The Vandas

Music

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General Info

Genre: Rock
Location Please select your region., Au
Profile Views: 84773
Last Login: 12/17/2011
Member Since 4/17/2006
Website www.thevandas.com
Record Label Liberation Music (www.liberation.com.au)
Type of Label Indie
Bio
It's taken a while for The Vandas to get to this point. All the doubts, fears and frustrations are put to rest. Four years after four gentlemen from west and north of the Murray River colluded in the southern capital, their first long play record is finally here. Despite expectations, borne of two well-received EPs, and a loyal live fanbase of punters and peers gathered everywhere from the corner pub to the big stage with the likes of You Am I, The Drones, and The Beasts of Bourbon, come 2007, The Vandas were drifting. An album was past due but the wheels were barely turning, scars still not faded. Enter Joel Silbersher. A chance meeting on the factory floor where Chris Altmann and Mikey Madden were workmates with the GOD, Hoss and Tendrils frontman, saw handshakes exchanged and studio bookings made. The record's aim was to be true to The Vandas' greatest strength: playing live. Right down to the choice of their favoured rehearsal studio, Soundpark in Northcote, Victoria, and their live mixer, Justin Hermes, to engineer. In one long day, they laid down fifteen songs intended as demo's for the album proper. But the performances and sounds were so visceral, so right for the songs - so right for The Vandas - that thoughts of tempting fate with 'proper' recordings were soon nixed. After two more days at Soundpark in the summer of '08, followed by two weeks mixing in glorious analogue by Ben Hurt at Newmarket Studios, the record was done. David Bromley's striking original paintings complete the album, providing a fittingly sardonic visual. The album's title, 'Slow Burn', comes from the final song put to tape, written between sessions and recorded in two takes. An apt title for a record that sees promises finally kept. 'Slow Burn' is honest, raw, heart-worn, and devoid of the arch pretence or tired detachment of those chasing the zeitgeist. Those familiar with The Vandas will recognise their classic melodies, barbed lyrics, and truly Australian sound throughout the record. But this time the delivery hits harder, the songs cut deeper. Great art is rarely offered from a place of comfort. The Vandas' scars are there for all to hear on 'Slow Burn'. Anyone left dazed and misused by the fickleness of love's hopes and diminished returns will find a redemptive affirmation in these ten songs. Time can lead to triumph. 'Slow Burn' is available now through Liberation Music.
Members
Gus Agars (drums, percussion, backing vocals) .. Chris Altmann (lead vocals, guitars, pedal steel guitar, keys) .. Julien Chick (bass, backing vocals) .. Mikey Madden (guitars, lead vocals) .. .. .. ..Management & Bookings.. .. Dan Craddock .. e: info(at)slowburnmusic(dot)com(dot)au .. m: +61 (0)419 626 903
Influences
Several
Sounds Like
"8/10 - This is rock the way it should sound – shambolic, energetic and exciting… the delivery is often enthralling.” ....Blunt Magazine, August 2008.. .. “4 stars - …the ballsy racket of Slow Burn is a grizzled-in-a-good-way insta-classic.” ....Jmag, August 2008.. .. “Feature Album: The wait has been worth it for one of the great albums of 2008.”....Rhythms, October 2008.. .. “4 stars - Play it at home, at the beach, in the car, play it all summer, play it loud and proud… the result is magic.” ....The Age, 7 November 2008.. .. “Promise more than fullfilled.” ....Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 2008.. .. "...make no mistake, this is a hugely likeable album... their next release will be pounced on." ....Mess + Noise, 10 December 2008.. .. “‘Slow Burn’ gets As for Arse-kicking and Attitude… their spiritual heartland is the spot where Keith Richards and Gram Parsons merged the contents of their cowboy boots…” ....Rolling Stone, November 2008.. .. “It’s great to hear a local band that’s not chasing trends and is instead whipping up its own intoxicating brew. Don’t be deceived by the title, ‘Slow Burn’ is definitely incendiary. Ragged glory.” ....MAG, September 2008.. .. “…those who like their rock to have some sweat and smoke to it should make this a priority.” ....Australian Guitar, November 2008.. .. “4 1/2 stars - …this is an album that has real depth and lasting vitality. How many recent releases can you say that about?” ....i-94 Bar, September 2008.. .. “Album of the Week - The Vandas have returned with an album that is as much a statement of the band’s evolution as it is an illustration of rock’n’roll quality.” ....Beat, 13 August 2008.. .. “…surely a contender for Australian album of the year.” ....Inpress, 10 September 2008.. .. “Indie Album of the Week” ....The Brag, 18 August 2008.. .. “The Vandas really do step up to the plate and deliver on Slow Burn… simply a great album!” ....Rip It Up, 5 November 2008.. .. "...plant Slow Burn into any period in the last half a century or so and no-one would find it out of place. The Vandas rely on the timelessness of awesome rock’n’roll to create the ultimate time-travelling soundtrack." ....Time Off, 8 October 2008.. .. “…it’s that sense of not overplaying the material to keep it sharp that makes ‘Slow Burn’ work as well as it does.” ....Rave Magazine, 10 September 2008.. .. "4/5 - Dirty, bluesy, rock, call it what you want, this album is a winner." ....Reverb Magazine, September 2008.. .. “…a cracking debut from one of Melbourne’s best live bands.” ....Forte, August 2008.. .. “You will finish this album feeling as though you have known The Vandas forever. Original, intriguing and nostalgic. What more could you want from this Melbourne rock band's first LP?” ....FasterLouder, 27 October 2008.. .. “Freewheeling lead guitar, impassioned vocals… bluesy licks reminiscent of Lynard Skynard. Unrefined, organic sound separates this Melburnian band from its auto-tuned contemporaries.” ....The Daily Telegraph, October 2008.. .. “…a swaggering, fuzzy and elegantly sloppy classic rock album… great melodies and classic guitar tones make this one a must-have.” ....Xpress, August 2008.. .. “Feature Album” ....4ZzZ FM, 6-13 October 2008.. .. “Feature Album: …a winning record and a rewarding experience… if you’re looking for a band that you just know would sound even better with the warm crackle that vinyl brings then The Vandas are definitely your best bet.” ....TUNE!FM, 8 September 2008.. .. “4 stars - They rifle through rock’s back pages but there’s none of Jet’s star-tripping here, as they conjure up everybody from The Band to early Elvis Costello, relying on feel instead of bluster.” ....Who Weekly, September 2008.. .. “4 1/2 stars - Sounds like a Cuban cigar - slow burning, fat and addictive.” ....Ralph Magazine, September 2008.. .. “…a sound as raw as the scabs on a skateboarder’s knees and a delivery as passionate as a drunk Frenchman talking about pastries” ....People Magazine, August 2008.. .. “This really is a contender for album of the year.” ....The Dwarf, August 2008.. .. “4 stars - One of the better, far-reaching talents from our fair city of Melbourne. This ten track album makes up for lack of length with each track selling itself.” ....Buzz Magazine, October 2008.. .. “Single of the Week [Know It All] - …restrained guitars that wail in just the right spots, nasty lyrics and thumping drums all add to up to what can only be described as proper rock’n’roll.” ....Time Off, 23 July 2008.. .. "Single Pick [Know It All] - ...Sounding like The Hold Steady covering The Saints, Know It All doesn’t rewrite the rule book but it enjoys spilling a pint or two over some of the important rock chapters." ....Rip It Up, July 2008..