Sparklehorse, Eels, Beck, Sufjan, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Elliott Smith, The Beach Boys, Clinic, Pavement, Nico, Phil Spector, William S Burroughs, David Lynch, JD Salinger.
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The Model School’s new album Memory Walls is out on October 23 thru Packaged Light/Shock
ORDER NOW - $19 in Australia, $23 Rest of Universe - PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE!!
Early Reviews:
"this year's best kept secret...heirs to the alt rock throne" - Beat
"Memory Walls cements them ahead of the curve as thrilling innovators" - thedwarf.com.au
"a very cool album" - Rip It Up
THE MODEL SCHOOL – MEMORY WALLS
The brain is a complex, labyrinthine construction, bursting at the seams with a jumble of faded memories, half-remembered dreams, thought patterns both logical and utterly illogical, rivers of melody and waves of ever-changing experience.
Unlike the soul - which is invariably dark, heavy, troubled and torn - like meeting the grim reaper during a thunderstorm on a dusty highway. At night.
Plotting an aural journey through one’s mind, whether real or imagined, is therefore a journey fraught with danger but rich in potential plunder. Wandering blind around the recesses of the mind is not as simple as logging onto e-Bay to buy Townes Van Zandt’s entire back catalogue. It’s a multi-layered look at the atomised state of your very being, as likely to plunge you into the fog of confusion as it is to leave you bathed in the light of glorious truths.
When Brendan Wixted enlisted the services of Scott Horscroft and stepped through the doors of his Big Jesus Burger studio to record his 2nd album, he didn’t know he was about to sculpt a sonic document as vivid, broad and as life affirming as Memory Walls. He didn’t even know what a Memory Wall looked like. He still doesn’t, but he has developed a real taste for Jesus Burgers.
Blurring the lines between perception and tangible reality, the dream-like creations that spilled forth fused the time-shifting surreality of David Lynch with the vibrancy of a genuine Warhol copy. Have you ever tried dancing an un-square dance whilst your legs were on fire? Have you ever sung along to a chorus of We’re All Gonna Die as if your life depended on it? Brendan Wixted soon learned that these weren’t just mirrors to the soul, but prisms of the mind; fractured, hazy, heartfelt and quite possibly psychotic. Walking amongst the chaotic debris of his memories, in a vast and vibrant playground strewn with love, death, skeletons and broken guitar strings, taught BW three valuable lessons.
1) Sometimes to move forward you have to look back
2) Never wear your finest Cowboy ensemble down the disco
3) 1 Jesus Burger = 2 Devil Sandwiches
More importantly, he realised that a life worth living is a life worth remembering.
He also realised he needed to recruit a bunch of individuals to translate his songs into living swathes of vibrant technicolour bright enough to radiate out across the universe and beyond in real time. Luckily the other members of The Model School were cut from the same gingham cloth and shared his love of Cosmic Country, psychedelic synths, William S.Burroughs, Glen Campbell and the Beach Boys. They were only too happy to heed his clarion call, quickly bringing fire and light to songs built on a foundation of pathos, pop and joyful celebration.
Armed with their now trademark Casio ‘n’ Western ™ sound The Model School sit gazing toward the horizon, emboldened by experience, energised and ready for whatever life or death may bring. Having climbed musical mountains, crossed barren terrain and walked through walls, nothing will now stop them from spreading the gospel of Brendan Wixted’s singularly skewed sonic vision. One things for sure: we’re all gonna die, but we’re gonna have a lot of fun in the process.
- Walter Faken, 2009
CHECK OUT OUR FREE DOWNLOAD / VIRTUAL 7" RELEASED SEPT 28, 2009
A. ITS HARD TO DANCE WHEN YOUR LEGS ARE ON FIRE
B. LITTLE MAN (non album track)
....ALSO AVAILABLE - THIS IS NOT MY TOWN - RELEASED MAY 2009
**LTD EDITION CD SINGLE ONLY AVAILABLE AT SHOWS AND VIA MAIL ORDER**
Released May 1, 2009
Tracklisting:
1. This Is Not My Town (radio edit)
2. Controversy
3. Singer.Songwriter.Loser
4. This Is Not My Town (40c Version)
REVIEWS :
"Nostalgia for 40-cent arcade games and the fact that you can't go home again...and a shot at Prince's Controversy as redone for a David Lynch soundrack. Excellent." - Drum Media (Sydney)
"Complete with hand-scribbled only-by-mail-order artwork, "This Is Not My Town" is at the better end of Australian lo-fi/DIY pop. Artfully layered and with just the right amount of naif blinky synths mixed in with its dreamy vocals and stuttery drums - The Model School are still in the running towards becoming Australia's next top models. SINGLE OF THE WEEK - Inpress (Melbourne)
"A blissfully fuzzy meditation on growing up and losing track of the world....a heaving sea of blips,beeps,breathy harmonies and hopeful swells of guitar. Great melody, gorgeous production" - Beat Magazine (Melbourne)
"A fantastic slice of care-free pop" - Polaroids of Androids
ALL COPIES WILL BE HAND-COLOURED AND NUMBERED (1-500):
ORDER NOW - $7 in Australia, $10 Rest of Universe - PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE!!
