Having started out as a fanzine before making the jump up to fully fledged record label in 1998, Spunk is one of those labels worth keeping an eye on. Playing host to a virtual who’s who of top international indie acts (Animal Collective, Antony and the Johnsons, Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, Deerhoof, Mogwai, Okkervil River, The Shins, to name a few), they also have a number of Australia’s finest on the books (Holly Throsby, Jack Ladder, Firekites). Clearly someone involved has an ear for quality music.
And so it is that their latest effort, a twelve track compilation album entitled Spunk! Singles Club, comes to feature an array of Aussie up-and-comers that is both exciting and diverse. From the sprawling soundscapes of Seekae’s lush lo-fi electronica, through Megastick Fanfare’s afro-pop to the epic folk ballads of Townsville’s The Middle East, the LP really does have a lot to offer. And on Friday night it was launched in considerable style at a relatively subdued East Brunswick Club.
Geelong four piece The Harpoons evidently drew the short straw, kicking the evening off to a crowd consisting of little more than myself and FasterLouder’s photographer for the evening. Too bad for everyone else. The Harpoons oozed character and ability, unashamedly pilfering their sound from the sonic palette of early 60s British Invasion pop, while managing to stay well clear of sounding like a tribute band. Tight, vocally strong, and blessed with a particularly charismatic and talented female lead in Bec Rigby, if they were prepared to trade in the twee lyrics for something a little more shrewd they could do very well. As Amy Winehouse and the Arctic Monkeys will surely testify, retro sound + 21st century subject matter is totally in right now.
Melbourne’s own Super Wild Horses by contrast, are what the Ting Tings would sound like if they abandoned all production values, began dabbling in punk rock and took a crash course in not-being-so-fucking-annoying. Armed with nothing but a drum kit, guitar and a splash of two fingered keyboard, their sound was raw and punchy but not, in the end, particularly likeable. I found it difficult not to wonder whether their minimalist approach to song writing was a product of design or necessity.
Adelaide’s Leader Cheetah have been getting a lot of airplay recently with their first single Bloodlines. And by the time they hit they stage at around 10.30 the EBC was appropriately near to capacity. I can’t speak for the rest of the punters, but I for one was left distinctly underwhelmed. Partly it was the fault of the sound guy. Leader Cheetah are clearly a bunch of quality musicians and front man Dan Crannitch has a decent voice (even if it does sound an awful like he’s doing an impression of Neil Young), so it would have been nice to have had it delivered with more clarity and crispness: for all their apparent subtleties, much of the guitar work and CSNY style harmonies were submerged under a blur of indistinct fuzz. Then again, I have heard plenty bands play in far worse conditions and still left a happy man. A couple of tracks are radio friendly, certainly, but there’s really not much in the way of variety. Mid-tempo soft rock, one track to the next, for me it’s all just a bit bland.
Blandess is something I suspect The Middle East will never be accused of. Sitting somewhere between Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire sound-wise, the Townsville seven-piece are an odd but extremely promising bunch. (I can honestly say that before Friday I had never seen a drummer put down his sticks in order to pick up an accordion.) Songs tend to start off sparsely textured – a beautiful sleepy falsetto vocal accompanied by only acoustic guitar, say – before swelling slowly but inevitably into a multi-instrumental, multi-harmonied climax. In addition to accordion, the flute, trumpet, xylophone and harmonica all feature regularly. And up to five band members sing in close harmony on most tracks.
Unsurprisingly, evening closer (and The Middle East’s first single) Blood was the highlight of both the set and the night. Complete with ecstatic sing-along chorus, if it had been recorded by Arcade Fire it would already be a huge hit. If there’s any justice in the world, it still will be. So watch this space. Out of nowhere, Townsville might just have produced the most exciting up-and-coming act in Australia today.
to listen to their music now on 
