DEEP SEA ARCADE

This local psychedelic underwater surf-rock quintet have been on the Sydney radio and live consciousness for some time now, which has much to do with their relentless touring and the staggered single releases over the past five years rather than any grand album release to make a statement of their arrival. So it passes that without much fanfare – but much anticipation – they should finally release their debut album Outlands – a work layered with ethereal sounds, infectious guitar hooks, booming drums and rousing pop melodies. When asked about why the album to so long to come about, DSA drummer Carlos Adura states: “The album took three and a half years to record. We didn’t have much money but we didn’t want to compromise on quality. We still wanted to get the best producers and work in the best studios we could afford”.

Since the songs began in the bedrooms of school friends Nic McKenzie (singer) and Nick Weaver (bass), they’ve slogged it out on long road trips domestically and abroad and spent time honing their sound, their songs and their craft; not sparing any attention to detail both within the music, the film clips (McKenzie directs all their videos) and with any record deals that would allow them to put out the record they’d envisioned. Not willing to jump on just any offer they held out for the right deal and the right relationships that would benefit the music – and the quality of Outlands is a testament to that. So after finding support and encouragement from indie label Ivy League Records they’ve let go of their baby and put it out to the world: “At the end of the day, we just want listeners to enjoy the songs as much as we do; that the songs grow on them and that they feel a sense of enjoyment and creativity”.

Currently on tour supporting Children Collide and with an imminent national support slot for Kaiser Chiefs before doing their own national tour in support of the album the boys still have a lot of ground to cover ahead, but do they intend on taking their sound abroad? “There’s nothing on the cards yet but the feeling is strong. We played a couple of festivals in Europe last year and the album’s being released in the US, UK, Japan and Europe so of course we’d like to expand our horizons”.

Mar 24, 8pm, Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney, $28.60+BF, 95503666, metrotheatre.com.au

May 15, The Hi-Fi, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park, $82.50+BF, thehifi.com.au