"The next big thing. The It band. We’ve been told this too often before. But join us tonite for THE RATIONAL ACADEMY and you’ll leave smugly, knowing this time Richard Kingsmill hasn’t beaten you to it!" - Faster Louder
Sophomore album "Swans" Available now on Someone Good featuring 10 new tracks produced by Lawrence English.
CLICK ALBUM ARTWORK TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY FOR $25 AUD INC POSTAGE NOW!
After a year of touring, countless collaborations and time spent in hibernation writing, Australia's psychedelic avant-pop collective The Rational Academy return with their sophomore release Swans. With Swans The Rational Academy set fire to
the edges of deconstructed pop, producing a record that typifies their unique vision of richly textured song. Colliding their trademarked harmonic density with a shimmering blur of distinct sonics, this collection is alive with luminous psychedelic anthems, acidic space-dirges, and depth-charged pop experimentation. It is an album that delivers a compelling journey through the outer rim of song-form and melody.
Swans also sees the Academy working closely with producer and arranger, Lawrence English - a collaboration that sought reinvention and transformation, each of the songs being built up and peeled back numerous times to reveal hidden
melodies, unusual rhythms and delicate processing. It also features contributions from post-everything musician Mike Cooper and Australian icon Heinz Riegler.
Swans, the second release in Someone Good’s ‘10 Songs In 20 Minutes’ series, glows with a charismatic energy and organic playfulness that confirms The Rational Academy’s place as one of Australia’s most progressive pop outfits.
"There is a fundamental difference between the motivations of experimental artists and a pop band: While the former demand respect, the latter want to be loved. The Rational Academy might see both dreams fulfilled at the same time with their very first album." - Tokafi (GER)
"This album reaches the parts Sonic Youth can't quite..." - Everett True, Plan B (UK)
"ALBUM OF THE WEEK. One of those rare albums that takes the fundamentals of the guitar band format and somehow organically expands upon that framework, incorporating the modernity of the electronic avant-garde without you even noticing you’re listening to something as awkward and experimental as it actually is. Massive Recommendation." - Boomkat (EUR)
"Overall this is an exhilirating listen. 4/5" - Sydney Morning Herald (AU)
"A meticulously crafted album that will have you begging for more - until then, the repeat button will have to do. 4.5" - Time Off (AU)
"A love affair begins. The first time I heard ’A Heart Against Your Own,’ the debut album from Brisbane band The Rational Academy, will forever be etched into my memory.....A love affair continues." - Scene Magazine (AU)
"This is a bedroom romantic’s My Bloody Valentine. Bedroomantica, that’s what The Rational Academy is. They know what they’re doing." - Audiversity (USA)
"It would be nice to think that one day all such music will be of this caliber, but for now we will have to be satisfied with these little diamonds." - Brainwashed (EUR)
"A rewarding discovery." - Beat Magazine (AU)
"Don't know. Haven't heard it yet beacause someone is A BAD FRIEND." -George Beleznay (UK)
2004. Brisbane's Fortitude Valley district battled sound restrictions and local kids ran back to early 90's DIY culture of house shows and home recordings amidst a subtropical climate. Somewhere close by The Rational Academy began writing songs.
Drawn together through a love of sonic lo-fi scree and pop music The Rational Academy began adjusting tuning pegs until melodies and clashing chords worked themselves into a meaningful translation - a distant nod in the direction of "guitar" bands coupled with tender regard towards the avante garde and experimental composers within contemporary culture.
The Rational Academy are currently working on a follow up to their debut album "A Heart Against Your Own" which won them critical aclaim throughout Europe, Japan and America as well as at home in Australia. Where The Academy differ their approach is the inclusion of local sound artist, composer and head of the experimental ROOM 40 label, Lawrence English, in the production seat transforming the simple pop meanderings of guitars, vocals and drums into involved sonic investigations of sound and space.
In their time together The Rational Academy have shared the stage with touring American groups Deerhunter, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Beach House, Novi Split, Japanese Electro Pop marvels Tujiko Noriko and Tenniscoats as well as Mum (Iceland), Spoon (USA), Dear Nora (USA), The Blow (USA), Sarah Dougher (USA), Scout Nibblet (UK), Holly Throsby, Art of Fighting, Love of Diagrams, Deloris, Guy Blackman, The Crayon Fields, Macromantics, Dappled Cities Fly and local stalwarts Turnpike, Shuriken and The Zebras.
In 2008 Benjamin teamed up with Go Betweens bassist Adele Pickvance for a weekend in the country writing pop songs at Magoo's Applewood Studios outside of Brisbane. the fruits of the weekend, a song called "The Velvets on the Stereo" is now available through itunes simply by clicking the link below. You can also stream the song from Benjamins own myspace page.
There are also a few of these left - This amazing compilation put out by our label last year features some amazing talent from the Asia Pacific region including The pancakes, Tenniscoats, Lullatone and of course ourselves :-p
There are very few left avaliable from Someonegood! (www.someonegood.org)
Discography
Swans - Someonegood 2009 CDLP A heart against your own - Someonegood 2008 CDLP Two Books / Handwritten Novels - Strong Cultures 2006 7"EP (drums) - Medical Records 2005 7"EP
Compilations
Stranded - Before Hollywood 2008 Asleep on Trains - hellosQuare 2007 Add to Friends - Someone Good 2007 Ladyfingers : Ladyfest Brisbane 2006 - Valve Records/MGM 2006 Feral Media Compilation - Feral Media/Inertia 2006 Ladyfest Compilation Volume 1 - Bookclub Records 2005
I'm absolutely loving "Swans" atm, it's a beautiful album, something to be absolutely proud of, I'm so glad I purchased it, means alot to me. Sincerely, Scott
"...it’s like Kid Strange and Urban Blitz from the Doctors of Madness at
their most morose played Overhang Party, or a mogadon’d Peter Hammill
jamming with Van Der Graaf’s Graham Smith. Elsewhere, the singular
desolation is most reminiscent of the most down down moments of Nico’s
THE MARBLE INDEX or even of Jesse Colin Young’s The Youngbloods at
their most mercurial. But the Scrapes are still so original their music
ultimately don’t sound like nobody but themselves." Julian Cope
..
Online Now!
