The Forgotten Army
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The Forgotten Army

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This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"LIVE REVIEW SECTION - Smoking Guns Sessions - The Forgotten Army"

...."This is the night of the gratuitously rock epics," joked The Forgotten Army's front-man Nick Jones. Steady gigging and consistent performances have paid off, as evidenced by the swelling of the crowd arriving in time for the headliners. Opening with big chords on the keys and booming drums, the Army introduced themselves. As the show warmed up, the audience inched forward closing the gap between stage and the seating. Highlight numbers from the set included 'Welcome to the Cult' with its sinister melody, the percussive 'If you want me come and get me' and 'All I Need'. Deciding not to rush home and catch the last of Rove, the next challenge is to find a bar where smoking and drinking still co-exists.

By Fiona Cameron
30/8/05 - Drum Media


"Annandale Hotel 5th Birthday Party - 78 Saab, Pinky Tuscadero, Holy Soul, The Dolly Rocker Movement, Model School, The Forgotten Army"

What a night! I knew it was gonna be a big task covering six bands but what a pleasure it was.The Forgotten Army kicked off proceedings and after seeing the keyboard and cello on stage while they were setting up, I knew we were all up for something special. Melodious rock, full of heart and soul. In only 12 months the band has created a style distinctively their own.Earlier this year they hit Melbourne and as recently as May, headed west to hook up with Perth band Halogen for some gigs. I was fortunate to have a quick chat with the band's manager Matt Croft who informed me they've released an EP titled Cityscape and are planning to release a full length album by the end of 2005...

5/6/05 - Fasterlouder.com.au


"Live Review Section - The Forgotten Army, Phonograph - Annandale Hotel"

There are times I think about stopping. When a dozen too many bands are trying to jump on whatever currently fashionable bandwagon. Or bands with something good in them, but not even appreciating what they are achieving. But just when I despair, I’ll see a band taking their influences and making something of their own, a band just enjoying the racket they are making, and giving something back to the audience. For fear of putting the mock on them, no rash predictions. But this night, a ‘Dale not as crowded as it maybe deserved to be, The Forgotten Army are somewhere beyond merely ‘good’. Potentially special, if not already.

And while I’ll get overwhelmed later, I do want to give Phonograph some mention as well. Some of their influences are obvious. There’d be a copy of Frogstomp on each of their bookshelves – and not just because they are 3-piece with a penchant for skinny ties and/or kinda surfie shirts. Then there’s some Britpoppiness, which maybe a little more purist than that- a variously modified Taxman bassline appears a couple of times, and when one that might be called Through the Walls breaks it down to some vocal interplay, you almost wanna see Ben and Matt do the Lennon- McCartney head-wobble and ‘Woooo-ooooo!’. There could be a danger they get snapped up by a major, who want to scrub them up into something immediately commercial, and fuck the band in the process.

But if Phonograph (neat name incidentally) are a stride or two away from their potential, The sweet FA is a baby step away. The band bend and twist in shape and form all night, and yet remain identifiable. From two-guitar, bass and drums straight forward rock band, to a bent chamber group as piano tinkles almost classically counterpointed by Annie’s occasional cello. Said tangents spread out from the Riddler-suited Nick Jones. When in big-combo mode, his sometimes cock-eyed intensity (yes, that did sort of go wrong in there didn’t it?’) brings to mind Mark Seymour trying to keep a full flight Hunters & Collectors in check. Then he switches from the Telecaster wiry treble, to woody twelve-string acoustic, to trilling keyboard, and his voice can waver akin to Augie’s Glenn Richards- with some even wanting to hear a pre-electronic Thom Yorke in there as well.

Some moments they are almost stately in their progress. Their title piece [The Forgotten Army] is atmospheric and melancholic. Then next song in, Shelley’s sax cuts through snarking off Eddie Hutcherson’s guitar, and the discordance could almost be The Laughing Clowns circa 1982.

Having taken you through this sprawling ride, they then serve up the band’s own favourite- All I Need spirals up, the percussive rattle getting near tribal, with the crowd swept up clapping along. They stumble off sweaty and spent, I’m stumbling out the door the same way. Glorious.

By Ross Clelland
5/2/05 - Drum Media - Ross Clelland


"Bands to Rock Your World"

THE FORGOTTEN ARMY
“Sounding like a raw hybrid of Radiohead (the early Ok Computer days) and an untreated Jeff Buckley, this as-yet unsigned Sydney band (pictured above) are flat –out brilliant. The kooky but rockin’ New Orleans-style vibe of the band will one day take them all the way”.

