The Melodics

As we moseyed on down to The Corner on a blisteringly cold Melbourne night we were met by the sounds of The Melodics pounding out of the bandroom. The sound warmed us slightly as we queued for our tickets (note to self: have them posted next time! Spring weather in our Melbourne Town is far too precarious for queuing) then we made our way in to find the night's lineup had an earlier start than we expected. Fortunately for us, we didn't miss The Melodics whole set because they were - for want of a better word - un-freakin'-believable! As a Melodics virgin I found myself drawn in to the stage, and one song was all it took before I was dancing along with the rest of the crowd. Everybody knows how hard it is for a support band to get people moving, but not many could stand up against their funky electro-hiphop sounds with that irresistable groove. Immediately after their set I lined up for a CD which I know will remain a staple in my car's stacker. If you haven't seen The Melodics, do yourself a favour and hunt out one of their gigs. I'd love to see them as a headliner rather than support myself. - Melbourne Live

http:// - The Music Network

http:// - The Courier Mail

The Melodics, Low Budget, Dexter,
Mu-Gen, TaikOz @ The HiFi, Melbourne
(28/08/09)
It’s not very often that a relatively new local act can draw out a capacity crowd in the same way that international acts do for large rock concerts. But as Melbourne band The Melodics launched their debut album 4d at the HiFi last night they’ve shown that locals can still match it with the best and proven once again, why they are a band to watch.

It was somewhat of a deceptive start to the night with very few present for DJ Mu-Gen and his opening mix. But it wasn’t to say that the vibe was dead, with punters chatting happily and enjoying a drink; some even having a bit of a boogie. As the crowd starting filling in getting bigger and better, so too did the music. Having entertained crowds at various events including Splendour, it was unsurprisingly really, when Low Budget took to the stage and punters suddenly came forward to – œfunk it up’. After some fun band/punter interaction, DJ Dexter continued the trend, spinning some tracks as a throng of people drew closer to the stage, dancing the night away in anticipation of the main act.

When the moment we’d all been waiting for finally came, the HiFi had become a sea of bodies as The Melodics hit centre stage. Guest musicians from TaikOz opened what was to be a stunning set, and once all members of the band were under the bright lights, they played a few classic tracks from their Live From Nowhere EP including Lover and Travelling. Cash.Sex.Cool also got a feature, including some dreamy vocal echoes from Oceans Baroque with a cool sax and bass funk fused together from Tarko Sibbel (Fantastic Mr Fox) and Jamie Barlow.

Lead vocalist Jeremedy then climbed atop the DJ’s table to tell us all a few stories before launching into Brave New World, featuring Sibbel’s awesome work on the synth, showing why their trip-hop trance twist sounds work so well. There was also an abundance of guest artists on the night, particularly in Maple Leaf Rag. With producer Jan Skubiszewski on guitar and horn players Peter Slipper and Adrian Shaw, they created a brilliant infusion of jazz and electro funk with their bright brassy lines.

A song about superheroes was next as Jeremedy told the crowd, “I wanna see you put your fist in the air and your hand on your hip – you’re gonna be a superhero.” And with a mass of hands in the air, grooving and dancing to the music, it seemed the punters believed they were heroes indeed.

The highlight of the evening came through a special visual treat from the band. As punters put on their 3d glasses for the new track Afterlife, watching a 3d clip of outerspace and the earth; the cool lighting effects complimenting the funky tunes.

A small tribute to Skubiszewski’s brilliant work came before Pop Culture, which again featured the amazing talents of Sibbel. His impassioned sax solos had some reverb to great effect and were complimented by some smooth and sultry vocals from Baroque and Jeremedy. The lighter shades of jazz subtly hidden beneath the electronica-rock/hip hop sounds were blended together superbly.

Even at the end, these seasoned performers could do no wrong as The Melodics brought the show to a brilliant climax. But that wasn’t really the end after all, for the crowd wasn’t going anywhere, calling for an encore inside the darkened venue. They wouldn’t take no for an answer, persisting until the band finally responded to their chants. The Melodics returned to the stage, not for one song but two, entertaining fans for another 15-20 minutes.

At times it seemed like the crowd was far too packed in with the HiFi closing the upper level, but perhaps this was intentional to create more of a moshing vibe closer to the stage. The mass of sweaty bodies and waving arms rocked together to the pulsating energy of the band, the sounds pumping through from the floor.

