Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Lonesome Wyatt & The Holy Spooks, Soursob Bob, John Baker Duo, Joan Baez, Smoke, The Audreys, Antony & The Johnsons, The Pogues, Ataraxia, The Deadfly Ensemble, Johnny Cash, Baterz, Edgar Allan Poe, Cinema Strange, Paul Williams, The Dresden Dolls, CW Stoneking, The Decemberists, The Yearlings, Paul Kelly, The Dirty Three, David Bowie, REM, Lewis Carroll, Absinthe...
Sounds Like
Enchantingly melancholic, beautifully tragic, strangely uplifting... 'uplifting'?? no, really!!
2009 LP THE RED COATS: Available in Europe from Black Rain Records; Australian availability TBA soon....
You can also buy a copy of JACK DAVEY from BIGSTAR Records (Adelaide City, Norwood, Magill, Marion), MR V Records (City), and directly from the band at live shows (free badges & discount prices for live show purchases!). The EP will also soon be available through the Black Rain mail order catalogue. Details TBA.
Brillig does NOT use Autotune on its recordings. Never has, never will.
"Curiously dark in the tradition of Lewis Carroll, both lyrically and in mannerism, Brillig possess an odd quality that imbues adept story-telling with days-gone-by poetic flair." - DB MAGAZINE (Australia)
If the slide show stops, click the 'x' in the top right corner to restart...
**NEW** REVIEWS OF LATEST LP "The Red Coats" (May 2009)
..
"The
band conjures sounds like I have never heard before, unique
style, unique playing and superior production. This
is a very special gem within the vast ocean
of imports [to Europe]! The listener is inclined to be absorbed
into a musical world of charm, elegance and distinctiveness.
One feels immediately invited and starts a journey through areas
that are already close to a fairytale land, filled by many evil
villains, crooks and broken hearts. All in all, "The Red
Coats" to my ears, is a total work of art."-
MEDIENKONVERTER (Germany)
"The
Red Coats has become a masterpiece that you can not
readily pass up. Driven by guitars, viola, harmonica,
banjo, piano, accordion and ukulele we hear musical
pearls full of fragility and grace. Whether it's a
vibrant waltz or a delicate love song, then a classic alternative-guitar
track, "The Red Coats" is so complex that the disc
MUST be heard several times to cover all the
subtleties and refinements within. The content keeps you safely
within the nasty and bitter stories of great storytellers
like Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave or Tom Waits. And that
is exactly what makes the charm of the disc: pleasing music."-
USELINKS (Germany)
"After
many years in the scene you hear alot of music, and thus I am
not so easily impressed. However, BRILLIG has definitely
succeeded is rising from the mass of other artists out
to get noticed. BRILLIG has this magical "not-of-this-world
touch, which you also hear with The Birthday Massacre.
Among the other influences to be heard include Neil
Young and Nick Cave. Upon listening, one thinks of
fresh air after the rain, walks in the park with a pond
and swans. No wonder that the band is able to attract
different audiences, from country music fans and Goths to indie
and more. Absolutely recommendable."-
DARK MOMENTS (Germany)
"The
young and eclectic Brillig have put forth a full length album
of purely acoustic tracks, based on melancholy lyrics,
torn between dark fables, the "Murder Ballads"
of their fellow countryman Nick Cave, and the
funerary laments found in key folk themes that we would expect
to find among the endless American prairies, down to Lousiana.
Starting with a look deliberately old-fashioned, arriving to
the sound captured by ukulele and banjo, the quartet of "the
land of kangaroos" overcomes any anachronistic prejudices,
presenting twelve wonderful songs accompanied
by guitars and harmonicas, with timeless duets filled
with rich vocal nuances and feeling, as in the first
track "Death At Sea" or the next title track. The
deep and musical voice of Matt Swayne creates
a thick atmosphere and infuses every track ( "The Frozen
Lake" and "Absinthe makes The Heart Grow Fonder"
are examples), while the sweet vocals of Elizabeth Reid embroider
the counterpoints with a crystalline and vibrating tone
filling every dramatic note (listen to "Bird from
the ashes" and "The Old Captain" for an idea).
When the two voices blend and chase the decadent notes of songs
like "Phantom's Dream" or "Assorted Fate,"
the atmosphere thickens with a magic charm.