Jonathan Lobban, GQ Magazine (Australia), Summer Edition 2004/5 - page 24
- GQ Magazine by John Lobban


"S Section Editorial"


“some of Australia’s best acts…including epic rockers The Forgotten Army…”

Clara Iaccarino, The Sun Herald p.S34, March 13th 2005
- The Sun Herald


"Top ten unsigned bands of 2004 – Christmas Edition"

Number 8 - The Brag Christmas Edition


"Not likely to be forgotten"

The Drum Media
Not Likely to be Forgotten

The chap who writes the singles column down the back there will sing the praises of The Forgotten Army to anyone who’ll listen, proclaiming them one of the things to get excited by in 2005. More importantly than have him raving about them, in the past few weeks their hugely diverse music has been heard at screenings in New York City of a short-film which is entered at Bobby Deniro’s prestigious Tribecca Film Festival. Further filmically, they are also presently scoring a medium-length feature to be screened at the Valhalla in the not-too-distant-future…”

Drum Media Editorial 1st February 2005 p.11
- Drum Media


"S-Section - Hot bands"

The Forgotten Army

“With an all-encompassing rock sound, earning them comparisons to Muse, Sydneysiders The Forgotten Army have been building a loyal following since they arrived in pub back rooms earlier this year…”

Clara Iaccarino, The Sun Herald, p. S28, December 12th 2004
- The Sun Herald


"The Forgotten Army - A cityscape"

“Hello, I’ve heard a lot about you. Now what have you got to say for yourself- and be careful, I’ve seen the saxophone credit on the slick. From evidence of this, there is studied romantic detachment to them, which allows songs to crumple and unfold in their own time as they should. An occasional tendency to Yorke-ish in the vocals is forgivable as other elements wash in to make an intriguing whole, which would have fitted nicely in their Augie March supporting role last week. There are moments when it almost becomes jazz, which then twist to an almost Mazzy Star twang. Ok, yes, I am smitten and will come see you soon.”

By Ross Clelland, Drum Media, p. 52, September 14th 2004 Edition.
- Drum Media review section


"This City's Forgotten Army"

Sydney’s eclectic five-piece The Forgotten Army are perhaps the most subtly articulate and inventive band to come out of this city in a couple of years

Michael Smith, November 2nd 2004 Edition.
- Drum Media News


Discography

EP "A Cityscape" released in very late 2004.

"F@#K this I'm going to the Annandale" - DVD 2005
Annandale Hotel's Compilation DVD with other bands such as 'Dillinger Escape Plan', 'Electric Six', 'The Stands', Magic Dirt, etc.

The band has received National and Community radio play on Triple J (unsigned pick of the week in their first week of airplay with 'cityscape'), FBI Sydney (song of the week in their first month of airplay with 'lovely disease' and 'cityscape' on high rotation), RRR Melbourne, and other community radio.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

The Forgotten Army was created in mid 2004 by eccentric singer /songwriter Nick Jones. First came the song, The Forgotten Army, he then decided to quickly get a band together after booking a gig which he didn't have a band to do with. 2 weeks and quite a few mistakes on, the seeds were planted in a packed Annandale Hotel. Some time later, and with some line-up changes, and slightly altering his former life, the band was formed and the name The Forgotten Army was borne out of the song- a name that satirises the way people tend to get trapped in their day to day lives forgetting about what they really want, just like marching in an army... (see the first line of the said song). No, they are not some band with any links to the military or the Tibetan freedom fighters.

Produced on the cheap, but attracting Luke Baker to the engineering seat (past credits include The Cure, Gerling, etc), and producing it with Nick, the debut release, originally meant to be just a demo, is a welcoming though teasing look at the expressive diversity The Forgotten Army has to offer. The music has evolved significantly since the EP launch and has since been witnessed live in Melbourne and up the East coast.

Believing in the notion that playing consistently on the live circuit is important to get an idea for how a song will end up,The Forgotten army have supported artists as varied as Augie March, Pete Murray, Dappled Cities Fly, 78 Saab, Andy Clockwise and more. Songs are created and assembled on both guitars and piano/keys, with a strong importance placed on percussion and rhythm.

The following review excerpts (national & local) illustrate the bands distinct individuality, definition and point of difference to other muse in the present climate. “Sounding like a raw hybrid of Radiohead (the early computer days) and an untreated Jeff Buckley, this as-yet unsigned Sydney band is flat-out brilliant” (Jonathan Lobban, GQ Magazine, Summer Edition 2004) “The Forgotten Army are perhaps the most subtly articulate and inventive band to come out of this city (Sydney) in years”(Drum Media, 2nd November 2004)

The Forgotten Army often uses a cellist live to fill out the orchestrated wall of sound that you hear on most recordings.
Sydney’s music Mecca, The Annandale Hotel has selected the band recently to be included on a “Best Of” compilation DVD with live favourite and yet to be released “All I Need” sitting alongside bands such as Electric Six, Dillinger Escape Plan, COG etc, which received DVD of the Week accolades in Rolling Stone, september 2005. The Forgotten Army is the newest band included on the DVD that comprises mostly major labelled or long-time established local & international acts who are identifying it as a true bombshell.

The often cinematic wall of sound generated by The Forgotten Army has also attracted interest from filmmakers, with “The Forgotten Army” (track 4 on the EP “a cityscape”) being included in a short film in New York at the renowned Tribecca Film Festival. It has also led to a scoring of a local film screened at independent cinema and festivals, which continues as an ongoing proposition.