And like they opened the set, the boys from TaikOz returned once more, this time missing a few shirts, but thumping the drums in style to close out a truly rocking night. As bassist Jamie Barlow said, “This album took us a lot of time, energy and money to create, so it’s only natural we’re going to launch it in style!” And launch it in style they did. It was a long time coming with a huge build up to the show, but what a spectacular evening.

- fasterlouder.com.au

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009
Jackson Jackson and the Melodics electrify the Corner
Band: Jackson Jackson, supported by The Melodics
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 15th October 2009
Reviewed By: Heather

As we moseyed on down to The Corner on a blisteringly cold Melbourne night we were met by the sounds of The Melodics pounding out of the bandroom. The sound warmed us slightly as we queued for our tickets (note to self: have them posted next time! Spring weather in our Melbourne Town is far too precarious for queuing) then we made our way in to find the night's lineup had an earlier start than we expected. Fortunately for us, we didn't miss The Melodics whole set because they were - for want of a better word - un-freakin'-believable! As a Melodics virgin I found myself drawn in to the stage, and one song was all it took before I was dancing along with the rest of the crowd. Everybody knows how hard it is for a support band to get people moving, but not many could stand up against their funky electro-hiphop sounds with that irresistable groove. Immediately after their set I lined up for a CD which I know will remain a staple in my car's stacker. If you haven't seen The Melodics, do yourself a favour and hunt out one of their gigs. I'd love to see them as a headliner rather than support myself.

- MelbourneLIVE

It was during a self-imposed isolation in desolate country Victoria that five creatively charged musicians found themselves connecting within a realm of experimentation. They stumbled across something special; a driving punk-like shuffle with a rocking bass line and hard skanking synths. One of the band’s vocalists started rapping over the groove about outer space and the desire to re-unite with his half brother Chewbacca… This was part of the process of writing their debut album, ‘4d’.

Producing colourful music for a grey world, The Melodics have painted a fluorescent foundation across Australia. The Melodics have forged a unique style by taking inspiration from Ska, Punk, New Wave, and Post-Punk of the 70’s and 80’s. Mixing these influences with a love for modern Electro and Hip-Hop has resulted in an electric debut album, ‘4d’, full of bright drive and attitude, sharp quirky vocals and a lush production featuring strings, horns, synths, mandolin, recorders, and other obscure instrumentation.

The Rubik’s Cube city on the cover of ‘4d’ represents The Melodics balance of banging complex moments and slow n’ simple sounds, a visual representation of the multi coloured debut offering. “We wanted to make a partially conceptual album …to have an album with a particular spectrum to it. We feel it’s a very colourful record, whilst all fitting within the same palette.”

Receiving radio play from a wide range of community radio and national play on Triple J, and taking first, second and third place in the Triple J Unearthed Hip-Hop chart with single ‘Cash.Sex.Cool’, ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ and ‘Take Me Away’, it’s clear that The Melodics have something special at hand.

‘4d’ is available now at all good record stores.

The Melodics Upcoming Shows:
5-Dec: Stereosonic Festival, Melbourne
30-Dec: Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island

‘Take Me Away’ was featured on Indie 0911 (digital only). ‘Pop Culture’ was featured on Urban 0911.

For further information, please visit the following website:
www.myspace.com/themelodics
- SBA Music

To put it very simpy The Melodics are a cross genre band. They mess around with New wave, Synthpop, 2 Tone and Hip-Hop to crate some danm fresh flavours... Crowds get down to it; they dance, they sing, they think and they get into Electro-Dionysian trances.

It was during a self-imposed isolation n desolate country Victoria, that five cratively charged musos found themselves connecting within a realm of experimentation. They stumbled across something special; a driving punk-like shuffle with a rocking bass line and hard spanking synths. One of the band's vocalist started rapping over the groove about outer space and the desire to re-unite with his half brother Chebacca...

This event was to create The Melodics' second single; a catchy plea for any alien life form to please Take Me Away, and marked the halfway point of the writting of their debut album, 4d.

With the help of Jan Skubiszeski (Producer, Jackson Jackson, & Composer; APRA Award winner Two Hands), The Melodics set about creating this spectrum. This collaboration saw the band hone in on their influences from the Post-Punk era; something that Skubiszewski recognised in them early on. As Jeremedy explains; 'We didn't quite realise the heavy influence that British 70's and 80's music had on us until Jan pointed it out. Ska, Punk, New Wave, Post-Punk, and what Jan described as a British working class drive, were all elements from which we took inspiration."

