Crepes Channel Four Sydney launch this week!
Crepes have just released their debut album, Channel Four, a disarmingly earnest exploration of young love, aspiration, self-doubt and lost relationships. It includes the singles “Sexyland” and
The band launch the album next month in Sydney this week!
Thu 7th December at Waywards, Sydney
LISTEN TO LEAD SINGLE ‘SEXYLAND’
Led by the fanciful charm of singer/multi-instrumentalist Tim Karmouche (The Murlocs, Dreamin’ Wild), Crepes came about in Ballarat, Australia through highschool friends, brothers Nick Robbins (drums) and Pat Robbins (bass). The band later grew to include lead guitarist Sam Cooper (formerly of Fraser A. Gorman) and keyboardist Jackson Dahlenburg (Tropical Snakes, Robot Fox), after relocating to Melbourne.
Channeling inspirations as diverse as DEVO, Gary Numan and Cass McCombs, Crepes’ retro-edged pop ranges from the jaunty, surf-glazed jangle of “Cold Summers”, to the dreamy and introspective synth strains of “Size of Your Town”.
Their first new music since their 2015 debut self-titled EP, 2017 sees Crepes reemerge with a newfound gusto. Holding true to the quintet’s signature brand of quaint and catchy guitar-pop, Channel Four‘s playfully titled first offering, “Sexyland”, chugs along with the zeal of a group eager to make an impression. Shimmering keys flicker over a driving rhythm and steel string slide-guitar, hinting at the band’s love of mid-‘70s rock ‘n’ roll (think Paul McCartney’s Wings, or Steely Dan’s more stripped-back moments), also evident in “9-5 Summer Breakers” and “Mild Conversation”. More introspective, at times experimental, moments can be found in the cosmic-calypso of “Four Years Time” and the hazy, Numan-indebted title track, “Channel Four”.
“Channel Four depicts the highs, lows and dreams of a young person kicking it ’round Melbourne town,” says Karmouche. “Making it was a huge learning process for the band, and we’re looking forward to finally sharing it!”
Self-produced alongside David M Turner esq. (Redspencer, Tourist Dollars), the record was fully realised with the help of Woods’ Jarvis Taveniere (Mild High Club, Charlie Hilton), and Joseph Carra (Courtney Barnett, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Dick Diver) on mixing and mastering duties respectively.
Crepes’ much-adored EP release in 2015 saw the quintet gain live support slots with the likes of DIIV, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Pond’s Nicholas Allbrook, whilst earning praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, NME, triple j and BIRP (landing a spot in their coveted ‘Best of 2014’ compilation), along with Bobby Alessi (of Alessi Brothers fame) for their cover of 1976 hit “Seabird”. Channel Four will no doubt find a place in the hearts of those enchanted by Crepes’ debut EP.
Spunk Records founder Aaron Curnow said of the signing, “Crepes have a beautiful warmth to their music. While they sound Australian to me, they aren’t making music that a lot of Australian bands are making right now. Its feel good and heart-felt at the same time!”