Maillist
FOCUS ON: The Lovetones
- Official Website >>
- Label: Tee Pee Records >>
- Genre: Pop
Feel the soul and keep the faith - listen to The Lovetones!
Hells Angels and the Rolling Stones. Altamont, 1969. The end of the era during which there was nothing funny about peace, love and understanding and the precursor to a time in which Mick Jaggers cry of Gimme Shelter would be all the more relevant.
Yet love hadnt been quelled completely. It was merely laying dormant, waiting for those individuals with the correct vision to bring it to light once more. Australias own Matthew J Tow is one of those people. Some may recall Tow from his days in Drop City, a band with psychedelia in mind, five critically acclaimed albums and tour friends in the Stone Roses, Stereolab and You Am I amongst others. After Drop City disbanded in 2000, Tow toured the US and UK with long-time friends, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, until a new sound emerged in his head. Love was soon reborn in the form of The Lovetones. Completing the band are Serge Luca (guitar), Matthew Sigley (bass/keyboards) and Chris Cobb (drums).
In 2002 The Lovetones released their debut album, Be What You Want, creating a palpable buzz amongst critics from the likes of Creem and Rolling Stone magazine. The latter hailed Tows songwriting worthy of Ray Davies, Bowie, Lennon and McCartney: a bold statement, yet in his case, completely justified.
After enjoying the critical success of Be What You Want, touring Australia extensively and even supporting Morrissey, during his first ever solo Australian tour, Tow contributed two brilliant tracks to the Brian Jonestown Massacres sonic mastery of 2003, ...And This Is Our Music. In the same year, UK based Fire Records invited the Lovetones to contribute to the James Joyce Chamber Music project alongside Mercury Rev, Mike Watt, Sonic Youth and REMs Peter Buck. 2004 saw the release of the Stars EP, coinciding with The Lovetones supporting the Brian Jonestown Massacre on their infamous and now legendary tour of Australia.
Meditations is the latest cut from The Lovetones, revealing a stunning development in Tows songwriting. Its hard to believe Meditations is only the bands second album, as its perfect balance between control and caprice represents a feat that even The Beatles only accomplished in the latter-end of their career. Meditations swings and dances through a soundscape of radiant pop, ethereal psychedelia and truly remarkable vocal melodies that arch for the stars. It is soulful and sincere, an album that nods gently and respectfully to the pop masters of the sixties whilst never lacking in original vision.
Having been released in the US through Tee Pee Records in late 2005, it will now reach the shores of Australia through Undercover Musics Yep! Records and MGM Distribution. Meanwhile, The Lovetones are preparing to return to the US in March 2006 for an appearance at SxSW.
Feel the soul and keep the faith - listen to The Lovetones!
