Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Raised amid the tawdry casino glitz of Queensland's Gold Coast, Gaslight Radio cut their teeth playing to surf jockeys and were once beaten up by their own security. Despite the privations, siblings Rory and Marty Cooke and cohorts developed an effervescent garage rock signature, not unlike countrymen The Vines after an impudence bypass. Z-Nation is the band's second album since sensibly relocating to Melbourne, and its 12 compact essays veer between driving melodic rock (Here Comes Easy), and Dreamy pop (The Cosmic Gun) with another soaring chorus never much further than a verse away. Vulnerable Australians? Whatever next? DAVID SHEPPARD - Q Magazine (UK)
....There are guitars aplenty on Z-Nation buzzing around like early Sonic Youth: adding to the dramatic vibe. But while the band have upped the noise quotient, the majestic Cosmic Gun and the ambient sketch I Miss Christmas suggest the dreamy atmospheric quality so integral to Gaslight Radio's sound is still intact.
These Melbourne-based Queenslanders sure have a unique gift for packing grand soundscapes into concise, melodic packages. And with few of the tracks on Z-Nation clocking over 3 minutes, there's no time for self-indulgent noodlings or wallpaper-like codas. Gersey they are not. Instead, with an album as well crafted, intelligent and instantly catchy as Z-Nation, Gaslight Radio have once again rejoined the elite of Australian indie rock. Here's just hoping that the hard luck monkey is now off their backs for good. DARREN LEVIN - Inpress Magazine (AUS)
Discography
2006: Unnamed, To be released May (Studio Album)
2004: Magic Castle Broke Songs (EP Compilation)
2003: Z-Nation (Studio Album)
1999; Sleeveful of Slight (7")
1998: Hitch on the Leaves (Studio Album)
1997: Is By Bus (EP), Our Dolelove (EP)
1996:Torchin Towns Hankerin Homes
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Gaslight Radio's third studio album is slated for release on Level Two/Shock in May 2006. Impressed by the songwriting prowess and unsettlingly beautiful and edgy guitar and vocals of Gaslight Radio's new collection of songs, Stephen Malkmus personally chose Gaslight Radio to join him on his December 2005 Australian tour shows. Now based in Melbourne & Sydney, Australia, Gaslight Radio formed in Burleigh Heads last century. At first no-one really liked them much on the Gold Coast so they drove around for a year, playing wherever they could get a show, releasing EP’s until eventually they never went home and moved to Melbourne. It was during this time that Gaslight Radio wrote and recorded their first album “Hitch on the Leaves”. The album found success, and because of this, the touring continued. The band suddenly found themselves in some wildly diverse situations. On the one hand, supports to feted international acts (Sparklehorse, Pulp, Teenage Fanclub, Pavement etc), and on the other, occasions like an attempted triumphant homecoming to the Gold Coast, where the band were beaten up by the security at The Rose and Crown in Surfers Paradise because the crowd weren’t dancing. Gaslight Radio signed a record deal with major label Silvertone and began work on the follow up to “Hitch on the Leaves”. Although never comfortable with Silvertone, the band went about their business and released a 7 inch EP entitled “Sleeveful of Slight” in late 1999. However the next two years would be a time of nervous meltdowns and personal upheavals for Gaslight Radio. Band members would come and go, the master tapes for their next album would be stolen and finally the relationship with Silvertone came to an end. After a strange start to the century, Gaslight Radio released their second album entitled “Z-Nation” on Love and Mercy Records in September 2003 to critical acclaim. Matt Bailey (ex Paradise Motel), a long time friend, joined the band (keys) after its release. The band reside in Melbourne. For an informative fansite, try www.gasradio.bur.st/ For management contact NOISE management po box 1427 Carlton 3053 Melbourne, Australia. For bookings, contact julian@perfectstrangers.com.au. Also checkout the fan based forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gaslight_radio/ for up to date goss...
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