Yes, they are known for penning that perfect indie pop song, songs like ‘Unsettle My Heart’, ‘Awkward Orchard Orchid’, ‘Clean’ and ‘Tell Someone Who Cares’ that have stretched beyond our shores to the outer reaches of the globe to establish the band as a favourite of international tastemakers.
But this time around, a foray into a hip-hop side project left songwriter Robin Waters inspired enough to play around with something for his own band that he might not normally attempt, both musically and lyrically. Upon taking it back to his equally experimentally-minded band mates, it was quickly unanimous that ‘Echo Stick Guitars’ was to be the new single.
Having always been ambitious in their classic, forward-thinking indie pop, ‘Echo Stick Guitars’ sees that experimental nature pushed to the extreme, taking a sharp left turn for The Boat People sound.Grounded with a hip-hop beat and an electro groove, ‘Echo Stick Guitars’, like any good hip-hop stimulated song, was inspired by monetary living:
“British Dollars/American Pounds/So expensive and profound/paper living/pass it round”
Recorded with John Castle (Washington, The Cat Empire) at the Shed Studio, the song is the first glimpse at the third album from The Boat People, due in early 2010.
With the single officially being released this Friday, the band will be hitting the road in November to test out their new sounds, joining Red Riders on their Drown In Colour Tour, for which they’ve also enlisted up-starts Last Dinosaurs – they’ll finish the year with shows in both Sydney and Brisbane with pop-crooners, The Paper Scissors.
Friday, Nov 13 | Manly Fishos, Sydney NSW
with Red Riders and Last Dinosaurs
Friday, Nov 20 | The Globe, Brisbane QLD
with Red Riders and Last Dinosaurs
Saturday, Nov 28 | Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
with Red Riders and Last Dinosaurs
Friday, Dec 4 | Stag Hotel, Sydney NSW
with The Paper Scissors & Boy and Bear
Saturday, Dec 5 | FANS, Brisbane QLD
with The Paper Scissors