My Disco
Encyclopedia
My Disco is an Australian rock band.
, Australia
in 2003, their first public appearance was performed at The Good Morning Captain, a cafe in Collingwood
, a suburb of Melbourne. My Disco became known for their use of unconventional venues, having organized performances on side-walks, in art galleries, and warehouses alike.
November 2003 saw the release of their debut 7" and marked their first Australian tour. The band soon became renowned for their arduous tour ethic, demonstrated in extensive tours of remote areas of Australia, Southeast Asia
, and Mexico
.
In 2004, Liam Andrews was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Although the band continued with the occasional show, Andrews' illness forced the band into hiatus. International tours to Southeast Asia
, New Zealand
and an extensive two months in North America
followed soon after Andrews recovered.
Their debut album Cancer was released in late 2006, touring the album to the United States
, New Zealand
, and the United Kingdom
, as well as appearing at the Meredith Music Festival
in Victoria
.
In October 2007, the band recorded their second album, entitled Paradise, at Electrical Audio
with Steve Albini
of Shellac
.
During their world tour in 2009, two bags were stolen in Toronto
, one containing a passport belonging to Liam Andrews, this had implications for shows in the United States
. Evan Patterson from Louisville
band Young Widows replaced Liam Andrews on bass for a number of US shows. The pre-existing passports were donated to the "All Your Bass Fund"
In 2010, the band released their third album, Little Joy, recording started in March 2010 at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
s. 'Agitated' and 'angular' are two words often used to describe their guitars, with a minimalist feel present within all instrumentation.
The release of Cancer marked a new level of emphasis on minimalism. The Andrews brothers' use of the aluminium-neck Travis Bean
TB2000 bass and the EGC Series Two
guitar, was also a notable change, the aluminium neck offering increased sustain and a distinctive clear, clean, biting tone.
Live performances before the release of Paradise showcased another refinement of their minimalist sound, with several songs consisting of just one note, repetitive single-sentence vocals and long-sustained guitar chords. Drumlines, although minimal, still offer dance-like, albeit disjointed, beats.
Paradise has been described as reductive art-rock.
My Disco's music has been classified as minimalist, indie-rock, post-punk
, and dance music
amongst others.
Background
Formed in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2003, their first public appearance was performed at The Good Morning Captain, a cafe in Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, a suburb of Melbourne. My Disco became known for their use of unconventional venues, having organized performances on side-walks, in art galleries, and warehouses alike.
November 2003 saw the release of their debut 7" and marked their first Australian tour. The band soon became renowned for their arduous tour ethic, demonstrated in extensive tours of remote areas of Australia, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In 2004, Liam Andrews was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Although the band continued with the occasional show, Andrews' illness forced the band into hiatus. International tours to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and an extensive two months in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
followed soon after Andrews recovered.
Their debut album Cancer was released in late 2006, touring the album to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, as well as appearing at the Meredith Music Festival
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
In October 2007, the band recorded their second album, entitled Paradise, at Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio is a recording facility founded in Chicago, Illinois by musician and recording engineer Steve Albini in 1997. Hundreds of independent music projects have been recorded there....
with Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
of Shellac
Shellac (band)
Shellac is an American group composed of Steve Albini , Bob Weston and Todd Trainer...
.
During their world tour in 2009, two bags were stolen in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, one containing a passport belonging to Liam Andrews, this had implications for shows in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Evan Patterson from Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
band Young Widows replaced Liam Andrews on bass for a number of US shows. The pre-existing passports were donated to the "All Your Bass Fund"
In 2010, the band released their third album, Little Joy, recording started in March 2010 at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
Musical direction
Before 2006, My Disco was notable for their use of complex time signatureTime signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s. 'Agitated' and 'angular' are two words often used to describe their guitars, with a minimalist feel present within all instrumentation.
The release of Cancer marked a new level of emphasis on minimalism. The Andrews brothers' use of the aluminium-neck Travis Bean
Travis Bean
Clifford Travis Bean was an American luthier and machinist from California.In 1974, he partnered with Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer to start Travis Bean Guitars, which made high-end electric guitars and basses featuring machined aluminum necks. This was an unusual design, departing from more...
TB2000 bass and the EGC Series Two
Electrical Guitar Company
The Electrical Guitar Company of Pensacola, Florida, USA, is a manufacturer of all-aluminium and aluminium-neck electric guitars. Operated by machinist and luthier Kevin Burkett, it produces limited run and custom designed guitars for musicians predominantly in North America, Europe and to a...
guitar, was also a notable change, the aluminium neck offering increased sustain and a distinctive clear, clean, biting tone.
Live performances before the release of Paradise showcased another refinement of their minimalist sound, with several songs consisting of just one note, repetitive single-sentence vocals and long-sustained guitar chords. Drumlines, although minimal, still offer dance-like, albeit disjointed, beats.
Paradise has been described as reductive art-rock.
My Disco's music has been classified as minimalist, indie-rock, post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, and dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
amongst others.
Members
- Liam Andrews - bass, vocals
- Benjamin Andrews - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Rohan Rebeiro - drums
Studio Albums
- CancerCancer (album)Cancer is an album by My Disco, released on November 7, 2006. The album marked a change in direction for the band, further into math rock, shifting towards minimalism, a theme further explored and refined in the following album Paradise. The album was recorded in mid 2006.The album was released...
(2006) - ParadiseParadise (My Disco album)Paradise is an album by My Disco, released on 23 February 2008. The cover photo was one of a series taken by Warwick Baker amongst opal mines in South Australia. The album marked a further shift towards minimalism, a continuing theme from the previous album Cancer...
(2008) - Little Joy (2010)
Singles & EPs
- "Collapse Of An Erratic Lung" 7" (2003); 3" CD EP Re-release (2005, Eerie Stratum)
- "Language Of Numbers" 10" and CD EP (2004)
- "Collapse Of An Erratic Lung/Language Of Numbers" CD Re-release (2005, Golden Brown Recordings)
- "Some Clown (Off Minor) b/w Troubled Receiver (MY DISCO)" 7" (2005, Golden Brown Recordings)
- "Antler" split 7" with Young WidowsYoung WidowsYoung Widows is an American post-hardcore band from Louisville, Kentucky. They have released three full-length albums and six split EPs.-History:...
(Temporary Residence Limited, 2009) - "Young" 12" b/w Qua Remix (Mistletone Records)
Tours
- AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08) - New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(2005, 07, 09) - Southeast AsiaSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
(2005, 08) - North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(2005, 06, 07, 09, 10) - United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(2006, 09) - MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(2007) - EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(2009) - JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(2008)