KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

Relaxed in a post-album release splendour, you couldn’t meet a more chilled out guy than Stu Mackenzie.

“It’s a pretty nice day in Melbourne today, so I’m just sitting outside basking in the sunlight.”

Frontman to quite possibly one of the most bizarrely named bands in Australian history, Mackenzie, as well as the six other members that comprise rock outfit King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, have had a year of productivity to say the least. Their latest album Float Along – Fill Your Lungs has been tracking well since it’s release, scoring album of the week at underground radio station FBi Social as well as Syn FM and The Music. The guys have also accumulated two awards at the Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, but for now they remain humble and oblivious.

“It’s nice to have that overwhelming positivity from people,” Mackenzie enthuses.

“It’s been a really, really fun year. We started working on this album pretty early in the year and we finished it quite early but to get it finished and mixed ready for release takes time.”

The idea of so many individuals in one creative space does sound quite crowded, but Mackenzie can only speak of the perks of their collaboration process.

“We definitely bounce ideas off each other. There are seven of us, and five of us are songwriters so everyone in the band is capable of putting songs together,” Mackenzie explains.

“It’s an inspiring band to be in because everyone pushes and bounces off each other. There aren’t any songs that we have done that have aspects from everyone because it’s hard to do that with seven people.”

It’s a system that seems to work incredibly well to create their unique sound. This album boasts psychedelic riffs and experimental post-production. Their latest single in particular, I’m Not a Man Unless I Have a Women, is a song that provides an interesting listen.

“It is really quite basic songwriting, basic lyrics and quite a basic chord progression, but the production of it is pretty unusual,” Mackenzie explains.

“We mixed in dual-mono, where every instrument is mixed either hard left or hard right. So it’s kind of like a duet of lead vocals and instruments, which I think makes it from a simple song into a weird song.”

With a touring schedule fast approaching, will there be a chance to hear this fantastic new album in its entirety?

“We haven’t made a decision yet, we need to start doing some rehearsing first!” (CD)

Nov 2, The Standard, lvl 3, 383 Bourke St, Surry Hills, $20+bf, wearethestandard.com.au.

‘Float Along – Fill Your Lungs’ out now via Flightless/Dot Dash