Had a great night at Rosies on Friday night. From what I understand, the venue is normally reserved for more metal/hardcore bands, and the promoter Jay took a bit of a risk putting on something different. But there was a decent crowd there and all the music seemed to go over pretty well.
Particularly for Hazards of Swimming Naked, who played an awesome set. The boys say they are pretty close to finishing their album, and I for one can't wait to hear it. To my ears, their music is of international quality and conjures up a real visual element in one's head (I was not drunk or anything, by the way). During their set, I imagined harsh deserts, rolling oceans, lonely night time highways... you get the picture.
We played ok, a couple of sticky moments earlier on. Again, we brought a new song into the set that I only presented to Mat a few nights earlier in rehearsals - an old song called "Traces" that we did with more of an "electronic" feel (yes, a new version of an old song that shares the name of our e.p, but didn't appear on said e.p - confused?). Its about the fourth time I have revised this song and already, we are talking about doing the song a different way again. I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure...
Anyway, Mat and myself are pulling back on gigs now until the album is ready. Funnily enough, our ideas for this album have been formulated on paper as much as in the rehearsal room, as we have strong thoughts about its sound and structure (to paraphrase the Fight Club here "we are not unique and individual snowflake", as I'm sure every band worth its salt does this too). We are in no rush, so it could happen in a couple of months, or it could happen next year, who knows? We've talked about getting a few friends in local bands we admire to contribute too, people we think could help us shake things up a little.
There are some great albums out there at present - the church (another brilliant album from the most criminally underappreciated band in THE WORLD), Adam Franklin, No Anchor (Brisband that melts the ears and mind), Trail Of Dead, The Sound Movement (Aus expats in London with great new ep), National Skyline, MBV and Swervedriver remasters, Jeniferever, Mono - that certainly distract the writing process, but its a nice distraction to have. But the writing process with TSSNHT has never been forced anyway - its kind of like when the inspiration strikes, which can be at anytime and be by anything. I think we are half way there, in that we have four or five "keepers" that we have been playing live, and a few ideas on paper and in the head that I think will give us a good album. With whom/where/how we do it remains up in the air...
"Traces" (the e.p, not the song) came about from some songs I had been gigging on when TSSNHT was initially a solo project. Mat has been a friend for a long time and, after coming to some solo gigs, wanted in. I was/am very fortunate to have a drummer of Mat's calibre to bring our songs to life. Without the incredible generosity of Ian & Georgie Haug, "Traces" would not have happened, so a big thanks to the Haugs! Releasing & promoting the e.p. has been a big learning curve and its been a lot of fun. Onwards....
Curt
