When one thinks of the Gold Coast, the boys from ELKE wouldn’t exactly be what springs to mind. But when you hear the rhythms that are driven as the pounding sea and the melodies that blaze as bright as the sun, the connection becomes all too clear.
ELKE was designed as a response to what it’s four members wanted so badly to hear in the Gold Coast music scene. Beginning in late 2007, the boys spent close to six months simply as a recording band before their first gig amongst the Queensland finalists of the MTV Kickstart competition. It wasn’t long before people started to take notice of ELKE’s infectious self-produced recordings and the shows began to line up around the block. Having shared the Goodvibes stage with acts such as Chromeo, The Presets, and Fatboy Slim, ELKE have also played support slots for international groups, Datarock (Norway), Ratatat (USA) as well as Australian wunderkinds, Grafton Primary, Van She, Lost Valentinos, and Art Vs Science.
From humble beginnings recording in a bedroom, the ELKE sound has developed into a unique and powerful style that is unmistakable. Zach (Vocals/Keys), Dave (Guitar/Keys), Joel (Drums), and James (Bass) write songs possessed of a classic pop sensibility, but with an independent flair that rises from the deepest realms of good taste.
“The Gold Coast’s Elke play a set of gentle synth pop songs at the Fire Stage, and the small crowd sway along blissfully in the early afternoon heat. In years to come, these scruffy youngsters will definitely be moving higher up the bill at festivals like these.”
- Parklife - 26th September 09 - Rave
“Fresh from the launch of their debut EP, local lads Elke are first on tonight’s bill. Elke play gentle synth pop tunes straight from the soundtrack of an ‘80s John Hughes flick,.... they are quickly shaping up to be an excellent live band”
- The Zoo - 12th August 09 - Rave
Just letting you know, my EP "Imaginary Mind" has finally arrived! It can be bought from my website for $10, which is found on my page, and along with that i have also uploaded two songs from it! So please have a listen if you have time, would be great to hear what you think!
Brisbane outfit Toy Balloon will release their debut album Toy Division on
November 8 through Lofly Records, and to celebrate will perform an east coast
launch tour throughout November.
Formed in 2007, Toy Balloon was
originally a fledgling two-piece made up by Nimai Etheridge’s uniquely melodic
wall-of-sound guitar and Greg Cooper’s beautiful sequenced electronic
compositions. The band have since matured into a four piece featuring Chloe
Cooper (Mr Maps) on key boards and Ben Green on drums.
The album was
recorded and mixed at the Lofly Hangar in Brisbane, a DIY performance space that
Toy Balloon has been an integral part of creating. Fostering emerging artists
and left-of-centre music, the Hangar acts as a performance space, recording
studio, and meeting place; and has resulted in a record with a rich, layered
sound reminiscent of New Order, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, and LCD
Soundsystem.
Catch Toy Balloon launch Toy Division at a venue near you
this Oct/ November.
TOY BALLOON TOUR DATES:
Brisbane- Thursday 29
October- The Zoo, Fortitude Valley w/ Moon Jog, Tin Can Radio and Doom
Doom.
Sydney- Wednesday 4 November- ‘Upstarts’ at Spectrum, Darlinghurst
w/ Convaire and Black Bear Brown Bear
Sydney- Thursday 5 November- Oxford
Arts Factory, Darlinghurst w/ World Champion and others
Melbourne-
Saturday 7 November- Pony, Melbourne w/ Love Connection and
Aoi
Melbourne- Sunday 8 November- El Joyero, Melbourne
Toy
Division is released November 6 on Lofly Records, with distribution through MGM.
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Online Now!
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