Far Away Sounds: Australian Popular Music

Tonight I'll be going to see my favorite band, Tame Impala.  Tame Impala are from Perth, Australia. The first time Missy and I visited Perth in June of 2010 their record Innerspeaker had been released in late May and I saw posters all around the city announcing it's release.  I made a mental note to listen to the album but as is the case with most of my mental notes I can't remember where I put it. Suffice it to say it wasn't until a little while later when a band mate played the record for me that I really got into them.

Knowing that Tame Impala were from Perth, I started reading some interviews with Kevin Parker the "ideas guy" for the band and I began to realize there was this thriving music community in Perth that was beginning to gain attention from the rest of the world.  As I dug deeper and began to explore other bands and musicians from Perth I grew more and more impressed with what I heard and interested in why this isolated Australian city had such a thriving music community.

I believe it's got a lot to do with the fact that the city is so isolated geographically from the rest of world (and other Australian cities for that matter).  It's not the only factor but I believe it's a big one.  I also think there is a lot of freedom to create and try new things.  I was discussing this with my friend Lee who we'll be planting the church with in Perth and we agreed that while much of the music coming out of Perth (and Melbourne) can be and is often artistically challenging it remains extremely accessible.  That is to say it asks a lot of the listener but isn't seeking to ostracize the listener with it's abstraction.

I've provided a link to an essay written by Perth musician, Nick Allbrook who has played in a number of bands from Perth.  Most notably he was the touring bassist for Tame Impala from 2008-2013 and is also in his own band POND who are growing in popularity and success.  Allbrook's essay deals with Perth and it's isolation and it's impact on the artists that call the city home.  I want to say that I think he gets a lot of things right about Perth but also leaves out the inspiration of the geographical beauty as well the city itself.  For those that want to do choose to read the article understand that Nick uses some fairly harsh language in sharing his experience.  If this is something that is oft-putting I'd recommend that you skip reading the article.  Otherwise, I think it gives great insight into Perth's music community.

Nick Allbrook's Essay on Perth Music Community

As someone who is moving to Perth to do church planting in Fremantle, the neighborhood where many of these musicians and other artists live; it's important to understand what is influencing them and how it is impacting their art.  By listening to, researching, and championing these artists it provides the opportunity not only for understanding but to be impacted and touched by their artistry. It's easy to listen to these artists and go wow they really need the gospel.  But in my case, more often than not- they end up reminding me of my own need for the gospel.  

For those interested in listening to some of the music that's recently come out in Australia you can listen to this Aussie music mixtape I've shared.  Below I've listed out the bands on the mixtape as well as the cities they call home.

Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards [Perth]

Pond – Elvis' Flaming Star [Perth]

San Cisco – Too Much Time Together [Perth]

Jagwar Ma – That Loneliness [Sydney]

Chet Faker – Gold [Melbourne]

Cut Copy – We Are Explorers [Melbourne]

Hiatus Kaiyote – Swamp Thing [Melbourne]

Luluc – Star [Melbourne]

Felicity Groom – Houses Are Gone [Perth]

Courtney Barnett – An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York) [Melbourne]

The Growl – Liarbird [Perth]

Fascinator – Showin' off [Perth]

Peter Bibby & His Bottles of Confidence – Goodbye Johnny [Perth]

Spacemanantics – We Could Have Gone Far 1 [Perth]

Shiny Joe Ryan – Whatever Happened To The Space Race [Perth]