This article originally appeared on Noisey Australia.Melbourne poppers Cool Sounds have jumped out of the 2015 blocks with their second full-length release Healing Crystals. A follow up to last year's debut Melbourne Fashion, the new record is like a casual stroll along Glenlyon Road in their hometown suburb of Brunswick. It's a familiar sound that lopes along at an easy and breezy pace.This time around the sextet are working with Aussie friendly French label Beko Disques who have released stuff from Wizard Oz, Day Ravies, Nathan Roche, and Parading.On the new record the band have expanded their sound to incorporate a third guitar and better utilize the saxophone of Liam ‘Snowy’ Halliwell (The Ocean Party, Mining Boom, Snowy Nasdaq). They've also enlisted the backing vocal help from their of their buddies Amanda Roff (Harmony), Ashley Bundang (Zone Out, Totally Mild) and Zac Denton (The Ocean Party, Ciggie Witch).We had a chat to the band’s Nick Kearton about the album and the charms of Box Hill.Noisey: Is 2015 going to be a year for pop?
Nick Kearton: We thought so, until we listened to the U2 album that appeared on our phones one day. Now we think stadium is the genre that’s set to boom in 2015. In fact, after listening to the U2 album, we went to the Apple store at Doncaster Shoppingtown to ask if we could release Healing Crystals on every iPhone in the world. They seemed interested, but it didn’t work out.Are some or all of you from Box Hill? What are the best/worst things about Box Hill Central?
Snowy is from Wagga Wagga, but everyone else either currently lives in Box Hill or is from there. Box Hill Central is a total pleasure palace. There are so many good things, but if we have to pick a couple of highlights they would be the two dollar massage chairs and Platform 3 the bar in the food court is amazingly shit/awesome. The worst thing was when they closed the Red Rooster in the food court.The sax on the album is smooth as pureed pears. What directions was Snowy given besides “wail baby!”?
Mostly just “Wail Baby.” All we really asked of him was to make it ‘sexy,’ but ‘business casual’ at the same time. He nailed it.Amanda Roff from Harmony, Ashley Bundang from Totally Mild, and Zac Denton from Ciggie Witch help out on vocals. Was this just a group text message?
No, actually it was a real ordeal getting them on the album. We scoured Linkedin for ‘Back Up Singers / Corporate Entertainers’ and propositioned between 20-50 candidates. The only people to express an interest were Amanda, Ashley and Zac. Amanda and Ashley priced reasonably, but Zac’s sessional charge was out of control. He said he’s usually cheaper, but he really hated our songs, so up’d his fee.Is “Big League Chew” about shredded bubblegum?
Sadly, the song isn’t, but the title certainly is. If anyone is interested in copping a pack of big league chew, the IGA in Fairfield stock it. It’s apparently the gum everyone in the major league chews, which is really cool.The closing track “Pizzas” seems like it may be autobiographical. Is this something that happens/has happened?
Yep, it’s about Jack. He has worked at Bubba’s Pizza in Box Hill most of his life. He was recently promoted to assistant manager and got given a new nametag to prove it. We threw him a big party at Platform 3 to celebrate and everyone had a really fun time. If you tell him you’re a Cool Sounds fan when you order, he’ll probably chuck in a free garlic bread with your pizza.
January 11 – Melbourne at the Tote
January 15 – Canberra at Phoenix Bar
January 16 – Sydney at the Record Crete
January 18 – Melbourne at the Tote
Advertisement
Nick Kearton: We thought so, until we listened to the U2 album that appeared on our phones one day. Now we think stadium is the genre that’s set to boom in 2015. In fact, after listening to the U2 album, we went to the Apple store at Doncaster Shoppingtown to ask if we could release Healing Crystals on every iPhone in the world. They seemed interested, but it didn’t work out.Are some or all of you from Box Hill? What are the best/worst things about Box Hill Central?
Snowy is from Wagga Wagga, but everyone else either currently lives in Box Hill or is from there. Box Hill Central is a total pleasure palace. There are so many good things, but if we have to pick a couple of highlights they would be the two dollar massage chairs and Platform 3 the bar in the food court is amazingly shit/awesome. The worst thing was when they closed the Red Rooster in the food court.The sax on the album is smooth as pureed pears. What directions was Snowy given besides “wail baby!”?
Mostly just “Wail Baby.” All we really asked of him was to make it ‘sexy,’ but ‘business casual’ at the same time. He nailed it.
Advertisement
No, actually it was a real ordeal getting them on the album. We scoured Linkedin for ‘Back Up Singers / Corporate Entertainers’ and propositioned between 20-50 candidates. The only people to express an interest were Amanda, Ashley and Zac. Amanda and Ashley priced reasonably, but Zac’s sessional charge was out of control. He said he’s usually cheaper, but he really hated our songs, so up’d his fee.Is “Big League Chew” about shredded bubblegum?
Sadly, the song isn’t, but the title certainly is. If anyone is interested in copping a pack of big league chew, the IGA in Fairfield stock it. It’s apparently the gum everyone in the major league chews, which is really cool.The closing track “Pizzas” seems like it may be autobiographical. Is this something that happens/has happened?
Yep, it’s about Jack. He has worked at Bubba’s Pizza in Box Hill most of his life. He was recently promoted to assistant manager and got given a new nametag to prove it. We threw him a big party at Platform 3 to celebrate and everyone had a really fun time. If you tell him you’re a Cool Sounds fan when you order, he’ll probably chuck in a free garlic bread with your pizza.
"Healing Crystals" is available January 9 on Beko Disques.Catch Cool Sounds at these shows:
January 11 – Melbourne at the Tote
January 15 – Canberra at Phoenix Bar
January 16 – Sydney at the Record Crete
January 18 – Melbourne at the Tote