Today we launch our new album Faux Wave to the world. You can find it on most of the usual online platforms.

What a crazy year, and to think that this is a small consolation prize for all the upheaval of the last several months. We were lucky to record this album just before the lockdown happened around the globe.

Faux Wave is probably our best album. I say ‘probably’, because you can never tell with the midsts of time what is ‘the best’. It somehow feels like a renewal even though it’s a continuation. There is something special about it which doesn’t make me flinch when I hear it, and also gives me that feeling of “Why didn’t we try this earlier?!” It’s a collaborative effort, all of us bring something to this album that gives it a unity unlike before.

On about Day 4 of recording, I asked John Lee (who recorded, mixed and mastered Faux Wave) what kind of genre he thought we were. “Are we post-punk or art rock? What are we?” After some back and forth, John thought we had a No-Wave vibe to what we do. That was a high compliment in my book even though I’m thinking we’re nowhere even approximating Teenage Jesus and the Jerks or The Contortions. But, what would I know…. Later, in the evening when we were having dinner I was reflecting on the genre conversation again. Jessica Moore, without missing a beat simply added “No-Wave? More like faux wave!” We were simultaneously thrilled. The name stuck.

The title Faux Wave is interchangeable as our newly defined genre, or simply it is the encapsulating theme of this new album. And well, what an age we live in. The age of ‘fake news’, the age of products with shorter and shorter lifespans, of short-termism, environmental distress, more plastics, of reckoning with colonial heritages, upheaval, upheaval, upheaval. The list could go on and on….

So….let’s hear it for our favourite waves – ocean, sound, micro, blow, tidal, x-ray, radio and faux.

And, may this Faux Wave find you safe and well.

Ian

Okay! Today we launch a new single Banker On TV. It is a short faux wave ditty about a never-ending story we all know – money, wealth, the empire of greed, swiping right with consequence.

We’re multi-taskers alright, so of course the subject matter is an arterial spray of constant vigilance. Actually, the song contains many of the sort of topics we get really excited about at The Stress of Leisure. None of this “Do they love me?”, “Who am I?” mumbo jumbo. We’re hardcore realists/fantasists!

New album Faux Wave comes out November 13. You can discover the single Banker On TV here and here, and also here….

Spiral Stairs, aka Scott Kannberg, co-founder of the legendary band Pavement, is playing Brisbane Easter Saturday (April 20), and The Stress is proud to be joining him and band on the night. Also on the bill are those non-excitable top notch types Eyes Ninety and the emerging Electric Zebra. This is going to be better than a date with Ikea and what’s more, it’s in our old stomping ground of Stones Corner.

Hark back to the early nineties and a younger Ian listened to Pavement almost relentlessly, lots of lyrics basically being imprinted on Ian’s cerebral cortex. Have loved seeing both Spiral and Malkmus play out since their Pavement days. So much great music. The quality continues.

We can’t wait to play this one. We’re ready to be hyp-no-tized!

The Stress of Leisure are playing one final gig for 2018 at The Bearded Lady, Saturday December 22. We’re part of the festivities for radio station 4ZZZ’s End Of Year Party, and will be playing alongside Bad Bangers and Adele Pickvance and the Chandeliers. Catch us under the mistletoe…

2018 has been a great year and we’ve played all over Australia, from Cairns to Hobart to Perth and Adelaide, joining friends Regurgitator and Custard on tour. Got to support the mighty Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds as well around May, and also play alongside many of our friends here in the Brisbane music scene at many fine events such as this 4ZZZ one.

We’ve been in the rehearsal room working up ideas so hopefully 2019 will see a whole swag of new material from us. In fact the fun part of being in a band is coming up with new tunes.

So I guess, on that note, and considering we’ve had a year to remember, we’re surely CHRISTMAS POSITIVE.

So the Regurgitator ‘Life Support’ tour has concluded. Despite Jane Elliott, our boss on the bass, being the only one not to get a cold from the experience, we had a great time.

We followed our friends Regurgitator and Glitoris all over Australia – Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Kingscliff, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Opening for most of the tour we had a ringside seat to all the action. Glitoris were well received everywhere, people loved them and their glittery getup. They really made us up ‘our game’ as they’ve got an impressive presence. As for the ‘Gurge they managed to pack out every venue we played, loyal fans turning out in droves jumping up and down in unison. We would especially look forward to the group chant of I Will Lick Your Asshole.., as well as the craziness of The Song Formerly Known As – the crowd reaction was priceless. The new songs off their latest album Headroxx also worked a treat.

There are a number of accounts of the various nights – Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, and Adelaide. But our favourite is of the Brisbane night when the reviewer states “They also asked the audience to not judge Greg”. The Greg in question, was none other than Mr. Greg Jard who did sound (and motivational support) for all the bands on tour. Ok, we like him! We dedicated our song Sex Time to Greg and Regurgitator.

Big thanks to Regurgitator and Paul (their manager) for inviting us along, and for all the support.

(Photo credit above to Katherine O’Malley)

This August The Stress of Leisure are going to be joining the mighty Regurgitator on a national tour. Also joining us are Canberra’s Glitoris. It’s all very excellent.

Ever since the single ‘Blubber boy’ the Gurge have had an imprint on my musical brain. They were the band you heard at parties everywhere in 90s Brisbane, all types playing ’em on their stereos. So much fun, with a political conscience. Recorded their first full length album in a broken Bangkok studio, I remember that. I also remember to trying awkwardly dance to the ‘Kong Foo Sing’ in some Valley nightclub, what feels like eons ago. They’ve got lots of tunes to make you move actually. That’s probably why their songs from 20 years ago still live strong today. People love to have a good time!

Looking forward to playing in Perth and Hobart for the first time, and as well Adelaide. This tour is going to be heaps fun. As long as Jane Elliott remembers to pick up the keyboard stand and ensure it is tagged and in oversized baggage, I think everything will go swimmingly well.

Do yourself a favour.

Ian