Reissues

Reissues

Because I work for a magazine during the day (www.musicaustraliaguide.com) I have been sent the latest series of Triffids re-issues. Now, I'd admit a certain bias given my all encompassing thirst for all things Dave related... but they are exceptional. They look, sound and feel superb.... As many of you will have read, Treeless Plain has been re-created from its original 8 track (8!) masters by the person who created them in the first place, Nick Mainsbridge (who also produced Dave's Love of Will). I love the powerful , melodic simplicity of the songs, remembering that TP contains bona fide Dave classics in the form of Red Pony and Hell of a Summer. It also contains the glorious My Baby Thinks She's A Train (with early '80s Aus music's coolest guitar hook; open to hearing a slinkier, tighter, cooler one; nice work R McComb) , a song Lynden Barber was enthused about in Sydney back in January. Beautiful Waste should be bought because it contains one of David's greatest lyrics combined with one of The Triffids' finest. most fiery performances in the form of Field of Glass. And it's never been issued on CD before. Amazing in 2008! BW also contains the Lawson Square Infirmary EP with notes on the story of its recording by James Paterson. G Lee has seen fit – happily – to include some of Dave's scrawls on inspirational films, songs he wanted to flag for reference when they were recording, etc. So, BW sounds like what it is; a note from the past that tells us something about the time and place from whence it came. Also... that big radio station in Sydney... what 's it called? :) Back in the day they recorded a live Triffids set (before G Lee joined the band, right on the eve of recording Treeless Plain) containing Old Ghost Rider, My Baby ,Hell of a Summer and more. The opening interview/introduction is a cack. The tongue tied and rather ra ra announcer bounces in with 'we could call you a Sydney band now couldn't we?' , fresh as a daisy. Dave responds by saying "Er...No. We can't quite grant that honour just yet. But, we are IN Sydney. That's for sure"
His droll refusal to go along with the schtick goes right over the announcer's head. Gold. The Black Swan is so deep, messy sprawling and downright interesting I will have to post on this super record another time. It won't take two months this time. Promise