Throughout the 80s and 90s, The Cruel Sea established itself as one of Australia’s greatest ever bands. Creating a sound that was truly unique, they enjoyed significant chart success, a worldwide following and multiple Aria awards.
Few people realize that The Cruel Sea had its origins as an instrumental band founded by guitarist Dan Rumour and drummer Jim Elliott.
April 08 Tour
As well as being the founder, Dan went on to become the major writing force of The Cruel Sea and was responsible for many of its hits.
The powerful surf-influenced instrumental sound created by Dan was a feel that the group maintained throughout its stellar ride.
His passion to continue that sound has been the inspiration for Jim Elliot and Dan to reunite and to form a new band.
Adelaide international Guitar Festival, November 2007
Together they make up Dan Rumour & The Drift - a quartet of versatile and experienced musicians whose feel is very much the sound of the early Cruel Sea.
Dan Rumour & The Drift first surfaced on last year’s highly acclaimed CD/DVD “Delightful Rain: A celebration of Australian surf musicâ€. For the project, the band recorded a handful of songs joining such luminaries as The Atlantics , Richard Clapton, Tamam Shud, Celibate Rifles, The Angry Tradesmen, Pigram Brothers and GANGgajang.
Released in mid October on the Bombora label, Dan Rumour & The Drift’s self-titled first studio album consists of 14 tightly crafted tracks including new versions of a couple of the classic “Sea†tracks. The album was recorded in and around Byron Bay. It certainly captures a warm, tropical, surf feel and is sure to be played all summer long. And beyond.
Reverb Central Review October, 2007
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The songs are relaxed and lovely, with strong emotional connections and flowing panoramic vision.
The Dan Rumour Band plays what you might call soft surf. The songs are relaxed and lovely, with strong emotional connections and flowing panoramic vision. Dan Rumour is the guitarist who created the sound of Australia's Cruel Sea.
You may know that the Sea began as an instrumental band, which make's his new band an obvious journey home.
In addition to Dan Rumour, the band includes ex-Cruel Sea member Jim Elliot , and former Wild Pumpkins At Midnight players Michael Turner and Nick Larkins. Rumour's roots are in the instrumentals of Australia's surf and rock scene of the sixties. This is a lovely CD of beautiful guitar music that emotes images of lagoons and gentle rain and sunshine.
Read the rest of the review of "Dan Rumour & the Drift" on Reverb Central, by Phil Dirt.
"Listening to the shimmering, old-world instrumentals that the guitarist leads here, it's easy to understand how an hour of music could yield so much - Rumour delivers more inspired imagination in three bars than most people manage in three songs... a collection of tunes that glide effortlessly from groove to gloriously relaxed groove."
Rolling Stone Magazine, Feb 2008 - Four Stars
"Dan Rumour knows how to turn the Australian summer into a tune... And it's a mighty sound."
Pacific Longboarder, Dec 2007