We are a garage psych trio from Brisbane, Australia. We've been playing together since 2007. Our debut record, Fur Release, was pieced together from various bedroom recordings and ridiculous, trial-and-error rehearsal room drum takes. Mercifully, four of the record's nine tracks were recorded and mixed by Glenn Agnew at Valley Studios. Fur Release is available at shows and at select online/retail stores for $10. It's out through our label, Young Fauna. You can get it from:
For bookings MySpace us or email idle.cranes@gmail.com.
For release or media enquiries please contact us through our label, Young Fauna, at young.fauna@gmail.com.
"I hadn't seen Idle Cranes in quite a while, in fact I had no idea that they'd changed from a quartet to a trio. One of the guitarists has since switched to bass and they have a new drummer. The new lineup works much better - previously there had been a disconnect between what the band seemed to be attempting to create (hazy, distorted psychedelic rock) and what they were actually putting across. The new lineup (and I dare say some new songs with a stronger sense of direction) seems heavier, groovier and more intense. By the time Idle Cranes hit the stage the room was hot, humid and mildy oppressive, but with the entire audience standing right at the foot of the stage the atmosphere was totally conducive to this sort of suffocatingly loud, druggy rock'n'roll. Previously the band had struck me as a pretty decent psych-rock act, but after this Hangar set I was seriously impressed. They're now on my 'have to check these guys out again soon' list." - Cam, Before Hollywood
"This penultimate Common People club night is headlined by Idle Cranes, who’re sonically dissimilar to Stature, but almost as appealing. Difficult to classify yet hard to dislike, the trio are consistently impressive while navigating genre-diverse territory. Across eight songs, they move from lo-fi punk to indie rock, and from My Disco-influenced jarring repetition to blistering Kyuss-like stoner rock passages, as in set closer Two Horse Race. Vocals are split between Jon and Jakeb, who trade shouts and harmonies as required. Rulebook? What rulebook? Idle Cranes are governed by no such thing. Ordinarily, this might suggest a dilution of an act’s musical quality, but their refusal to adhere to stylistic particulars works in their favour. Like a Swiss Army knife, they offer several functions without a sacrifice in quality or proficiency. They enjoy an enthusiastic response, before a dance-eager crowd applauds their conclusion and the DJ’s recommencement." - Andrew McMillen, Rave Magazine
LULZ "Idle Cranes have the sort of classic black-clad swagger and thrust that says "Hey little girl, is your daddy home?". The message isn't delivered in late night balladeer mode though. It explodes from the band in waves of psychedelic rock wash. Tight as you like, and highly likely to excite..." - Those cheeky Hangar kids
hey...apologies again for the weekend...i imagine there were hundreds waiting @ 5pm all teary eyed etc. Hope night went off...couldn't make it back, christmas party season renders cabs impossible...ended up walking from south brisbane to toowong (with a nap in the middle)
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.
Hey guys, thanks for the add. I saw you guys at Ric's once and was bowled over by your boyish charms and matinee-idol good looks... oh yeah, and your tunes.
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