(The Lost And Lonesome Recording Co)

Exhaustive two-disc chronicle of b-sides, rarities and covers from Melbourne indie stalwarts

The Lucksmiths have been writing and recording melodic and witty indie pop for well over 10 years now and have inevitably managed to acquire a rather large archive of b-sides, live tracks, radio sessions and other leftovers. As a result, they’ve put together Spring A Leak, comprising two discs of these lost or buried numbers, which include live versions of familiar tunes, lesser known compositions and covers of artists like The Smiths, The Modern Lovers and The Magnetic Fields as well as Oz contemporaries such as The Simpletons. What’s immediately apparent is the quality and accessibility of these rarer tunes. Like b-side/rarities collections by Broadcast and Clinic, Spring A Leak is a compelling album in its own right. Songs like Point Being (from the Midweek Midmorning single) show them as torch-bearers for the iconic Australian melodic guitar pop of the Go-Betweens, while the live recordings (captured for radio stations like Triple J and Melbourne’s 3RRR) reveal them to be crisp, solid concert performers. An excellent chronicle of a distinctly Australian and intelligent pop group.

****

MATT THROWER

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*