Mising these infuences with a love for modern Electro and Hip-Hop has resulted in an electic album, full of bright drive and attitude, sharp quirky vocals and a lush production featuring strings, horns, synths, mandolin, recorders, and other obscure insturmentation.

Melodics play colour music for a grey world.

To celebrate their new album and being SYNapproved artist of the month, The Melodics play the Hi-Fi Bar on August the 28th.

SYNapproved is supported by the Victorian Goverment through the Victorian Rocks program. - Syn FM

Melodics
Written by Nick
Tuesday, 01 September 2009 10:48
About 10 years ago, a great live music scourge took over Melbourne.

It all started when too many VCA improvisation graduates discovered hip hop. No longer content with playing the jazz scene and making some cash with wedding swing bands, they switched from Coltrane, Schofield, Rollins and Monk to NWA, Dre, The Roots and Talib Kweli.

The change happened concurrently all over Australia and the result was a thriving scene of whiteboy funk and quasi-hip hop, often with a dash of reggae. When done badly it was insufferable... On any given night 3 or 4 of these bands would be grooving away on Brunswick Street Fitzroy. The results sometimes weren't pretty.

But as time went by, the cream rose to the top. Only the stayers remained. Some of these bands crossed over from fad to world class musicianship and brilliant songwriting. Illzilla, True Live, Fizard and more started to match the likes of established quality Australian acts like 1200 Techniques and Koolism wh'd come from a more traditional hip hop background..

Melodics are a band whose members came out of the whiteboy/funk/jazz/hip hop early days. They saw the writing on the wall, moved away from the jam band aesthetic and wrote tight, catchy, perfectly structured pop songs with great rhymes. They mastered synths, lost some horns and got to writing some sweet arse electro hip hop.

MC Jeremedy is sharp, hooks abound, the rhythm section is funky and water tight and the synth lines give Australia's Modular electro royalty a serious run for it's money.

These days, the guys have more in common with The Presets, Dexy's Midnight Runners or Madness than Jurassic 5.

On Friday night, with barely any advertising, they sold out the Hi Fi Bar in Melbourne to launch their debut album.
With an upcoming national tour and an electrifying live show, they're set for big things.

Watch this clip... it's kinda kitsch but the music talks for itself.

Melodics Album 4D is out now. www.myspace.com/themelodics


- AIR

like that the Melodics state very simply, that they're a 'cross genre' group, and the upshot: 'crowds get down to it'. Voila! It's true. I've been hearing bits and pieces about them for a long time - through their hugely popular EP's and growing status as a 'festival favourite', but a track like 'Take Me Away' has nudged me off the fence and into the pro-Melodics backyard.

Their live ability and MC Jeremedy's unique swing is abundantly clear in this track, which is from a forthcoming album. Prior flirtations with jazz have made way for angular synth stabs that drive it all along and compliment the left-field lyricism. By the sounds of it, the LP should satisfy Melodics buffs, and reign in new ones. Its production has been put in the innovative hands of J-Skub (Jan Skubiszewski), a bright spark who has been known to work with Phrase and Daniel Merriweather in the past. Check out their Unearthed fare and 'Take Me Away', up there for streaming right now.

Melodics launch their new album at The Hifi Bar, Melbourne, on August 28th which will not let you down if you're into upbeat gig experiences.

http://www.triplejunearthed.com/melodics
- Triple J

rating: 4/5

Great swung flow with Jeremedy's delivery! I love this about the Melodics. And your artwork's great.

Steph Hughes, triple j
28 Jul, 2009
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rating: 4/5

Quality funky hip hop. One for fans of acts like Phrase and True Live. Catchy, fun, upbeat.

Dan Buhagiar, triple j
28 Jul, 2009
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rating: 4/5

Killer tune! Love the arrangements, it doesn't sound like your typical hip-hop tune. The vocal harmonies add another dimension to this. Excellent stuff.

Dom Alessio, triple j
08 Jul, 2009

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rating: 4/5

really cool stuff - very interesting mix of strings too. - very catchy recorded beautifully too keep it up

Rosie Beaton, triple j
30 Jun, 2009

+ more...
- Triple J Unearthed