The Great Dividing Range (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Great Dividing Range


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Origin = Maitland, NSW, Australia
Genre = Alt-Country Indie rock
Years_active = 2004 – present
Label = V-Dub Records
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Current_members = Scott Blackley Chris Alford Leif Tisdell Luke Bennett Matt Stokes
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The Great Dividing Range are an Australian alt-country band consisting of Scott Blackley, Chris Alford, Leif Tisdell, Matt Stokes and Luke Bennett. Blackley was a singer and songwriter in the 1990's indie rock band, Muzzy Pep.

History

Songwriter Scott Blackley recorded the band's self-titled album between May and October 2004. A full band was subsequently formed for live performances; this consisted of Blackley, ex-Muzzy Pep members Luke Bennett (drums) Nick Munnings (bass), Stephen Bissett (guitar) and backing singer/harmonica player/percussionist Rocky Higgins. Keyboard player/slide guitarist Chris Alford (Russell Morris Band, Marcia Hines Band) joined in late 2004 just as bass player Munnings departed to join burgeoning popsters Faker. Bass player Leif Tisdell (ex-Jacuzzi Suit) joined in early 2005 as Rocky Higgins left. The band toured to Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney and Western NSW throughout 2005 alongside bands such as Richmond Fontaine, Faker and Bluebottle Kiss. Throughout 2006, the band was working on songs for their second album, which was recorded early in 2007 and released in March, 2008.

The Great Dividing Range (Album)

The eponymous debut album was produced at Studio Couch in Fremantle, Western Australia by Shaun O'Callaghan (producer of the John Butler Trio, Eskimo Joe and others). It was released in early 2005 by [http://www.nonzero.com.au NonZero Records] and distributed by [http://www.shock.com.au Shock Records] . The tracks "Comfort Zone" and "Prisoner of Nostalgia" received airplay on radio station [http://triplej.abc.net.au/ Triple J] and the album gained extensive airplay on the [http://www.abc.net.au/radio/localradio/ ABC] regional network. Reviews from such publications as [http://www.drummedia.com.au/ Drum Media] and [http://www.timeoff.com.au/ Time Off] were enthusiastic and favourable.

Most of the album can be said to be within the genre of alt-country but ranging from the catchy ("Comfort Zone") to psychedelic ("Starry Starry") to philosophical ("Mr Tailor") and verging on experimental ("Age of.......").

Persona Vista

The band's second album was released in March 2008. The singles "Into The Light" and "Ju-Ju Ride" were broadcast around the country on radio and television (ABC's RAGE) and the album was made available in CD form and through digital outlets (iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster).

Music

The music of the Great Dividing Range shows the influences of country rock pioneers such as Gram Parsons and The Byrds, adding the guitar stylings and rhythms of the lo-fi movement (eg. Pavement, Guided by Voices) overlaid with experimental synthesizer and noise manipulation effects. The harmonic content is sometimes complex; simple progressions like that of "Comfort Zone" or "Blank Canvas" give way to polychordal sections ("Mr Tailor"), chromatic passages ("Loneliness Is Two Faced") or atonal ramblings ("Age of.....").

Lyrics

Scott Blackley's lyrics deal with existential musings and ennui; the protagonist is often passively observing, frequently hopeful, or just mildly sarcastic. A sense of hoping but possibly disappointment is exemplified in the opening of "Loneliness is Two Faced":

"You're stumbling around the departure lounge" "but you never ever get on a plane" "you're hanging around the arrival gates" "waiting for someone to hold up your name" "but you know time is careless; it's jealous of you"

However, the middle section of "Mr Tailor" has provoked much comment and discussion as to its meaning. Opinions are much divided on this stanza:

"So measure me up, mister tailor" "'cause I'm gonna need a sharp looking suit" "So I don't look like a failure" "When we're in court, fighting for sport and we're trying...." "to split up the loot."

Discography

Albums

*"The Great Dividing Range" (2005, Non Zero/Shock)
*"Persona Vista" (2008, V-Dub Recordings)

External links

* [http://www.thegreatdividingrange.com Official Site]
* [http://www.nonzero.com.au/bands2.php?band=The%20Great%20Dividing%20Range The Great Dividing Range page at NonZero Records]
* [http://www.shock.com.au/releases/info.asp?release_ID=129172 CD Release info at Shock Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thegreatdividingrange MySpace profile]