Charm that increases with each listen to this excellent
work of music, where style & experimentation create a nostalgic
combination, wise and genuine. 8 out of 10"-
BABYLON MAGAZINE (Italy)
"Songs
such as "Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" reflects
the excellent lyrical content of Brillig...
the beautiful vocals by Matt Swayne & Elizabeth
Reid (partly also in the duet), in combination with the sophisticated
instrumentation give the listener one catchy
moment after another -- madness! Older individuals
who like Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds need not consider whether
they'll like "The Red Coats" of Brillig -
it's a compulsory purchase."-
KULTUR TERRORISMUS (Germany)
"The
Australians have suceeded in delivering twelve beautiful, melancholic
and tragic stories that need to be heard. Rarely have
two excellent voices blended together so well."-
WHISKY SODA (Germany)
"Brillig deliver with "The Red Coat" a beautiful
piece of music that not only the Cheshire Cat, the
white rabbit and Alice will love. A truly consciousness,
mature and well designed brew on the way to the next
trip into Wonderland. 8 out of 10"
-
SCHWARZE NEWS (Germany)
....
*
NEWS HEADLINES
(SEE BLOGS FOR DETAILS)
* BRILLIG'S WGT FESTIVAL (Leipzig, Germany) DETAILS (& more Black Rain Bands) (posted 27 May '09)
* Brillig lands in Triple J Unearthed Featured Music (posted 5 Mar '09)
* Brillig is number 3 for 2008 on Three D Radio (posted 27 Jan '09)
* Brillig is invited to overseas festival in May 2009 (posted 17 Nov '08)
*
More Quotes: WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS ARE SAYING...
..
'the
Australians manage to create an enticing, dreamily romantic, twisted and sinister
melancholy feeling, which captivates their listeners and stimulates their power
of imagination.'
- ORKUS
(German version)
'incredible
enchantment that distills the songs' 'the magic, the enchantment, the irresistible
attraction that you encounter is something purely visceral and inexplicable'
'8.75 out of 10' -
MENTENEBRE
(Spain)
"...an admirable synthesis of class
and cleverness" - VERSACRUM
(Italy)
"The
instrumentation is beautifully apt, beautifully played and the
clarity of the recording is gorgeous."
- MUSIC
SA (Australia)
"Brillig
possess simultaneously a very airy, graceful, sensual and saturated
contemporary sound" -
MACHINIST (Russia)
"we
have an important band here, that now will have fans not only in the Outback
but also in Europe. Art-full music." -
ELEKTRAUMA
(Germany)
"shines
like a diamond in the constantly self-copying music scene."
- GROUND
UNDER PRODUCTIONS (Australia)
"I
hope that Brillig, from now on, becomes important in this scene, not only at
level of its native Australia but at the level of the entire world."-
MENTENEBRE
(Spain)
A decadent,
beautiful and sophisticated recording with the wonderful music of dual vocals
and an airy, graceful and sensual modern sound, with a clearly defined curtsy
to the rich heritage of gothic Europe and the Americas' -
EVERYTHING SYNTH (Russia)
Desperate
decadent ideas, yet somehow also positive, organic and wonderful' - MACHINIST (Russia)
*
BRILLIG IS HEADING TO EUROPE IN 2009...
(See Upcoming Gigs and the Blogs for details)
Sanctuary.CZ presents Brillig in Prague, 23rd May
*
BRILLIG BIOGRAPHY
Combining sea shanties, murder ballads, tender tales of lost love & lost life, Brillig's inimitable style is enchantingly melancholic, beautifully tragic, & strangely uplifting...
With a deliciously dark look & captivating stage presence, Brillig draws its audience in with their command of infectious melodies and sweet harmonies. This dreamily romantic style draw influence from such noted songwriters & storytellers as Nick Cave, The Decemberists, Leonard Cohen & Neil Young.
Driven by the vocal harmony & interplay between lead singers and multi-instrumentalists Matt Swayne & Elizabeth Reid, Brillig's trademark sound features a graceful combination of acoustic guitar, viola, autoharp, harmonica, banjo, piano accordion and ukulele. Bassist Denni Meredith combines rich and thoughtful melody with smooth rhythm, while drummer Ben Macklin (ex-Bit By Bats) adds his superb & subtle percussive style.
Brillig have have performed across Australia, supporting such acclaimed acts as The Handsome Family (USA), The Audreys, CW Stoneking, Ned Collette, Sime Nugent, Mick Thomas, Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra and many more. Previous recordings have earned national and international airplay (including the number 3 spot on the Italian Alternative Chart alongside Interpol and The Editors), and the band's 2007 releases have received glowing reviews across the globe, from the UK to Italy, Russia to Germany and beyond.
