Some of you may have rightly noticed it’s been a while since our last proper album Warmer Corners made its first appearance on the record store shelf. So it’s with a misty eye we now inform you we’re currently midway into recording our new one! We just returned from eight days in a cosy little shack in the verdant foothills of Tasmania’s Mt Wellington, recording the soundtrack to falling snowflakes, the soup-pot bubbling away on a woodfire stove, and Bear the aging German shepherd yawning his disapproval at yet another bungled guitar take! Somehow, thanks to the mystical wizardry of our punctilious producer (and shack curator) Chris Townend we’ve managed to return to Melbourne with more than a dozen new songs, all mostly finished, with some requiring just a little extra tickling. We hope to have the new album (current working title: Sympathy for the Tasmanian Devil) out in a few months — yeah, let’s say mid-October… ish.
Meanwhile, here’s a select Lucksmiths discography complete with highest charting position:
The Lucksmiths cassette/CD (1993) — DNC
Boondoggle EP CD (1994) — DNC
The Green Bicycle Case CD (1995) — DNC
What Bird is That? CD (1996) — DNC
A Good Kind of Nervous CD (1997) — DNC
Happy Secret CD (1998) — DNC
Staring at the Sky EP CD/10” vinyl (1999) — DNC
Why That Doesn’t Surprise Me CD/vinyl (2001) — DNC
Where Were We? CD (2002) — DNC
Naturaliste CD (2003) — DNC
A Little Distraction EP CD/10” vinyl (2003) — DNC
Warmer Corners CD (2005) — DNC
Spring a Leak 2xCD (2007) — DNC
These album are all available to order from either Lost And Lonesome (Aus), Matinée Recordings (US) or Fortuna Pop! (UK) unless of course they’re currently out of print, in which case, take a seat, love, and we’ll have those ready for you soon. We also have a slew of singles (both 7” and CD) which you could probably find in a bargain tub at a Sunday market somewhere. Don’t mention it’s rare and you can probably haggle the price down to 10 cents apiece! These songs, however, all make an appearance on our three singles compilations Happy Secret, Where Were We? and Spring a Leak.
* DNC = did not chart
Here’s something that somebody nice once wrote about us…
How's this for an objective opinion? As far as I'm concerned, the Lucksmiths should be far bigger than they are. Bigger than Ben Gibbard or at least as popular as the Decemberists or Belle and Sebastian.
Fourteen years and nine albums in, this disheveled Melbourne, Australia crew continue to ride on a wave that never really peaks or falls; it just steadily rises with each new excellent disc they release. The Lucksmiths specialize in a brand of pop music that's brooding and contemplative enough to be called emo. But it isn't. At least not by this decade's standards. Singer Tali White's gentle and disarming voice - which renders willing listeners a mushy pile - glides over each song effortlessly, as if the dude just got out of bed one morning and decided he could sing like a bird and that was that. The words White offers, conceived by guitarist Marty Donald, are generally concerned with weather or geography's effect on people and relationships, are sung in complete sentences and they're mostly heartbreaking. Observe the lyrics to 'The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco" from the 2005 record Warmer Corners:
I went a fortnight without so much as an email
Then a postcard scant of detail
In which you wished me all the best
From the non-specific Northwest
And let's not forget all the while White acts as the band's timekeeper - on each track he brushes on some stand-up drums. As axe men, Donald and Louis Richter have about two distinct modes, both of them exceedingly polite. They're either strumming gently on an acoustic guitar or doing some breezy, beachy, clean-channel riffs while Mark Monnone works out fluid and buoyant bass lines.
And all this adds up to making the Lucksmiths seem like your own little private band. And in many ways they are. Their records get good reviews, and they can sell out gigs when they come stateside every two years or so, but still few seem to know their records or routinely rep them. Perhaps that suits the band fine. I still think they should be massive though.
Hey Lucksmiths, Really loved seeing your awesome songs again the other night at Republic, thanks for letting us play with you. Oh- and sorry Tali for trying to pitch the pilot cooking show at you in which Anthony Rochester hosts a music/cooking show with bands teaching him to cook whilst he trys to interview you. If you change your minds though -the producers of "Flash Tony in the Pan" await your call.
Anyway, all the best with the recordings! for a good arvo walk nearish Longley you should go up Mt Hartz (head to Geeveston and follow signs). There was heaps of snow yesterday and great views and only about ten drinking 4wd cars.
Oh and the L&L sampler was a kickin' soundtrack to said adventures, thanks. Sam J.
Hello^^ Fourteen years and nine albums and it's only now that I discover you! Where were you hidden? lol! I'm glad I found you on Myspace because your music is so good, so tuneful... My ears are delighted and my soul is charmed ! It's exactly the sound I need at the moment ! Many thanks for the add... Cheers from France Nathalie
Greetings from Massachestnuts! Thanks for the add and being friends. This jangly music about broken bones makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Is this a normal reaction? Hope so. -Julie
Hey Mark its Aoife, about the Mordialloc College art show its on the 21st of May, i have an invite so hopefully be able to give it to you at Cambie next Sunday? Cheers.
Thank you so much for the show in adelaide last night! It was so very lovely. My favrouite aussie band in my favrouite aussie pub what more could i ask for?..............Oh i know! I could ask for you guys not to take so long returning for your next show in adelaide as you took to return for the show last night.
Im also very pleased with my very bright and happy lucksmiths T shirt. Will it bleed in the washing machine?
