Clouds (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
The Clouds are an indie rock
band
from Sydney
, Australia
formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis
(guitar and vocals) and Patricia "Trish" Young (bass and vocals). The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists. The Clouds' music is distinguished by rapid and unusual chord changes, creative bass guitar, and Phillis and Young's vocal harmonies.
The band's next release was the single "Say It" from the upcoming Octopus eight track 'mini' album that was recorded from March to May and released in October 1992.
In June 1993 recording began on the next album, Thunderhead, with the first single, "Bower of Bliss," released in August and the album in October. The second single, "Alchemy's Dead," was released in December.
In 1994 Clouds took a six-month tour to Europe and the United States, securing an American record deal with Elektra Records
. Whilst in London the EP Beetroot was recorded and released in Australia in October. Following the signing with Elektra Records
Thunderhead was released in the United States in March 1995 along with an EP (3 Songs) and a promotional "Bower of Bliss" single. This was followed in May with two more promotional releases; "Say It" and a four track called Bang Bang! which took three tracks from Octopus and "Boy Of Air" from Beetroot. However shortly after these releases Clouds were dumped by Elektra when the label dropped their entire overseas roster of bands.
Despite this setback, recording of new songs continued and two EPs were released Aquamarine and Panel Van, August and November 1995, respectively.
In May 1996, Red Eye Records released a remastered Penny Century which include a limited edition bonus CD of early songs called Pre-Raphaelite. This helped the album to become Gold (35,000 copies sold).
In 1996, the band released their third album Futura.
Although Phillis and Young were widely praised for their ability to harmonise their vocals, Clouds suffered from a lack of promotion and support within the industry and eventually disbanded in 1997. Although Phillis was living in a small town in Tasmania
and Young was living in London, the two occasionally reunited over the years to perform a few shows. Phillis went on to form The Dearhunters
and Roger Loves Betty, and also records and performs as a solo artist.
In late 2005, Phillis and Young resurfaced under the name The Girls From The Clouds, launching a 5-track EP titled Lalalala. In April 2007, however, the duo announced they had disbanded again.
On 14 June 2011, it was announced that The Clouds would reunite to tour with Jesus Jones
and The Wonder Stuff
in August 2011. In late 2011 and early 2012, the band will tour Australia in The Clouds Reunion Tour.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, 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...
formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis
Jodi Phillis
Jodi Christine Phillis is an Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist. She spent her childhood in California, United States, and moved back to Sydney, Australia to begin school. She quit school at 15, then spent 8 years working with surfwear company Mambo Graphics until she took up the role as...
(guitar and vocals) and Patricia "Trish" Young (bass and vocals). The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists. The Clouds' music is distinguished by rapid and unusual chord changes, creative bass guitar, and Phillis and Young's vocal harmonies.
History
Clouds secured a recording contract with Red Eye Records in 1990 and began recording the Clouds EP in May which was released in October, including the iconic Cloud Factory. The following April the Loot EP, featuring "Soul Eater" was released. In June recording for the Penny Century album began and was released in October 1991, reaching number 14 on the national mainstream charts in Australia. Two singles were released from the album: "Hieronymous" and "Anthem."The band's next release was the single "Say It" from the upcoming Octopus eight track 'mini' album that was recorded from March to May and released in October 1992.
In June 1993 recording began on the next album, Thunderhead, with the first single, "Bower of Bliss," released in August and the album in October. The second single, "Alchemy's Dead," was released in December.
In 1994 Clouds took a six-month tour to Europe and the United States, securing an American record deal with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Whilst in London the EP Beetroot was recorded and released in Australia in October. Following the signing with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
Thunderhead was released in the United States in March 1995 along with an EP (3 Songs) and a promotional "Bower of Bliss" single. This was followed in May with two more promotional releases; "Say It" and a four track called Bang Bang! which took three tracks from Octopus and "Boy Of Air" from Beetroot. However shortly after these releases Clouds were dumped by Elektra when the label dropped their entire overseas roster of bands.
Despite this setback, recording of new songs continued and two EPs were released Aquamarine and Panel Van, August and November 1995, respectively.
In May 1996, Red Eye Records released a remastered Penny Century which include a limited edition bonus CD of early songs called Pre-Raphaelite. This helped the album to become Gold (35,000 copies sold).
In 1996, the band released their third album Futura.
Although Phillis and Young were widely praised for their ability to harmonise their vocals, Clouds suffered from a lack of promotion and support within the industry and eventually disbanded in 1997. Although Phillis was living in a small town in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and Young was living in London, the two occasionally reunited over the years to perform a few shows. Phillis went on to form The Dearhunters
The Dearhunters
The Dearhunters were an indie and alternative country band from Sydney, Australia.-History:In 1998, Greg Hitchcock, Tim Oxley, Jodi Phillis and Raphael Whittingham, who were successful artists solo or in various other acts, formed The Dearhunters in a pub in Sydney. They first performed several...
and Roger Loves Betty, and also records and performs as a solo artist.
In late 2005, Phillis and Young resurfaced under the name The Girls From The Clouds, launching a 5-track EP titled Lalalala. In April 2007, however, the duo announced they had disbanded again.
On 14 June 2011, it was announced that The Clouds would reunite to tour with Jesus Jones
Jesus Jones
Jesus Jones are a British rock band. The Wiltshire-based group, formed in late 1988, recorded and performed in the late 1980s, throughout the 1990s, and into the 2000s. They are best remembered for their track, "Right Here, Right Now", an international hit and subsequently globally appropriated for...
and The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
in August 2011. In late 2011 and early 2012, the band will tour Australia in The Clouds Reunion Tour.
EPs
- Clouds, 1990
- Loot, 1991
- Beetroot, 1994
- Aquamarine, 1995
- Panel Van, 1995
- Pretty Greens, 1999. A bonus disc that came with the compilation "Favourites" (recordings of demos between 1995 and 1996).
Singles
- "Hieronymus", 1991
- "Anthem", 1992
- "Say It", 1992
- "Bower of Bliss", 1993
- "Alchemy's Dead", 1993
- "Here Now"/"Down From The Sky", 1996
- "Never Say Forever", 1997
External links
- The Clouds of Australia (official website)
- Unofficial Clouds website
- Clouds: The Website (unofficial)
- The Girls From The Clouds official website
- The Girls From the Clouds page
- J FILES: The Clouds (from ABC Radio JJJ)