Bats - Foothill

Bats Foothill Label Flying Nun Erstveröffentlichung 13.11.2020 Format CD Lieferzeit 4 – 7 Werktage Preis 13,95 € (inkl. MwSt. zzgl. Versand)

In den späten 80ern gab es, nicht unwesentlich von der Spex befeuert, einen schönen Neuseeland-Hype, mit so großartigen Bands wie The Chills, Tall Dwarfs oder Bailter Space. Das maßgebliche Label, das den Tuatara-Sound vor allem zu Beginn der 90er mit erstaunlichem Erfolg der ganzen Welt näher brachte, heißt Flying Nun. Es existiert bis heute, ebenso wie die wunderbaren Bats. Die Band aus Christchurch veröffentlicht (in Originalbesetzung!) alle paar Jahre auch so schöne neue Alben wie jetzt „Foothills“, das tatsächlich genauso klingt wie mein Lieblingsalbum „The Law Of Things“ von 1988. Der Sound ist flirrender Gitarren-Jangle-Pop mit luftiger Feelies-Psychedelic-Note. Meist getragen von je einer akustischen und einer elektrischen Gitarre. Der Gesang von Robert Scott wird meist ebenfalls mit (Girl-) Harmonies unterstützt, was das Klangbild insgesamt sehr rund und harmonisch wirken last. Die Songs sind luftig, upliftend, melodisch, die Leadgitarre spielt teils erstaunliche Sachen, die vielleicht typisch für den neuseeländischen Sound sind. Die Songs sind so angenehm relaxed und unaufgeregt wie einst, weshalb das Album wohl nicht nur für mich eine nostalgische Zeitreise ins Indie-Wunderland am anderen Ende der Welt ermöglicht. (Joe Whirlypop)

Foothills is the 10th full-length album of The Bats. Spanning the last 38 years, The Bats have clocked nine incredible albums; each one seeing the band evolve with new material from the prolific songwriting hand of Robert Scott. Add to that tally the extra singles, b-sides, EPs, compilations and tribute songs they've recorded, creating a succinct setlist is a nearly impossible task. Foothills was recorded in Spring 2018 at a country retreat pop-up studio. At that time, 15 songs were captured and immortalised in the Canterbury foothills of the Southern Alps, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Only too well, The Bats know the possibilities, potentialities and sonic vistas that arise when one takes the reins for the recording process in a beautiful place that's on home turf. Robert Scott, on the making of Foothills has said "Time marches on... finally, we found a gap in our busy lives and chose a week to convene. We found a house that is usually inhabited by ski field workers _ Kowai Bush, near Springfield about an hour west of Christchurch and of course nestled in the foothills of the mighty Southern Alps. The songs had been written, demo'd and arranged for some time, but still with a little room for trying things out in the studio. Many carloads arrived at the house, full of amps guitars and recording gear, we set up camp and soon made it feel like home; coloured lights, a log fire, and home cooked meals in the kitchen. We worked fast, and within a few days had all the basic backing tracks done, live together in one room, the way we like to do it - it's all about `the feel' for songs like ours." The Bats must hold a record in New Zealand (perhaps the whole world, once The Rolling Stones throw in the towel) as a band that has survived with the same line-up for 38 years. No split ups, no reforming for nostalgia's sake. So far, half the band have spots in The New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame, vocalist/ guitarist Robert Scott (The Clean) and bassist/producer Paul Kean (Toy Love), and it's only a matter of time before lead guitarist Kaye Woodward and drummer Malcolm Grant find themselves in there too. The four-piece has created twisted wistful folk, psychedelic rock, bouncy twee pop, and everything in between, but whatever the genre, their sound is always distinctively, unmistakably The Bats.

Bats 3-CD Volume 1 21,95 €