Tony Daunt likes to keep himself busy, and has been involved with Bernie Griffin and the Grifters, Tami Neilson, Donna Dean, The Blue Roses and especially Swampland. He put that band together some four years ago, and they have built quite a reputation in New Zealand, with a large following for their Sixties-styled swampy guitar sound. Swampland were quite rocky and edgy, and Tony had written a load of songs that didn’t fit, and his friends Kati and Balas (Sebi) suggested that he form another band to make this music available. Sebi played double bass, and initially it was just the two of them, trying to find the right people to give life to the vision. Tony also plays in The Blue Roses, and knew that band leader/frontman Kevin Place was experimenting with steel guitar, so offered him a place to play. The search for a drummer ended when Tony turned to his Swampland bandmate Chris, who knew exactly what was needed and jumped at the opportunity. The line-up was completed with Kati on backing vocals. During the recording, they realized that the acoustic guitar was an important part of their sound, and that they needed someone to provide it live, so invited Louis Jarlov to join.
This is country music, but with a dark and stark edge that delivers a poignancy that is quite unique. The sweetness of the steel guitar contrasts with the harsh vocal delivery and emptiness of the guitars to create something that is timeless, ageless – music of today, as well as being influenced by what has been before and inspiring what will be in the future. While Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, The Gun Club and Tex Perkins have all had an impact, this is a band creating music very much on their own terms. They know exactly what they want to achieve, which is to create songs through simplicity, develop emotional ambience, and to tell stories in a way that audiences can connect with and understand. By setting out their stall, and everyone signing on to the ideal, they have found it easy to all keep working in the same direction.
The songs on this album were written over a twenty or thirty-year period, and unlike most bands, here was an album already written that was looking for the right group of people to make it come alive. All those involved knew the vision from the outset, and their part in making it real. They have been gigging with label-mates Miss Peach & The Travellin’ Bones, and both bands appeal to those who like their music to be alternative and thought-provoking, hearkening back to classic sounds while making music that is both relevant and ground-breaking today.
