We've been compared to Matthew Herbert, Fourtet, Prefuse 73, Caribou, The Triffids, The Flaming Lips, David Sylvian, Jarvis Cocker, Beta Band, Can, Massive Attack, David Bowie, Department of Eagles, Ultramarine, Errors, Tunng, Air and Basement Jaxx. So no-one can quite tell, including us. Here's the press on "The If If"
"it’s rare that a duo blends the heavily layered jamming of Can with the downtempo groove of Massive Attack but ollo succeeds with flying colours. On their 2nd full length these Australian multi-instrumentalists serve up a handful of Kraut Jams incorporating spastic live drums, wah-pedaled guitars and funk bass from space. If it’s not the trippy guitar solos on “summer salt” that weave you into the boys interplanetary web it’ll be the always shifting synth pads that reel you in and take you under" [XLR8R, USA]
"...The second album from Sydney’s Ollo, The If If, doesn’t disappoint; it’s a strange and imaginative collection of anti-pop songs that uses simple, melodic electronica to create trance-like soundscapes. ...an eerie and well crafted musical excursion where you never quite know where you’re heading, or where you’ve just been." [Rolling Stone :: 3.5 stars]
"...an electro downbeat tour de force...
has to be one of the best albums I have heard this year."
[FurtherNoise, UK]
"Like an Aussie Beta Band
with a touch of the kind of playful sound of acts like Department of Eagles, Errors and Tunng. Very promising." [Pure Groove, UK]
Who knew Australia had formed a response to the Beta Band? Well, they did, and thank Gawd for that. While perpetually glossed with an synthetic sheen, The If If maintains a natural quirky jive that phases in and about the many layered samples, accented with playful drone vocals conveying mildly absurdist, post-modern lyrics and images, all of which cements the comparison to Edinburgh’s favorite trip-hoppin’ Greek letter group. Simply remarkable.
[filmore mescalito holmes]
"Intimate and affecting" [Cyclic Defrost Mag]
"...a headphone treat... impressive" [3D World]
"A sweaty and heaving carnival of hip jerking exotica... Classy stuff"
[Losing Today]
"ESSENTIAL STUFF..." [Rough Trade, London]
"a very accomplished album and one difficult not to enjoy..." [Perth Drum Media]
"Ollo... focus much more on pop, with more vocals and catchy melodies, on the follow-up to their 2002 debut Sleeper... enticing cover of Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)... Summer Salt explores the funky side of electronic instrumentals, while Gordian Knotted combines female lounge with unexpectedly crunchy electronica." [Sydney Morning Herald]
There was a load of stuff here about how we have toured in the USA and Europe, supported Matthew Herbert, did the music for a TV film awards show... but, you know, who reads? We're not the most obvious band in the world, so if you're looking for music that slaps you in the face... well you never know what'll be on the next album but for now...no.
Our releases include: Sleeper (debut album, soon available worldwide on iTunes); The If If (second album, see below) and C-Sides which is up now on iTunes containing a mixed bag of tracks made between 1996 and 2006 that, apart from two, haven't been released before. Plus now we also have the If Thief Remix EP featuring remixes by Disco, Faux Pas, Neotropic, 40 Thieves, S D Onions and Hot Cock.
THE IF IF and IF THIEF REMIX EP :: OUT NOW The If If is out now on Groovescooter Records in Australia and New York/London label 12 Apostles for the rest of the world.
AUSTRALIA: You can use the "Buy Now" button above or it should be in Australian shops JB, HMV, Fish, Hum or of course Red Eye or So Music in Newtown, Sydney. Downloads are nice but you don't get the 12 page booklet... with hidden messages...
Elsewhere it will be out through Cargo, or you can get copies here:
UK: Rhythm Online UK: Rough Trade USA: Brooklyn Collective USA: Halcyon Records <
7" single: 1200 copies only worldwide
In Australia try Red Eye or So Music in Newtown. In North America it may be easier to buy the 7" from
Halcyon or from
Brooklyn Collective. In the UK and Europe try Rough Trade or just click on the CFRB sleeve above to order from 12 Apostles.
Here's a video for it what we done wiv our mate Cam the cam (who made the camera bracket that enabled the cycling shots).
So... we're ollo and as you can tell we make music; we also DJ, present a radio show, make visuals, design stuff, and get drunk more often than is wise.
Check out our website CLICK HERE It has more information and goodies including MP3s you can download - nothing like what we do now but you may like them and they're free.
And here's Cyclic Defrost, Australia's best alternative music mag.
Err, what else? Our debut album came out in 2002 in Australia on Creative Vibes, entitled Sleeper. Contact us if you're interested in getting a copy; it has Goats Milk Silk on it among others. They're pretty rare (that means we didn't sell many). Below is the video for "Ping Pong" from "Sleeper", shot in Berlin by the very talented Doerte Kubillus.
We've also released individual tracks on Groovescooter, 12 Apostles, Kooky, Sauna Sessions and Instinctive Travels. Oh yeah we also send out email updates about what we're up to, so contact us if you want to join up.
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NEW TIMESLOT! EVERY MONDAY // ollo host EXTENDED PLAY on 2SER FM
We do a weekly radio show on community station 2SER 107.3 FM in Sydney, 9pm-10.30pm. Web streaming can be found at www.2SER.com, along with playlists so you can figure out if you'd like to listen. If you are overseas, in northen summer the time translates to: Europe 1-2.30pm; UK 12-1.30pm; US West Coast 4-5.30am; US East Coast 7-8.30am; NZ 11pm-12.30am. We play Stereolab to Herbert, Coil to Miwon, Inch-Time to Dabrye, Grauzone to Barbara Morgenstern, Lawrence English to OMD, Matmos to LFO, Malaria to Muslimgauze, Soft Pink Truth to Immersion... Slum, The Residents... and Neotropic to Prefuse 73, Tunng, The Necks, Cabaret Voltaire... and on and on and on... please see Extended Play @ 2SER.
If you think your music might fit send us a CD please: PO Box 292, Enmore NSW 2042, Australia... Thank you!
JAKE FLOWERS Fireworks DANCE ME PREGNANT Possession WIRE One Of Us SPIRITUALIZED Sweet Talk PALE SAINTS She Rides The Waves GREEN PEPPERS Carry Me Away GREEN PEPPERS So Near So Far DEAD KENNEDYS I Kill Children DANIEL WYLIE I Love America YOUNG AND SEXY Spill The Sky SLOW DOWN TALLAHASSEE The Beautiful Light JERRY JEFF WALKER Mr Bojangles JAMES Whiteboy OLLO The Campaign For Real Bread [Disco Skraut Rock Remix] PARIS Captain Morgan --------------------------------------------------------------------- WEBSITE : www. popscenewithjalal. com MYSPACE SITE : www. myspace. com/popscenewithjalal --------------------------------------------------------------------- POPSCENE with J*A*L*A*L Radio Weser [Bremen/Germany] 92.5 FM [antenne] / 101.85 FM [cable] Fridays at 18 hrs [since 1994]
