| I S I T R E A L ? |
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| Released Feb 2007 on Low Transit Industries, distributed by Inertia. While sitting at a Brisbane bar, Larry and Marc enjoyed a beer or two and watched the night people pass by just inches away from the pub's large open windows, facing onto a mall. A delightful couple stopped, the man shouting: 'is that a wig?' in Larry's direction. Seconds later the woman reaches through the open window grabbing a fist full of Larry's hair whilst slurring with suprising volume: 'is it real?' not waiting for an answer both questioners stagger back off into the night. IS IT REAL? was recorded by Simon Grounds over a large part of 2006 with real and propper equipment and expertise. There are 13 songs : while you were talking, let somebody down, out of the storm, on the bay, kidnapped, the rubber carpet, herge, last train to belgrave, ok alright, boogie rock, don't know, supposed to be, tables turned. It comes in at approximately 43mins in total. The songs and sounds are diverse, some majestic moments, some etheral dreamings, some elemental happy chugging, some angry power. There is something for everyone and everything for someone here. The lovely Shane Moritz has furnished with liner notes in the form of a sparkling rock n roll story featuring many famous lines and figures. Mia from New Estate has designed the art featuring a painting called 'kingman II, 38x137cm, oil and thread on canvas. It is better looking than your ipod. IS IT REAL? IS Available from LTI and a record store near you from February. stay tuned to news page for launch and tour details. |
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| a few words from: ROLLING STONE: |
| VICE MAGAZINE: The problem with reviewing local bands is that there is always the chance, should you slag them off, that said band may hunt you down and pour beer on your head at places like Cherry. I saw this happen to Ben Butler once after he slated Grinspoon. Phil wasn�t happy. Luckily New Estate have figured out a really clever way to avoid such awkwardness and that�s by releasing an album that totally kicks ass and encapsulates everything good about indie music ever. SANDY COAST MESS AND NOISE: Melbourne four-piece New Estate once had a drummer who had never heard of The Eagles, and it shows: an altogether more edgy muse has obviously inspired the glistening, My Bloody Valentine-meets-Dinosaur Jr. brand of noise rock found on the band�s second album, Is It Real? They also feature singer/guitarist Mia Schoen of the sadly defunct Sleepy Township and echoes of that group can be heard on delicate opener 'While You Were Talking', which brings to mind a more earthbound, indie-pop leaning Cocteau Twins. Elsewhere, sturdy melodies nestle beneath blizzards of guitar noise and the choppy post-punk of �Out of the Storm� puts New Estate ahead of a slew of Gang of Four imitators. Several of the latter tracks drift towards anonymity, but what really sets New Estate apart is the hazy cool of their fuzz rock � there�s a vast difference between Don Henley and company takin� it easy and Thurston Moore deadpanning that it takes a teenage riot to get him out of bed and Is It Real? falls on the right side of that divide. Their music is laconic but never lazy; it takes a lot of effort to sound this unaffected. by Daniel Herborn |
| WHILE YOU WERE TALKING from IS IT REAL? VIDEO |