Newly signed to Fat Possum Records, Australian act Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders will release their latest album, ‘Playmates’, in North America on Feb 24th.
Three years after the acclaimed ‘HURTSVILLE’ and a move from the inner city of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Jack Ladder has reunited with his band, The Dreamlanders - Kirin J. Callinan (who released his own album ‘Embracism’ in 2013 on Terrible / XL), Laurence Pike (also of PVT) and Donny Benet. Sharon Van Etten contributed vocals to two tracks. The album was produced by Kim Moyes (of The Presets) and mixed by David Wrench (Caribou, Jungle, FKA Twigs).
The first taste of the album, "Come On Back This Way" showcases a newfound lightness, weaving a glistening synth melody with a chorus duet and wordless backing from Van Etten. Though he’s hard to categorise, Stereogum might have come close when they described him as a "surrealist crooner”.
On working with J...
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Newly signed to Fat Possum Records, Australian act Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders will release their latest album, ‘Playmates’, in North America on Feb 24th.
Three years after the acclaimed ‘HURTSVILLE’ and a move from the inner city of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Jack Ladder has reunited with his band, The Dreamlanders - Kirin J. Callinan (who released his own album ‘Embracism’ in 2013 on Terrible / XL), Laurence Pike (also of PVT) and Donny Benet. Sharon Van Etten contributed vocals to two tracks. The album was produced by Kim Moyes (of The Presets) and mixed by David Wrench (Caribou, Jungle, FKA Twigs).
The first taste of the album, "Come On Back This Way" showcases a newfound lightness, weaving a glistening synth melody with a chorus duet and wordless backing from Van Etten. Though he’s hard to categorise, Stereogum might have come close when they described him as a "surrealist crooner”.
On working with Jack Ladder, Sharon Van Etten says, "When I first saw Jack Ladder...it blew me away. He's got a darkness to his vocals and lyrics but with a wink. It was really fun and an interesting challenge and his songs are killer. I feel lucky to have been a part of it."
‘Playmates’ is Jack Ladder’s fourth album and his previous two albums (2008’s ‘Love Is Gone’ and 2011’s ‘HURTSVILLE’) were shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. ‘Playmates’ was one of the most acclaimed Australian albums of the year soon after it was released there in late 2014.
After ‘HURTSVILLE’, Jack Ladder has evolved again, moving on from darker roads into a curious and unique musical world where bold synthesizers collide with pedal steel guitar, making a cohesive whole. The elements that remain are Ladder's one of a kind voice and an ability to draw the listener into his narratives, holding them there to the end.
Reviews for 'Playmates'
THE BRAG 4 stars "The appeal of his splintered romanticism is by no means a given, but once his work connects, you begin to feel as though it’s been fashioned specifically for you….Playmates has already made a persuasive pitch for album of the year."
THE VINE "whether it's romantic, moonlit, backwater towns or sullen basement lounges Ladder is soundtracking, the constant is in that solemn delivery. A sea in which to drown.”
THE THOUSANDS "It's tender, it's crushing, and it's creepy; nothing else this year will hurt as good as. “
DOUBLE J RADIO (Feature Album) “The breadth of Ladder's ideas is staggering here, with elements of warped country, synthpop, noise rock and krautrock.”
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