DARK HORSES are a group who are about spectacle, romance, mystery, the transcendental. They are about manifestos. They say: “If it feels slow, play it slower.” This was written on the wall of their studio. They are about music, but also a lot about the things that exist around the music, that a lot of people in 2012 seem to have forgotten about. They say: ‘We look good so you can hear our music.’ They also say: “We wear black because Rock’n’Roll is dead.” All of these things are important.
Their sound encompasses all sorts of reference points, from the obvious -Kraftwerk, Spacemen 3, Radiohead to all kinds of other music old and new: Country, soul, pop, psych, hip-hop, whatever. Lisa: “and for spiritual courage John Lee Hooker and Billie Holiday are never far away.”
“This is a band that does not operate by the rulebook, they defy the constrains of conventionality.”
**** ALBUM OF THE MONTH – Artrocker UK
Others share their enthusiasm. DARK HORSES have already found kindred spirits in the likes of A Place To Bury Strangers, Tame Impala, Black Mountain, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, all of whom have invited them on the road, recognizing a band who have the same mentality as they do. The latter Black Rebel’s Robert Levon Bean duets and co-wrote ‘Radio Offshore’, the AA side of the ‘Radio’ single. Kasabian, too, are disciples: Serge heard them and immediately wanted them – then only a few gigs old – to open for his band on their arena tour. “We were thrown in the deep end,” says Lisa. “It was terrifying, as it was wonderful.”
The bond was then further forged to the extent that Tom Meighan contributes guest vocals to the beautiful ‘Count Me In’, a song that now sits at the heart of DARK HORSES debut album ‘BLACK MUSIC’.
Another brother/hero/admirer who has played a significant role in the genesis of what is the DARK HORSES debut– in a much deeper way -is the Death In Vegas’s mainman RICHARD FEARLESS. He uprooted them to Michigan’s legendary ‘Key Club’ a former brothel, converted to recording studio. Whilst they bed hopped with The Kills, Fearless pumped the recordings through SLY STONE’S original Flickinger N32 mixing desk.
“Every now and then, we stumble across a new act that really excites us, and Dark Horses definitely fall into that category… We’ll be first in the queue when this hits the shelves. And we suggest you try and beat us to it.” Glamour Magazine UK
Among DARK HORSES number are Ali Tollervey, who does not play an instrument, but uses a camera and is considered as important a member as any other. ANDY BANG simply adds: “To a Dark Horse a camera is as important as his distortion pedal.
Another seemingly superfluous yet utterly important member is TOMMY CHAIN, whose name comes from his thrashing of a metal chain as a percussive element. There had been a chain on the recorded version of a song called ‘No Dice’, and it was decided that this would be a crucial element to bring to the live set.
Having someone enigmatic onstage in a personalized leather jacket whose sonic purpose is to thrash a steel chain is a clear statement of intent: it’s theatrical, confrontational and sexual. That is DARK HORSES. Live, their songs are in the main either opiated slow or upbeat, either way they pulsate. The guitars are played correspondingly dirty and loud, or gentle and soft.
Black Music is released November 9th in Australia/New Zealand on Clementine Music distributed by Sony Music Australia. Dark Horses are touring Australia in November on Harvest Festival and will be supporting Beck AND Sigur Ros on their Harvest sideshows
www.clementinemusic.com.au | www.darkhorsesmusic.com
DARK HORSES
AUSTRALIAN TOUR NOVEMBER 2012
Harvest Festival, Beck & Sigur Ros Support dates:
SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER – WERRIBEE PARK, MELBOURNE
SUNDAY 11TH NOVEMBER – WERRIBEE PARK, MELBOURNE ***SOLD OUT***
TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER – PERTH, BELVOIR AMPITHEATRE – SIGUR ROS SUPPORT
WEDNESDAY 14TH NOVEMBER – STATE THEATRE, SYDNEY – BECK SUPPORT
THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER – ADELAIDE, THEBARTON THEATRE – SIGUR ROS SUPPORT
SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER – PARRAMATTA PARK, SYDNEY
SUNDAY 18TH NOVEMBER – CITY BOTANIC GARDENS, BRISBANE
www.clementinemusic.com.au | www.darkhorsesmusic.com