Coming 6 months after the release of “And Beep Test” Emlyn Johnson is back with “Nullarbor Mulch” - his second band effort, having dramatically disposed of the solo digital 4-track after 2020’s “Skakes”. Now, here, this time, Johnson is found jumping deeply into the red pond of classic rock, joined in the splash by the intoxicated Eldar “Edo” Ekic on Gat, the intrasyncopated Tyler Michie on Drums, and the interpolated Duncan “K. A” Strachan on Bass.
“Nullarbor Mulch” consists of 9 kilograms of tracks that break down into a few short rock and rollers, a couple of big drop Toyotas, and a sublime instrumental somewhat with the sheen of Peter Green.
The album’s naturist sound, recorded live in a brick and azzy gardening centre in the cultural fringe of South Fremantle, was all captured in a couple of days in monumentally sweaty conditions during the famously hot Perth Christmas of 2021 where chilled cloths were used to cool expensive silver laptops by supreme audio actualiser Sam Rocchi.
‘As a band we’d done a couple of gigs at The Buff. I wanted to record with these blokes but I looked around and it was mighty hot. I asked Albi what he thought and he put me on to Sam Rocchi,’ Johnson says.’
‘I’d heard that Johnson was difficult to work with,’ says Rocchi, ‘but I was at least keen to drink Swanny D’s and unwind a cable.’
The album opens with slow bowler “Come Back To Me My Jack Lee” - a song of missing, Ekic’s slide guitar wistful, Johnson belting out long notes into the void.
Track 7 “My Olivetti” is a glistening ode to the Lettera 32 typewriter, the Tassie bush and its "juvee gums".
Track 8 “Time And Again”... “Paucity of the Crabtree? The Bulldog? The Windsock?” This rock and roller is about what?
‘We didn’t super dooper know the songs, but we did it in a way that was none too punishing,’ says drummer Michie.
‘It was great working with Sam. I’d always wanted to work with Sam in the studio and it was great being in the studio, working with him, working with Sam,’ says Strachan.
'I wore a slide, not the whole time,' says Ekic.
“Nullarbor Mulch” artwork was digitally conjured by Van Diemensburg hermit Roarshark.
‘I spent two hours masking the background out of the photograph for it to not be used in the final version. Always be living in the comfort zone,’ Roarshark says.
“Nullarbor Mulch” launches April 29. The album is available to buy on Bandcamp, and stream on the Spotted Quail, Tinder Box, Napster, Kazaa, and Altavista.
credits
released April 14, 2022
Songs: Emlyn Johnson
Electric Guitar: Edo Ekic
Bass: Dunc Strachan
Drums: Tyler Michie
Backing Vox: Randos
Recorded, Mixed, Mastered: Sam Rocchi
Artwork: Roarshark
Cara Beth Satalino's delicately melodic yet resilient indie folk songs sparkle with lyrical wit and hard-won wisdom. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 10, 2024
supported by 5 fans who also own “Nullarbor Mulch”
I have listened to this album ALOT this year, at home in the studio and in my shop. Gently nostalgic and transportive, it has beautiful timing in each song and I usually listen to the alb more than twice each time I play it. HUGE FAN GIRL. eurosavage