds to match. Texan folk veteran Hubbard makes a keen double bill with Whitmore, a skilled bluesman whose aged. gravely tones belie his years. See caption, page 30. ABC, Thu 3 Aug. (Rock a Pop)
ti: Crash My Model Car, Endor and Recliner We used to know them as Poor Old Ben but now CMMC have rocked things up a little and top of this bill of notable indie tykes. See caption, page 33. King Tut's, Glasgow, Wed 9 Aug. (Rock 8 Pop)
:lt Beerjacket The irrepressible Peter Kelly delights with his intense. Jeff Buckley-esque musings at this intimate acoustic shindig. Oran Mor, Glasgow, Wed 9 Aug. (Rock 8 Pop)
>t= Piping Live! In stark contrast to the theatre and comedy-driven festivities in the east. Glasgow has its own massed hoedown. this time a celebration of bagpipes with performances from the likes of Katheryn Tickell, Chris Armstrong and Wollstone. Various venues, Glasgow, Mon 7—Aug.
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