Video Premiere: Courtney Barnett ‘History Eraser’
News posted Friday, October 19 2012 at 12:00 PM.
Related: Jen Cloher, Courtney Barnett.
Single of the year? It’s certainly up there. Courtney Barnett has outdone herself with her new single and we get to premiere the clip, in all its competitive-bicycling glory. The first missive from a new EP due early next year, ‘History Eraser’ is a brilliant ramble of lyrics that name-checks The Stones, The Triffids, ticket inspectors, hipsters and all those people who go to “arty school.”
Barnett reckons she “subconsciously re-wrote” both Bob Dylan's ‘115th Dream’ and Nick Cave’s ‘Dig, Lazarus, Dig!’ for the song, which also has the free-wheeling cheekiness of Dan Kelly in there. Barnett makes the most of the arid voice heard all over this year’s breakthrough EP I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris, sparking a charismatic friction between her half-spoken, running-commentary verses and that dead-eyed chorus.
Recorded at Head Gap in Melbourne and mixed by Dann Hume (Alpine, Lisa Mitchell), the song features Barnett’s band The Courtney Barnetts as well as The Drones’ Dan Luscombe on guitar and Mellotron. As for the clip, it sees her and her bandmates on bikes around Northcote, Thornbury and Brunswick, peaking in a race in colour-coded uniforms around the track at Brunswick Cycling Club.
‘History Eraser’ will also be available on an upcoming split 7" with Jen Cloher featuring the latter’s ‘Mount Beauty’, on which Barnett plays guitar. The pair are setting off next month on a dual headline tour behind the split, and that might just be Cloher making a cameo in this clip as a cheering fan. And of course, Barnett is playing a Mess + Noise Lunchbox gig at a secret location (to be disclosed Nov. 16) as part of Melbourne Music Week. Lots of chances to hear this tune firsthand, then.
COURTNEY BARNETT/JEN CLOHER TOUR
Thursday, November 1 – Front Gallery, Canberra, ACT
Friday, November 2 – The Vanguard, Sydney, NSW
Friday, November 9 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide, SA
Friday, November 16 – Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick, VIC
Saturday, November 17 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday, November 22 – M&N Lunchbox gig @ Where?House, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday, November 22 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday, December 1 – Republic Bar, Hobart, TAS
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I think i might have to go buy some Bon Soy at Piedmonte's after watching this.
Saw Courtney just the other week working behind the bar at the NSC. Haven't seen Immigrant Union for a while. I think everyone in that clip is in a band with at least one other person.
widest film format ever?!
good though.. innit
I like this heaps.
great tune
Winner.
most australian record ever