STACK May 2016 Issue 139

82 / 101

In a match made in classical heaven, treasured musical theatre and
opera icon Marina Prior and Australia's premier tenor, Mark Vincent,
have recorded an album of duets. Vincent won Australia's Got Talent
seven years ago (at just 15 years old), and counts Prior as one of his
all-time influences; Prior has praised Vincent's ability but also the
"simpatico" musical relationship the two share. Together features some
of the best-loved classics and operatic pieces in history, and proves
Prior's comment absolutely spot on.
MARINA PRIOR &
MARK VINCENT
Together
by Marina
Prior and Mark
Vincent is out
now via Sony.
visit MUSIC
04 MAY 2016
MUSIC
De La Soul’s seminal 1989 release
3 Feet High and Rising is
recorded for just US$13,000 using
just a clutch of samples, a Casio
drum machine and a harmonizer.
Toby Mott’s the Grey Organisation
designs the album artwork after
completing a number of covers for
Tommy Boy Records. Mott invites the
hip hop trio to a warehouse where
he photographs them lying on the floor in a triangle whilst he hangs
precariously from a step ladder. The concept art is designed for a
12-inch record cover, so Mott adds a Day-Glo background and uses
Posca paint pens – popular with graffiti artists at the time – to draw
the daisies on an acetate overlay. The influential album proves to be a
commercial hit, propelling De La Soul to instant global success.
WHAT'S THE STORY?
We have a look back at the fascinating tales behind some of our
favourite album covers.
THIS MONTH: 3 Feet High And Rising, De La Soul
INTERVIEW
More than a few dozen cooks
have not spoiled the rich broth that
is Sierra Kilo Alpha, the newest release from
southern collective, Melbourne Ska Orchestra;
in fact, the breadth of contributed experience,
playful experimentation and enthusiastic writing
gave bandleader and producer Nicky Bomba more
magic to work with – and then refine. “We’ve
all been recording long enough to know that the
studio environment needs to be efficient and
disciplined, otherwise the energy flounders,”
Bomba tells us. “It was like being on a space
mission for two weeks.” An interesting allusion,
seeing as the theme of outer space is wound
all about the release. “At the time there were
a lot of new cosmic discoveries coming out of
the scientific world: new planets, gravitational
concepts and orbits. It was kinda written in the
stars,” he says.
As for the balance of recording and touring
members, Bomba says “each song has its special
blend”; he calls up Tower of Power, James
Brown and Supercharge to describe the distinct
NICKY BOMBA
MELBOURNE
SKA
ORCHESTRA
“snap” of recent single Funkchunk, “but with a
baritone thickness to give it weight. We spent a
bit of time getting that balance right, and we also
had the luxury of several remixes to squeeze the
best juice.”
Fun and hope are synonymous with the Ska style,
but there’s one other energy which contributes
to its essence, and which Bomba says the band
wants to convey: community. "The birth of
Ska was synonymous with Jamaica becoming
independent from Great Britain in the ‘60s,” he
explains. “The fact that we tour, work and play
together and have a real sense of family with a
band this size is testament to the respect we
have for each other, and the music. The multi-
cultural make-up of the band, mixed with the
vastly different characters on this ramshackle
boat defies logic, yet driven by the right mindset
we can embark on great adventures."
continued
Sprucy guitar, tavern piano, funny
little single-note riffs resembling
those that swoop through The Ballad
of John and Yoko like birds, lots of
lazy tambo and alternately grizzly and
earnest vocals – all of these sunny
day elements elevate Twin Peaks
into original territory, despite the
distinctly throwback nature of their
influences (we’re going with The
Stones). The exuberant Chicagoans
are releasing their third album this
month and the cherries on top are the
group’s first ever Australian shows
– May 7, 8 and 10 across Brisbane,
Melbourne and Sydney. Double check
for details, and
get into Down In Heaven.
TWIN PEAKS
Down In Heaven by
Twin Peaks is out May 13 via
Communion/Caroline.
Sierra Kilo Alpha
by Melbourne Ska
Orchestra is out now via
Universal.