Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
It may seem like lazy journalism to reference Rancid when describing local punk rock trio The Black Market. Perhaps - but the fact of the matter is on their second LP TO ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE, they've drawn heavily on LIFE WON'T WAIT -era Rancid. But the derivative nature of their music does not detract from the quality of their record.
Rather than sounding like a band aping their heroes, The Black Market combine elements one associates with LIFE WON'T WAIT, and distil them into their own songs. The interchanging vocalists, the unmistakeably Matt Freeman-influenced bass lines, the occasional keyboard flourish, the Ragga upstroke guitars are all reminiscent of Tim Armstrong and co.
Sure there's a few moments of variance, like the jig-inducing, Pogues influenced "If you call out my name" and the straight ahead punk rock of "Toowoomba Riot" and "Bright Lights". TO ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE is a politically-charged record that oozes energy, and The Black Market have made a record that communicates the anger that burdens them. - Time Off Wed Dec 13 2006
Discography
Subtle as a Brick (2005)
To All Corners of the Globe (2006)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Black Market was formed out of the old school punk scene in Brisbane Australia (where The Saints emerged). Toby Market and Easy Steve Reed are old friends who have been playing guitar together since their early teens. Bryce Responsible joined the band two years ago and The Black Market began recording in earnest.
The first album Subtle as a Brick (2005) received acclaim in Brisbane, selling 1500 copies independently and being described as the No 1 Punk Release for 2005 by Rave Magazine in Queensland.
Early in 2006, the band joined forces with Wernher Pramschuffer of Great Music and went to Rockinghorse Studios at Byron Bay for three weeks to record fourteen new songs. Toby Market told Tsunami Magazine of the experience: “It was really enlightening. Peace, quiet and serenity are not really hallmarks of The Black Market but the time it gave us to really think about what we were doing and why we were there helped in the end.”
And in the end, To All Corners of the Globe (2006) was born. The album is an amazing mix of punk, ska, reggae and blues bonded together with the energy and passion of musicians who have great faith in music. The Black Market believe the real purpose of music is to effect social change. Toby Market says “We think a lot about humanity at Black Market HQ. We have all been labelled idealistic, even hippies, for the way we see the world. Basically, this is official Black Market ideology: if everyone woke up tomorrow and decided not to hurt anybody else and to do the best by their friends and neighbours, then the world would be a better place.” The whole ethos of To All Corners of the Globe reflects this ideology with songs about oppression and injustice juxtaposed against songs about the power of unity and friendship. It’s positive and designed to uplift.
The songs, particularly Let’s Have A Word are receiving airplay across Australia on Triple J, Bay FM and 4ZZZZ and the album, distributed through Reverberation, is selling well. The filmclip of the song has been shown nationally on Rage (the ABC).
For The Black Market, music and lifestyle go hand in hand. As Toby Market explains: “Popular music comes and goes, trends come and go but the underground punk scene of Australia and the world will always be here. Although a lot of people try, what we have is something that cannot be faked.” And that sums this band up: not fake, real people playing real music for the real enjoyment of their burgeoning fan base.
www.myspace.com/theblackmarketband
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