BIO
Rugged and smooth like a well-worn saddle, unsigned Melbourne band Phoebe's Dream unashamedly wear their influences on their sleeves - and with such a splendid pedigree of influences why wouldn't they? Primary impressions lie predominantly with Talking Heads and David Bowie,and instrumentally it's easy to see the likes of Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips & Beck slipping in there too.
Singer, guitarist and main songwriter Phil Smarty sings melancholic, bittersweet but psychologically edgy pop songs that are also written by brother and guitarist John Smarty. The Smarty brothers combine nicely with Raoul Cervini on bass and drummer Glenn Chuck to pull together tightly patterned hooks that give Phoebe's Dream their unique melodic twist.
Releasing their debut album "Happiness" in 1998, the band received favourable music press reviews, solid PBS, RRR and JJJ airplay as well as numerous screenings on RAGE of their cool super 8 video clip for album track "Wasted". A new single, "D Jam" was released in August 2000, this time with stronger JJJ airplay exposing the band to a wider audience.
As well as regularly gigging in Melbourne, playing with bands as diverse as the Titanics (ex-Custard),TISM, Ice-Cream Hands and Moondriven, the band completed a two month promotional tour of the UK in early 2000, garnering interest from a number of indie labels as well as the band Hefner. They've also received a heap of rave reviews at ex-Talking Head Jerry Harrison's Garageband website (www.garageband.com) as well as being JJJ's mystery band of the week in mid August 2001 with their single "D-Jam".
The band's new album Return The Love is out now on Sound Vault Records and is getting great reviews in Australia. A new single and album is planned for 2003.
