PHOEBE'S DREAM RELEASE 2ND ALBUM "RETURN THE LOVE"
The past. We waste it, remember it, hurt and learn from it. Sometimes we throw it away and start again. Following up from 1998's debut album "Happiness" Melbourne indie guitar band Phoebe's Dream are catching up on time and releasing their second album "Return the Love", on Sound Vault Records.
On this album the Smarty brothers ( Phil-vocals, lyrics, guitars John- guitars, lyrics) continue to explore themes of long lost and misspent youth, self- esteem, apathy, t.v addiction and the daily grind of life itself. The Smarty brothers combine nicely with Raoul Cervini on bass and new drummer Glenn Chuck to pull together tightly patterned hooks that give Phoebe's Dream their unique melodic twist.
From the jagged title-track to the waltz swing of 1st single D Jam, the gospel tinged Dead Song and the quirky pop of Hands in Pockets, "Return the Love" is a pure guitar pop delight. On this album 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, but it's easy to see the likes of Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips slipping in there too. File this album next to the 3 Davids ( Byrne, Bowie and Sylvian) and let Johnny Marr learn the guitar parts.
"Return the Love" was recorded at Sound Vault Studios with Lloyd Barrat and Jordan in charge of all things technical and produced by John and Phil Smarty, the core members of Phoebe's Dream. The drums in the recording of the album were spanked out by previous long term Dreamer Gavin Temouskos.
With "Return the Love" finally released PHOEBE'S DREAM intend to play live extensively in the coming year.
RETURN THE LOVE IS OUT NOW ON SOUND VAULT RECORDS
'Return to Love' continues the band's tradition of producing quirky guitar pop full of hidden delights.
Speaking at the Melbourne office of their Melbourne based record company 'Sound Vault' , guitarist and lyricist John Smarty said 'Return to Love' explores the themes of misspent youth, apathy and bad television.
'What we are trying to do on this record is produce a cohesive sound that is intelligent and accessible to the listener,' said John.
'The band, that has been together since 1998, has at its' sonic heart my vocalist/guitar player/lyricist brother Phil and myself; but it's the killer rhythm section of Raoul Cervini on bass and Glenn Chuck on drums that really motors us along,' he said.
'We all love early Bowie, Talking Heads, Lou Reed and musically on some tracks maybe throw in a bit of Flaming Lips and Beck and you have the general idea of where we're coming from on this record,' John said.
'We were really pleased that Sound Vault agreed to take on the record, they are a great little label with lots of energy and a great catalogue so we feel sure, with a bit of support from radio, we'll do something very worthwhile with this release'.
John said the band will be playing extensively in Australia over the next year in support of the album.
Return the Love is available in Australia through Sound Vault Records, 613 9326 9795 and chaosmusic.com.
