Back in June, Melbourne psychedelic rockers The Murlocs dropped their fifth studio album on Flightless Records.
Titled Bittersweet Demons, 'Uncle Murl', as the band is affectionately dubbed, share a collection of songs reflecting on the people who leave a profound imprint on their lives; the saviours and hell raisers and assorted other mystifying characters. The most personal and boldly confident work yet, the album sets that storytelling to 11 infectious tracks written mostly on piano, lending a greater emotional intensity to the band’s restless and radiant brand of garage-rock. What emerges is a beautifully complex body of work, one that shines a light on the fragilities of human nature while inducing the glorious head rush that accompanies any Murlocs outing.
As we lose ourselves in this exuberant new work, it seems appropriate to also go back in time to a Friday afternoon in February 2014 when The Murlocs graced Studio 5 with their presence. It was the last day of Drive Live that year. The band played on Stone Love in front of a live studio audience, delivering half an hour of their signature old-world rhythm and blues-tinged psychedelia, bolstered by the unmistakable vocals and harmonica breakdowns of lead singer Ambrose Kenny-Smith.
Tune in to Garageland on Tuesday August 24 to hear the entire session and in the interim, revisit their live set via video:
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