The Rational Academy
Encyclopedia
The Rational Academy are a 4 (sometimes 5, sometimes 6) piece band based in Brisbane
, Australia
. After a slew of 7" vinyl EP's they released their debut album "A heart against your own" in 2008 to international acclaim. Produced by Lawrence English
, "A Heart Against Your Own" married the Academy's pop leanings and guitar heavy wall of sound approach with deeper avante garde and experimental interests. In 2009 they released their sophomore effort "Swans" and were awarded "Best New Music / Experimental" at the QMusic QSong awards, where they were also nominated for "Song of the Year".
, drone
and pop
. Following McHughs departure in 2008, Benjamin once again extended the groups lineup to include (at its core) Amelia Golding and Matt Deasy whilst also featuring long time collaborators Lawrence English and Matt Jonas as well as Recording Engineer Todd Dixon.
They have shared the stage with the likes of Deerhunter
, Deerhoof, Mum, Xiu Xiu
, The Blow, Scout Nibblet, Dear Nora, Grouper
, Spoon & Australian groups Art of Fighting and Holly Throsby. In 2008 they were invited by the Queensland Gallery of Modern art to perform as part of the "Andy Warhol Up Late" exhibition program.
The Rational Academy also create music under the moniker "White Bears of Norway" - the name being taken from an early Rational Academy song.
In 2007 Australian music journal Faster Louder wrote of them - "The next big thing. The IT band. We've been told this too often before. One listen to THE RATIONAL ACADEMY and smugly you can know this time Richard Kingsmill hasn't beaten you to it!"
In 2008 they released their debut album internationally through Someone Good to critical acclaim, following up in 2009 with the mini album "Swans", once again released through Someone Good
called it "an essential Brisbane release".
Boomkat
in Europe named it album of the week - "A Heart Against Your Own" is one of those rare albums that takes the fundamentals of the guitar band format and somehow organically expands upon that framework, incorporating the modernity of the electronic avant-garde without you even noticing you're listening to something as awkward and experimental as it actually is. Massive Recommendation"
American music journal Tokafi had this to say - “A Heart against your own” is an album which contains everything needed to fall head over heels for it – yet its minutely worked-out details and sonic finesse turn it into a work demanding respect as well."
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, 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...
. After a slew of 7" vinyl EP's they released their debut album "A heart against your own" in 2008 to international acclaim. Produced by Lawrence English
Lawrence English
Lawrence English is a composer, media artist and curator living in Brisbane, Australia. For over a decade he has been an increasingly active force in Australian sound art and experimental music - both as a creator and curator.- Sound works :...
, "A Heart Against Your Own" married the Academy's pop leanings and guitar heavy wall of sound approach with deeper avante garde and experimental interests. In 2009 they released their sophomore effort "Swans" and were awarded "Best New Music / Experimental" at the QMusic QSong awards, where they were also nominated for "Song of the Year".
Career
The earliest incarnation of the group focused around the songwriting of Benjamin Thompson and Meredith McHugh, a partnership which anchored The Rational Academy in the diverse musical worlds of cut-up folkFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, drone
Drone music
Drone music is a minimalist musical style that emphasizes the use of sustained or repeated sounds, notes, or tone-clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmonic variations throughout each piece compared to other musics...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Following McHughs departure in 2008, Benjamin once again extended the groups lineup to include (at its core) Amelia Golding and Matt Deasy whilst also featuring long time collaborators Lawrence English and Matt Jonas as well as Recording Engineer Todd Dixon.
They have shared the stage with the likes of Deerhunter
Deerhunter
Deerhunter is an American four-piece indie rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia. The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver, and Lockett Pundt, have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise rock, art...
, Deerhoof, Mum, Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
, The Blow, Scout Nibblet, Dear Nora, Grouper
Grouper (musician)
Grouper is the solo project for electro-acoustic ambient/noise musician Liz Harris, of Portland, Oregon. Harris' music is a mixture of softly-strummed guitar, Wurlitzer keys, and delicate vocals...
, Spoon & Australian groups Art of Fighting and Holly Throsby. In 2008 they were invited by the Queensland Gallery of Modern art to perform as part of the "Andy Warhol Up Late" exhibition program.
The Rational Academy also create music under the moniker "White Bears of Norway" - the name being taken from an early Rational Academy song.
In 2007 Australian music journal Faster Louder wrote of them - "The next big thing. The IT band. We've been told this too often before. One listen to THE RATIONAL ACADEMY and smugly you can know this time Richard Kingsmill hasn't beaten you to it!"
In 2008 they released their debut album internationally through Someone Good to critical acclaim, following up in 2009 with the mini album "Swans", once again released through Someone Good
Reception
Australia's Rave MagazineRave magazine
Rave was an Indian music magazine, launched in March 2002. Rave shut down in February 2009....
called it "an essential Brisbane release".
Boomkat
Boomkat
Boomkat is an electronic and pop music duo, with brother-and-sister Kellin and Taryn Manning. The group released their debut album Boomkatalog.One in 2003, and their second album A Million Trillion Stars in 2009...
in Europe named it album of the week - "A Heart Against Your Own" is one of those rare albums that takes the fundamentals of the guitar band format and somehow organically expands upon that framework, incorporating the modernity of the electronic avant-garde without you even noticing you're listening to something as awkward and experimental as it actually is. Massive Recommendation"
American music journal Tokafi had this to say - “A Heart against your own” is an album which contains everything needed to fall head over heels for it – yet its minutely worked-out details and sonic finesse turn it into a work demanding respect as well."
Discography
- "Swans" LP - 2009 Someone Good
- "A Heart Against Your Own" LP - 2008 Someone Good
- "Two Books / Handwritten Novels" 7"EP - 2007 Strong Cultures
- "(drums)" 7"EP - 2005 Medical Records