|
| Intercooler |
 |
biography
|
artist discography
|
licensing
|
|
| |
"...It is a credit to Intercooler that they have recorded an album which is fresh and devoid of rock cliches. This is an album which gives the listener the impression that Intercooler are having fun doing their thing and recording their music. This feeling easily transfers itself to the listener and makes the album a rewarding and enjoyable listen. A solid debut album from a promising young band." - Drum Media, Sydney.
"...The album is packed to the rafters of power pop gems, which will later become classics in time with strong hooks and lyrics showcasing great depth with their songwriting and infectious melodies." - Rip It Up, Adelaide.
"Intercooler's strength is in their diversity - their set moves seamlessly from full bore rock'n'roll to beautiful melodic pop to country-tinged numbers - and they revel in every moment." - Time Off Magazine, Brisbane.
"These Brisbane boys have vocal style aplenty, delivered in wailing backing vocals, straight faced and charming lead melodies, and plenty of unexpected detours. It's dense and bombastic like The Who rather than sinewy like The Stones, but definitely delivered with a relish of the attitude and panache of that era. And such confidence is something worth bottling (or in this case recording)." - Inpress Magazine, Melbourne.
These were just some of the responses from the release of Intercooler's promising debut album, Old School is the New School(2002).
Intercooler came to be at the beginning of 2001, when drummer and vocalist Damon Cox joined the already active songwritingteam of vocalist and guitarist Phil Ballantyne, bassist Joel Potter and guitarist Michael Caso. (Later replaced by Darek Mudge) The collective love affair with pop, guitars and vocal melodies, blended with a raw rock live energy, wasalways the foundation of what Intercooler were going to be.
After a few months of solid rehearsals the band entered the studio and began work on their debut long player. It was here in the studio that Intercooler's sound really began to evolve.
Ballantyne's truly unique sense of vocal melody blendedeffortlessly with Cox'sharmonies. The band's twin melodic guitar work enabled the sound elements of pop to shine through, while maintaining a distinct rocking edge.
Intercooler's heartfelt lyricsare written aboutall the things which have kept rock 'n' roll kicking along for decades - love, love lost and love never realised. Somehow, these songs present a unique twist, exclusive to the Brisbane outfit.
On the album's completion, the band toured relentlessly up and down the east coast of Australia, playing shows with the likes of Teenage Fanclub, The Buzzcocks, J Mascis, Gomez, and more recently Maximo Park, Preston School Of Industry and The Delgados.
4 songs from Old School... were added to high rotation on national radio network Triple J, including live favourites Goodness of the Girl and Leaflet.Videos were shot for 2 of the tracks and both enjoyed airplay on ABC's Fly TV, Rage and also Channel V. Intercooler was responsible for knocking Jennifer Lopez off thepole positionon Fly TV's buzz clip of the week, as voted by viewers. Not a minor achievement for an independent band.
Intercooler continued to triumph playing the Queensland leg of the Big Day Out and Livid festivals in 2003. Their first U.S tour commenced in September of the same year. Intercooler supported the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age, plus they appeared at Wisconsin's renowned Summerjam festival. The tour also included their own club shows in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and more.
In 2004 and again in 2005 the boys returned to the U.S for showcase tours including Musexpo 2005 in Los Angeles, as well as more touring in Australia.
2004 also saw the release of the EP Dance Of A Thousand Promises which spent 41 weeks in the top 20 of the Australian Independent Charts and had 2 songs added to high rotation nationally. (Cream Puff and If I Try) Videos for both songs enjoyed airplay on Rage, MTV Australia and Channel V.
The release gained the band great reviews once again...
“This most recent release, a five track EP, proves beyond doubt their fervent love of both pop and rock, and their genius for constructing tight melodic riff based gems, infectious and exilarating. There's the energetic immediacy of tracks like Lovin and Leavin and Kinks-by-way-of-Cars feel of Cream Puff, but also more measured numbers which display a deeper core of melody and an emerging talent for more epic arrangements, as in the melancholy If I Try and You're Not Gonna Hurt Us Again, a stunning five minute track that could be the best song Teenage Fanclub never wrote.” – Scene Magazine
“While it's only an EP, Dance Of A Thousand Promises is in many ways the most fully realised and arse-kicking Intercooler release to date. The band's live shows have done nothing but improve over the last couple of years, to the point that they are now one of the most blistering acts Brisbane has to offer. This release, while by no means all straight-out rock, demonstrates the band's razor sharp cohesion and direction. With an almost 60s-inspired love of melody and a guns-drawn approach to chorus attack, Intercooler shimmy through the best five tracks they've ever put their names to.” -Time Off Magazine
Intercooler have recently played Big Day Out 2006 with Iggy and The Stooges, The White Stripes, Mars Volta, Franz Ferdinand and more.
They are currently in the studio recording their second full length with producer Magoo (Midnight Oil, Regurgitator, Jebediah) and are well positioned to take their music to a wider audience. Expect a July release with tour dates to follow...
Intercooler are:
(L-R)
Darek Mudge
Guitars
Joel Potter
Bass
Damon Cox
Drums/Vocals
Phil Ballantyne
Vocals/Guitars
Website: www.intercoolermusic.com
|
|
| |
|
|
|
