“It’s Melbourne Vs Sydney/time to pick your sides.” So sings Dan Kelly on his ebullient new single, taking Australia’s age-old rivalry as lyrical fodder for a meditative journey accompanied by an equally well-travelled sonic sojourn provided by Kelly’s talented Dream band.
Rather than siding with one capital over the other in the ongoing culture wars, the Melbourne-based songsmith is instead using the topical new tune to announce the details of his soon-to-be-released fourth studio album, his first since the 2010’s Dan Kelly’s Dream, and from the sounds of ‘Melbourne Vs Sydney’, things are still suitably surreal in the world of Paul Kelly’s uber-talented cousin.
Due early next year, the record is described as ” a mixtape about a journey up the east coast of Australia to the semi-mythical paradise of Northern New South Wales, with the odd sojourn to Berlin, Greece and Brooklyn.” Global in scope, the LP was recorded across the nation at “inner Melbourne mud brick studios, Nimbin porches, Sydney beach side apartments and even in the odd real studio when he’d saved up enough dosh.”
The results were mixed by London-based producer Aaron Cupples, whose history of polishing Aussie talent includes The Drones, Civil Civic, Standish/Carlyon and Snowman (R.I.P.).
Kelly and his Dream Band (Augie March’s Dave Williams, organ wiz Joe Cope, booker/muso Indra Adams, singing siblings Madeleine and Memphis Kelly) will be launching ‘Melbourne Vs Sydney’ with two headline gigs in… you guessed it, Melbourne and Sydney, this September.
Dig the new track (and it’s awesome Ben Montero artwork) and scope the launch dates below.
Dan Kelly ‘Melbourne Vs Sydney’ 2014 Launch Dates
Ticket info here
Sat 13 Sept – Howler, Brunswick VIC
w/ The Harpoons & Totally Mild
Fri 26 Sept Newtown Social Club, NSW
w/ Richard In Your Mind & Fraser A Gorman
Tickets and full info here.