Signed to Germany's Black Rain indie label for European releases, whilst remaining independent in Australia, Brillig recently released five track EP "Jack Davey" on Halloween (31st October 2008). The EP stayed on the Three D Radio charts for nearly 2 months, taking out the number 1 spot twice in a row on the weekly airplay charts and landing at number 3 out of 101 recordings for 2008.
In May 2009, Brillig follow up the EP's success with the release of their debut acoustic full LP "The Red Coats" across Europe, UK, Russia and North America. The 12 track album was recorded by famed South Australian producer Matt Hills (Wolf & Cub, The Lucksmiths), and its release coincides with the band's international festival debutin Leipzig (Germany) in May 2009, along with dates in Berlin & Prague.
*
ABOUT BRILLIG'S LIVE SHOWS
Brillig's live performances are truly an 'event.' Known for theatricality & elaborate stage settings, the band captivates their audience visually & sonically.
As Brillig take their name from the poem "Jabberwocky" in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, it's only fitting that their recent stage set featured a 'Mad Tea Party' theme & Wonderland atmosphere.
This otherworldly style has attracted fans from all walks of life; indie kids, roots -n- blues afficionados, goths and Americana folk enthusiasts. The eclectic crowd is often so attentive you can hear a pin drop.
Able to perform as a duo, trio or full four-piece band, Brillig suits any stage from the intimate to the immense - a versatility that has seen them play all styles of venues across Australia, from cafes & pubs to theatres and festival stages.
Brillig has played every state in Australia except WA & NT, and in May 2009 the band heads to Europe for the first time to capitalise on their growing international fanbase. A return visit is planned for 2010.
Black & white photos by Jason Sifis.
*
SUPER 8 VIDEO CLIP: 'Followed' (2004)
"Come away to the
carnival, where hypnotic clowns, mouths agape & silent, watch an ageless
menagerie aboard merry-go-rounds. Neon spins, rises, pulse - menacing by day,
frantic by night. Fall forward into the light, and always, always follow the
white rabbit...."
This is one of Brillig's 1st film clips for a very early acoustic track, shot on the band's beloved Super 8 camera on location at the Adelaide Royal Show & 'Marilyn Mansion' many moons ago - check out how short their hair is!!
..
.. .. ..>
*
MINI DOCUMENTARY: Twas Brillig (2008)
Sample Text Productions Presents: 'Twas Brillig' (5:55 minutes)
A mini-documentary & special project by: Nick Page (Producer, Sound); Peter Kumic (Director, Script); Peter Cleary (Editor, Cameraman). Filmed June 2008 at the Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide (South Australia).
Thank you again for the wgt-concert and now for the add. "the red coats" ist brillant, amazing, wonderful ... i dont find the right word ... just BRILLIG! all the best for you!!! Norbert
Oh-hoh - you are! :-P Thanks for way too much fun... just going through photos now and having big giggles :-D And of course the Schauspielhaus was the bestest Brillig gig ever! Let's do it again soon!!! N&N
Thanks for adding me! I really enjoyed your music before I attended your show in Leipzig - now I love it! Please, come back to Germany some day not too far in the future! And please kick the postman's ass, so I get your new album soon! (Too bad I missed the meet&greet - session in agra hall)
Hello dear friends! Thanks so much for adding us! It was really great to meet you in Leipzig! Wonderful concert! ;-) We hope that we will see very soon!! Hugs from Barcelona!! Sergio & Núria
Thank you very much for your support! We really appreciate it. Just subscribe to our blog if you want to stay up to date. May the force be we with all of us:-)
And for all others: Just add us to your profile if you like our sound. We make real music for real people.
By the way: Our CD "Let's talk about" is now worldwide online available as download (for example on iTunes). Enjoy!
Hey dear friends, thank you so much for your friendship. We like your stuff so much. As Nadine already told we are anxious for your new album! So hope to meet you Stev and the whole Novalis deux team
Morgen (Donnerstag 23.04) MEGAHERZ SPEZIAL beim Black-Demon-Radio!!!
Schaut doch mal rein und gewinnt eine der neuen CDs von Megaherz (Totgesagte Leben Länger) und drei Autogrammkarten, weiterhin gibts das Interview, das Rio Black mit Lexx (Sänger von Megaherz) führte, zu hören und jede Menge megaherzliche Musik !!!!!! ;-)
Direkt zum Radio-Stream : www.black-demon-radio.net/listen.pls
Direkt zur Radio Homepage: www.black-demon-radio.net