Bells are ringing for 78 Saab

Thu 27th Sep, 2007 in Local News

78 Saab reside in good company. Over the past ten years, they have produced music that sits comfortably alongside the likes of Died Pretty, The Church and The Triffids. They present a world that is uniquely their own, but also a part of the legacy of those great bands who came before them. Now, 78 Saab return with their brand new album The Bells Line.

The Bells Line is the culmination of two years writing, thinking and rehearsing. It’s the self-imposed “luxury” of artists disinclined to rush things lest they create anything less than what they’re aiming for. On their first two albums, ( Picture A Hum, Can’t Hear a Sound and Crossed Lines, both on Ivy League), 78 Saab established their reputation by creating their own world of wide open skies, city living, country remembrances and constant dreaming, all set to a soundtrack provided by Ben Nash ’s unique sweet voice, Jake Andrew ’s distinctive melodic guitar lines, and the loose metronomic swing of Nicholai Danko on drums and Garth Tregillgas on bass. Songs such as Sunshine, No Illusions and Beat of Your Drum set a standard of timeless song writing ability for which this Sydney four piece have become much loved.

Recorded and mixed over a four week period in Sydney at Velvet Sounds and Tiger Studios, this is the first time 78 Saab have worked with producer Wayne Connolly (Youth Group, Josh Pyke, The Vines, You Am I). Wayne’s usual assured touch is evident throughout the album. A fan of 78 Saab for many years, his sensibilities and approach were perfect for a band setting out to make an album that sounded like the wide open spaces they were writing about. This new collection of Ben Nash portraits celebrates how small our lives are, set against the backdrop of the wider world and enormous landscapes we live in. The sky, satellites, stars, sleep, dreams, nostalgia and sleeplessness are the recurring themes in Nash’s lyrics. The magic of 78 Saab lies in their ability to take subjects that are every day and within our immediate experience, and lay a gauze over them, making the every day seem dream-like, magical, and beyond the mundane.

If you want to be among the first to hear 78 Saab’s new songs log onto myspace for a sneak preview of the entire album!

The Bells Line hits the shelves on September 29.

78 Saab will be touring nationally with Josh Pyke in October and November.