Features
Classics: Pretty City
By Mess+Noise
M+N are asking bands about classic Australian albums – both the idea of a classic and some prime examples – as well as posing a few polite questions.
Answering this week is Hugh Matthews, vocalist/guitarist for Pretty City. The Melbourne “shoegrunge” trio have released a long string of singles and videos in recent memory, including ‘Part of Your Crowd’, ‘Ignoring My Friends’, ‘Falling In and Out of Love’, ‘Piece of the Puzzle’ and ‘Take It Back’. Their new single ‘Roll On’ prioritises the stoner/grunge side over the shoegaze, and they’re launching the single with a 10-date East Coast tour starting next Friday. Dates below.
[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Preamble
a. The new single is more stoner/psych-tinged than the shoegaze moments of your earlier songs, and ‘Piece of the Puzzle’ was more grunge. Is this a gradual shift in the band’s sound?
Yes, we’ve shifted towards a punchier sound in general, but elements of shoegaze and grunge remain. We’ve brought more elements into our sound, rather than shifting genres entirely. I think that finding the negative space between all these sub-genres is our ongoing mission as a band. We’d like to smash up all the existing ideas and make our own crazy mosaic.
b. How, when and why did Pretty City materialise as a band?
In late 2012 I decided that I wanted to make music with the intent of The White Stripes and cross it with a dreamy M83-type soundscape. I called Johnny [John-Luis Moretti, lead guitar and vocals] because he is 100% energy and rock and roll, and Drew [Andrew Schapper, drums] brings a lot of technique and polish and often says things like, “That sounds shit, you two are just jumping around.” He keeps us grounded. It’s a very free kind of band; we all solo a lot. We all like music with a bit of flair and tend to go for it as a group and see what happens.
c. How far away is an album now, after all these singles and EPs?
By the end of this year we will release our first album.
What Makes a Classic?
a. What are some defining qualities that make a classic record?
We talk about this a lot when we are on the road! I kind of obsess over what makes music emotively potent. Music needs to be complex on some level and aesthetically appealing. Then a basic human message needs to surge through it all and turn it into a classic. As a famous meerkat once said, “Simples!”
b. Name a recent Australian record that already feels like a classic.
It’s an obvious choice but Tame Impala really nailed the last record. Lonerism has simple songs, a message and amazing musicality.
c. What was the first classic Australian record someone introduced you to?
Jet – Get Born was the first Australian record I really got into. I left my high school graduation to go see them and yell “TEN THIRTY FOUR, FLINDERS ST STATION!” with everyone.
d. Is there a classic ‘Australian sound’? If so, what is it?
The vastness of the country gives a special feeling of to a lot of Australian music. We are all trying to make sense of distances we can’t fathom.
e. Who’s your favourite Australian producer, past or present?
Jez Giddings (Kingswood, Airbourne): what a rock dog!
Five Classics
Tell us what these five classic Australian albums mean to you:
Cold Chisel East
‘Choirgirl’ is rad. I’ve just discovered that they sing in a flying V formation in the video! This is a good thing.
Radio Birdman Radios Appear
Just listened to some tracks: not really my vibe.
The Angels Face to Face
Tension and bite.
The Vines Highly Evolved
I love this album and I think we should have valued The Vines a little more as a music community. They got a rep as a freak show, but their tunes are so honest and emotive. I love all the self-indulgent slow songs that go “Hey hey la la ooooo” for like eight minutes. ‘1969’ is ballsy and beautiful and great.
You Am I Hi Fi Way
You Am I are like an eastern European stew. They take all the gristly bits of life and cook them till they break down into a delicious, rustic stew … of music. Tim Rogers somehow manages to make suburban boredom quite inspiring.
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Tour dates:
Fri, July 11 – The Loft, Gold Coast, QLD
Sat, July 12 – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane, QLD
Thurs, July 17 – RAD, Wollongong, NSW
Fri, July 18 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney, NSW
Sat, July 19 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Sun, July 27 – Beav’s Bar, Geelong, VIC
Thurs, July 31 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide, SA
Fri, Aug 1 – The Loft, Warrnambool, VIC
Sat, Aug 2 – The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, VIC
Fri, Aug 8 – Gasometer, Melbourne, VIC