Secret Birds Concert – Part I from Paul W. Rankin on Vimeo .
'DOUBLE SNAKE HOLLOW' CASSETTE AVAILABLE NOW
ON WEIRD APPENDAGE
3 TRACKS, 32 MINS,
EDITION OF 40.
"When sounds gets sciencey, don't think Bunsen burners and bubbling liquids; think Secret Birds. The band itself is an evolution of the facets of the Brisbane music scene (in layman's terms - lots of dudes from lots of other bands) - they have 4, sometimes 5, sometimes 6 members - and they don't say so much as boo. All guitars, all drums and some keys, there surely must be a science to sounding so very hypnotic, so very down-tempo and so very intoxicating.
Double Snake Hollow is the bands debut cassette! With just three impressive tracks winding up both the A and B sides, title track Double Snake Hollow is thick and heady with vibrating reverb. The minimal, nihilistic sound of The Wizards Cloak beats down on your eardrums in a similar rhythm to rain trickling down a lonely sewer, and then, right about the time the folk-like guitar solo chimes in - the water reaches the depths of release (!) bursting into a river, and you, just like the rain, float away down a winding stream.
Look, it's all very mysterious and you really need to see-it, hear-it and feel-it live for yourself. BYO umbrellas, life jackets, hallucinogens."
- Lionel Bitchie fourthousand.com.au
Double Snake Hollow is the belated debut release of local atmospheric doom rock collective Secret Birds. It consists of three elongated pieces of music, each with sparse, lethargic rhythms and a focus on esoteric melodies drawn from chaotic oscillations. The tracks move structurally forward via the swelling of synthesised sounds and treated guitar lines, while samples, squeals and squalls add a rich textural depth. The result is a series of slow-burning soundscapes ripe for synaesthesia.
The atmosphere in The Wizard’s Cloak – for instance – ripples with arcane power amidst a nightmarish sense of bewilderment. The plucked acoustic outro is inversely a youthful daydream of hope and trepidation; and more vivid for it. My only complaint is that the EP comes on tape, which as a medium is both low fidelity and inconvenient to use. I mean, limited run physical product is great and all, but the format partially stifles what is otherwise a fantastic release.
- JAKEB SMITH ravemagazine.com.au
Secret Birds - Step Inn 18 May 2009
Secret Birds had the job of following up Triad, and did so by putting on one of their best shows. The band doesn't seem to be morphing from one gig to another as much anymore, having settled into a fairly steady lineup of two guitars, bass, drums and keys/ambience. It's difficult to explain the difference between a good Secret Birds show and a poor one - they all tend to consist of two or three lengthy jams based on a handful of heavy guitar riffs.
I suppose it all comes down to the effectiveness of the riff and the aptitude of the guitar noodling around it. For this show the riffs were at the higher end of the quality scale, and the band seemed to be really well in sync. In fact, for once it seemed as though Secret Birds weren't just jamming on a riff, instead playing actual compositions that were stretched out over extended periods of time. Maybe the songs that they played at this show were no less structured than previously, but the differences between sections were less subtle and the band moved between them more tightly. Whatever the reasons, the general consensus seemed to be that The Rational Academy had their work cut out for them to meet the standards that had been displayed up until that point in the evening.
before-hollywood.blogspot.com
SECRET BIRDS T-SHIRT
So myspace has decided you cant sell stuff up here anymore, send us a msg if you want on, $15AUD + $5 postage.
PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE: WOMENS SMALL, MENS SMALL, M OR L
Secret Birds - Vocal Solo from Paul W. Rankin on Vimeo .
"For a while now, Secret Birds have been one of the most interesting bands in Brisbane to watch on stage. With two drummers, a keyboardist, a guitarist and a bassist, tonight’s set is no exception. Secret Birds seem to have a simple premise: heavy, hyponotic riffs over ridiculously powerful drumming and tonight’s set is a great example of it."
- fasterlouder.com
"Their droning soundscapes dominate the room, but the noise-rock of Secret Birds seems to serve as a background annoyance for much of the crowd. The impressive twelve-string electric wielded by one of the guitarists suits their style well. A seated drummer provides a more deft touch, allowing a second percussionist to thrash away on tom and snare. Their lengthy pieces progress with a nod and a yell from lead guitarist D.Black, who contorts amid the apocalyptic squall of sound. Though their doom-rock is slightly out of place in this environment, the delivery is mature and exhilarating."
- Rave Magazine
Past Shows:
2009
May 18th at Step Inn w/ Triad + Rational Academy
May 11th at Rics
January 24th at The Zoo w/ Bone Xyster
January 22nd at Step Inn w/ Mystic Eyes
2008
December 20th at The Zoo w/ IHH, Sekiden, Del Toro
November 28th at The Zoo w/ Pivot and My Disco
October 25th at Ric's w/ Anchorage
October 5th at Audiopollen w/ Black Vitamins and Black Birches
September 20th at the Globe w/ Laura and Del Toro
September 19th at Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba w/ Blank Realm
September 13th house show w/ Good God
August 28th at T+G w/ Anonymeye
August 3rd at Ric's w/ Diamond Sea
July 11th at the Globe w/ Gray Daturas and Candlesnuffer
June 21st at Ric's w/Blank Realm
June 7th at Tongue and Groove w/Rational Academy
April 24th at The Zoo w/My Disco
April 17th at Wolfgang w/ Die!Die!Die!
March 20th at the Troubador w/ Quebec
March 8th at Ric's with No Anchor
31st January at the Zoo with Scul Hazzards
5th January 2008 at Ric's with Feathers
2007
31st December at Rosies with Influenza
23rd November with Vulture Culture
17th November House Show Petrie Tce with Ghosts of Television
16th November at Ric's with Ghosts of Television
15th October at Ric's with Nikko
20th May at Ric's with Anonymeye
2006
8th July at Ric's with Crab Smasher
20th Jun 2006 at Ric's with Qua + Kes