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Story: Jack Foley
SINCE emerging from Perth, Australia, some 18 months ago, The
Sleepy Jackson have steadily been building some impressive word
of mouth.
Their current single, Vampire Racecourse, was quickly
embraced by XFM and appeared as record of the week on several
shows, including Zoe Ball and Christian O'Connell.
Needless to say, their appeal is massive in Australia, but it
has also spread throughout Europe - and expect America to dig
it too.
The brainchild of eccentric singer/songwriter Luke Steele (described
on the band's website as a fusion of Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon),
the band aren't afraid to acknowledge their musical influences,
but retain a sound that is unmistakeably their own.
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Likewise, they thrive in their diversity, writing pop records,
psychedelic numbers and country-inspired tracks that make them
difficult to pin down.
Indeed, following the release of their second EP, Let Your
Love Be Love, one excited reviewer raved that 'Luke Steele's
lack of direction IS his direction' before heralding the band
as an outfit to watch.
Now, however, the Sleepy Jackson present their first album,
Lovers, which confirms Steele as an artist of extraordinary
depth and songwriting talent.
Steele readily confesses to revelling in the unexpected, twisting
rudimentary rock and pop arrangements into something fresh, original
and exciting.
"It's getting easier and easier day by day,'' he says.
"I've always been scared of becoming old hat. Every song
has to be a little bit different, even if it's just a minor thing.''
Recorded in Coogee, NSW, with producer, Jonathan Burnside, Lovers
is the album that looks set to confirm The Sleepy Jackson as one
of the most exciting long-term prospects to come out of Australia
for many years.
And Steele is in no doubt that it is just the beginning.
"It's going to get bigger, broader .... and maybe a bit
more screwed up,'' he promises.
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