Four years ago, the members of Strange Forces left the balmy climes of Brisbane for the dead centre of Europe, carrying a head-full of ideas and aspirations, seeking a pathway to enlightenment in the metropolis of Berlin.
Taking their cues from a montage of inspirational devices – from Spacerock to obscure New-Age Prophecies – Strange Forces’ diligence and determination has paid off in unpredictable ways. They have carefully eschewed the usual tropes found in Australia’s revered guitar-bass-drums set-up and, remarkably, found something altogether new and dynamic within such confines, delivering a washed out lo-fi psychedelic experience that bristles with ancient power.
Their northern exposure has given them the opportunity to support spiritual kinsmen Mogwai in 2011 and to take their multi-dimensional tableau to the good people of Eastern Europe in a unique Ukranian tour (documented via their ‘Hypervisions’ online video series).
For this New Editions release, their self-released debut EP has been augmented with additional tracks originally found on a limited cassette ‘Spores’, released by Los Angeles tape label, Living Tapes. The self-titled eight track album – with artwork by Strange Forces drummer Eli Kalaitzides, and design by Heath Killen – is available in two formats: a run of limited-edition CDs, housed in a full-colour, matt celloglaze digipak, and an MP3 / FLAC digital release. Both formats are available from newweirdaustralia.bandcamp.com
Praise for Strange Forces:
“Rattling, monstrous invocations of acid-rock breakdowns both mental and musical… Reverb soaked guitar flutters in the shadows of a tree lined clearing, shadows constantly profaned by the flames of some awful, ancient ritual at the clearing’s centre. Unimaginable colour shooting up into space from a cyclopean obelisk. The Old Ones would be proud.” — 20jazzfunkgreats.co.uk
New Editions, Edition Ten.
Strange Forces.
Catalogue, NWAED10.
1. Intro 02:17
2. Soul Window 06:01
3. Love Rust 04:37
4. Hungry Ghost Nation 07:15
5. Drugs And Powers 04:15
6. Liquid Sunlight 04:26
7. Shizer In The Shadows 04:47
8. Midnight Plumage 11:14
Written and performed by Strange Forces.
All songs recorded at Studio East, Berlin, mixed by Ed East and mastered by Jaike Stambach; except for Intro, Love Rust, Midnight Plumage all recorded, mixed and mastered by desfontane.
