| | | |  | Gersey on record... Gersey formed in 1997 and released their debut EP 'Bewilderment Is A Blessing' shortly after. An early buzz generated from the release, and they were subsequently signed to Trifekta/FMR, a relationship that resulted in two timeless...
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| Interview | Access All Areas.net.au: You must be excited to be coming back out with a new album and back in the spotlight?
Gersey: Yeah we're wrapped... it's been too long. Were rapped to be having it out and the chance to tour around again.
Access All Areas.net.au: It took two years to finish ‘No Sattelites’ why did the process take a lot longer this time around?
Gersey: We just wanted to be more... we wanted a complete full record and to be in love with every part of every song. We could’ve, a year ago, recorded and put out a record and it would've been ok and fine but we just felt with two records done, we wanted to do everything we could and have that was more of a statement, a bit more to the point and it just takes time to get that many songs for the record that you're really happy with. We wrote and recorded lots of material, it just took a lot of time to get to that point.
Access All Areas.net.au: The title 'No Satellites', where did that come from?
Gersey: It was sort of borrowed from lyrics as far as the album goes, there were a few reasons, one of them as I said before, we wanted a record that didn't have stragglers, we wanted every song to be full, each song to be it's own planet sort of thing. The other reason is there’s a slight political bend to those who don't agree of the Western World, AMEX, Middle East and other parts of the world setting up satellite states... the main thing is that everything is on the line and is very realized.
Access All Areas.net.au: This is your third album, how does it different to your previous releases?
Gersey: Possible more complete, much more urgent, a little more impatient, denser, intense. It's probably got a bit more of a variety in a way. In the first half of the album it's quite intense and dark and in the last half it lights up a bit and that's the process we've been through I think that's the main thing. The last two records were built around two main songs and it was the instrumentals holding the record together, this time each song hold's it’s own right.
Access All Areas.net.au: Do you feel that you've matured as songwriters with this record?
Gersey: Yeah definitely! Everyone has got better and we've all improved individually with our own instruments. Previously there have been parts of the band that has been quiterer on those fronts and the band has really become involved in the way the songs are structured, we’re definitely miles off from where we were a year ago no doubt about it.
Access All Areas.net.au: You’re touring next month, what can fans expect from a Gersey show?
Gersey: We will be playing the record in its entirety which is something we haven't been able to do in the past because of the nature of past two records but we're thrilled to be playing live again and we're a very happy and committed and focused band. We hope to put on a show when we come to town and we're beside ourselves to finally launch this record!
Access All Areas.net.au: So what's next for Gersey?
Gersey: Keep going really, not stopping like we did last time. We've already started the next record, we'll play as much as we can and where people want us to play we'll play. We want to try to get overseas again and yeah we've started writing and we're committed to the journey of writing more music. |
| Biography | Gersey on record...
Gersey formed in 1997 and released their debut EP 'Bewilderment Is A Blessing' shortly after. An early buzz generated from the release, and they were subsequently signed to Trifekta/FMR, a relationship that resulted in two timeless and much loved local albums, 'Hope Springs' (2000) and 'Storms Dressed As Stars' (2002, and awarded a Triple J Album of the Week).
Signing to Inertia Recordings last year, the group released the first fruits of the new partnership in October, the 'Eyes Are Wide Tonight' EP, which included the outstanding single "Girl Is My Gun". The EP was a shift in direction for the band, amplifying their edgier, more dramatic side while remaining uniquely "Gersey" in its layered, almost atmospheric landscape. The recording was produced by Dean Turner of Magic Dirt and mixed by Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studios, Melbourne.
Gersey off record...
Critics and music scribes are not the only ones that rate and write up Gersey. Their heavy gigging schedule over the years has seen them take their songs to the streets, playing in front of audiences around the world. Domestically, they performed at festivals such as Homebake, Livid and The Falls, and were invited to support such luminaries as Wilco, Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips. They have also toured the country many times over, selling out their largest shows to date.
Internationally, the group's reputation has also grown substantially. On consecutive occasions they were invited to play in North America, appearing at SXSW (Austin) and performing at New York's infamous CBGB's on the first trip, and then on the second journey, being invited to showcase at CMJ (New York) and to play a live set on LA's prestigious KCRW radio program "Morning Becomes Eclectic" at the personal request of guru Nic Harcourt. This resulted in the band securing an American manager, agent and a deal with Kindercore Records (Brooklyn, New York).
Gersey's new record...
Over the past two years, Gersey has been tucked away writing that universally difficult third album. Eschewing the usual constraints of timetables and industry expectation, the group recognised that the success and acclaim of 'Storms Dressed As Stars' would be far better followed by writing the best possible record instead of simply cashing in on the bands credibility and timing.
So instead of trying to maintain the momentum of the last record, the group simply stopped in its tracks, taking a sure and straightforward risk in the process, but confident of hitting the studio with the quality of material that would result in their career defining record, 'No Satellites'.
Aside from the 12 songs that make up this fine record, another 20 or so were scrapped. And not bad songs, either! At any other time, the tracklisting of the record could have been entirely different. But the group stuck to their guns and committed to continue to produce stronger and stronger material until they had the right record. They remained firmly entrenched in the studio, finally rising to the surface several months ago, with what we consider one of the most exciting Australian releases of 2006.
This record shows Gersey at the top of their game, and pushes them forward as one of Australia's finest contemporary rock bands. With its lush atmospherics and downbeat heartbreak slow burners, there is plenty on ''No Satellites' to satisfy rock and pop fans of all kinds. Indeed, anyone with a penchant for artists like Straightjacket Fits, Teenage Fanclub, The Church, Wilco and Sonic Youth will be more than satisfied with this album.
'No Satellites' begins the next chapter in the history of Gersey. |
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