BIOGRAPHY
Past
From Brendan, 2006: "The Model School opened in 2004, with a lo-fi EP recorded on an outdated 4-track tape machine. To say that tape machine was essential to my existence would be an understatement as I used it almost everyday for the five years prior to releasing my EP. I did think about recording my EP in a proper studio. I even thought about going to Iceland to record in Sigur Ros' studio - a converted swimming pool, surely that'd look impressive in the CD liner notes!". Well, after finding out how much things cost in Iceland that didn't happen. I did go to Iceland though, and while I was there, I decided it was time to reveal my home recordings once I got back to Australia. In late 2004, I self-released these home recordings on an EP called Demonstration Disk.
Reviews for debut album "Alarm Clock Radiation" (2006):
"Putting his deft touch to every sound bar drums, every one of the dozen tunes oozes charm and tells a tale - some tongue in cheek others simply beautiful - in what signals his arrival as one of our finest songsmiths. There are nods to several influences, namely Neil Young, The Eels, Beck and Bowie, and Wixted dares to experiment successfully. This is arguably the Australian album of the year (****)" - Scott Podmore, Melbourne Herald Sun
"The title track will ensure fans take a synth rather than a guitar to the campfire. Best of all, you could strip away the bells and whistles and the haunting beauty of the songs would still shine through. Sydney has soul after all (****)" - Rebecca Barry, NZ Herald
"Alarm Clock Radiation isn't diminished by repeated play. The Model School has a genuine charm, but is never content to be merely affable." - Craig Mathieson, The Age
"Indie Album of The Week ... School's In!! (****) - Brag
In 2006 the debut album "Alarm Clock Radiation" was released thru Shiny Records, to widespread critical acclaim. 2006 also saw The Model School as a live band play with such luminaries as Okkervil River, Bluebottle Kiss and The Phoenix Foundation - as well as album launches in both Brisbane and Melbourne.
Present
The Model School have had a busy 2009 - first off releasing a hand coloured and numbered single (This Is Not My Town), then a virtual 7" for free (Its Hard To Dance When Your Legs Are On Fire), all the while entertaining the public with live shows around the country - playing with the likes of Handsome Furs and No Through Road.
Album 2 "Memory Walls" is merely days away - a vibrant collage of sounds recorded over the course of a year with one of Australia's best producers Scott Horscroft. Check it out, and then head down to an album launch near you - all shows are free.
Just wanted to drop by and say excellent shows in Melbourne over the weekend! Also 'Memory Walls' is a fantastic follow up album. Great work and look forward to seeing you play next time.
Sorry for not having been in touch awhile - been rather busy! Just wanted to say that your valued friendship continues to be appreciated. Have you checked out my MySpace and web site (www.faberoptime.com) recently? Oh and did you subscribe for my free newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!)? You might also like to take a look at some of my vids on my YouTube channel too! www.youtube.com/faberoptime Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
Bonjour Thanks for the friendly add I really appreciate your interesting and good sounds in your music Best wishes from France (Follow me on twitter.com/pascal95 ) Pascal
Hey Guys, the hopetown was an awesome gig on Fri, Respect!!! even to the sound guy. It sounded great out front.I took some crap photo's on my phone which I will up load and send you soon. Up to you if you want to use them, I am not a photographer so I wont be offended if you delete them. See you next Sydney Gig. Cheers, Brendon Jay
Hey guys - we had an awesome time on Friday. One of the funnest gigs we've done - your crowd is totally full of polite and friendly souls. We had a great night overall. Wold love to do it again sometime. Steve
Hey Model School, thanks for a top night out on friday night at the Old Bar, great night. Thoroughly enjoyed the Pure Pop records gig as well...what a top notch place to play! Love those cheese toasties! Luv Lyn and the Melbourne Live Crew
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