The Clouds (Australian band)

Last updated

The Clouds
The Clouds Corner 2014.jpg
The Clouds performing at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne in 2014
Background information
Also known asClouds
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Indie rock
Years active1989–1997
2011–present
Labels Red Eye Records
Elektra Records (USA)
Members Jodi Phillis (guitar, vocals)
Trish Young (bass, vocals)
David Easton (guitar)
Raphael Whittingham (drums)
Past membersRobert Phelan (guitar)
Stuart Eadie (drums)
Andrew Byrnes (drums)
Ben Nightingale (guitar)

The Clouds (also called just Clouds) are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis (guitar and vocals) and Patricia "Trish" Young (bass and vocals). The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists. The Clouds' music is distinguished by rapid and unusual chord changes, creative bass guitar, and Phillis and Young's vocal harmonies. They released 4 albums and numerous EPs and singles before breaking up in 1997. They reformed in 2011.

Contents

History

1989-1993: Penny Century, Octopus & Thunderhead

The Clouds were one of Australia's most promising acts[ citation needed ] in the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with other up-and-comers like Ratcat, Falling Joys, Tall Tales and True and The Hummingbirds.

The Clouds secured a recording contract with Red Eye Records in 1990 and began recording their debut EP in May which was released in October, titled Cloud Factory. The EP peaked at number 118 on the ARIA charts [1] In April 1991, they released the EP Loot , featuring the song "Soul Eater". Loot peaked at number 22 on the ARIA chart. [2]

In mid 1991, recording for the Penny Century album began. The album was released in October 1991, and peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Chart. [2] It spawned the singles "Hieronymous" and "Anthem".

In September 1992, the band released "Say It", the lead single from their second studio album Octopus which was released in October 1992. Octopus peaked at number 24 on the ARIA charts. [2]

In June 1993, recording began on the third album, Thunderhead. The lead single "Bower of Bliss" was released in August. Thunderhead was released in October, and peaked at number 30 on the ARIA chart. [2] The second single, "Alchemy's Dead" was released in December.

1994-1999: Futura and break up

In 1994, Clouds took a six-month tour to Europe and the United States, securing an American record deal with Elektra Records.[ citation needed ] Whilst in London the EP Beetroot was recorded. It was released in Australia in October 1994 and peaked at number 65 on the ARIA chart.[ citation needed ]

Following the signing with Elektra Records Thunderhead was released in the United States in March 1995 along with numerous promotional singles. [3] However, shortly after these releases The Clouds were dumped by Elektra. Despite this setback, recording of new songs continued and two singles were released in 1995, "Aquamarine" and "Panel Van" in August and November 1995, respectively.[ citation needed ]

In May 1996, Red Eye Records released a re-released Penny Century which included a limited edition bonus CD of early songs called Pre-Raphaelite. This helped the album to reach gold accreditation in Australia (35,000 copies sold).[ citation needed ]

In November 1996, the band released their fourth studio album Futura which peaked at number 50 on the ARIA chart. [2] The group eventually disbanded in 1997.

In 1999, the compilation album Favourites was released.

2000-present: reformation

Although Phillis was living in a small town in Tasmania and Young was living in London, the two occasionally reunited over the years to perform a few shows. Phillis went on to form The Dearhunters and Roger Loves Betty, and also records and performs as a solo artist.[ citation needed ]

In late 2005, Phillis and Young resurfaced under the name The Girls from the Clouds, releasing a 5-track EP titled Lalalala. In April 2007, however, the duo announced they had disbanded again. [4]

The Clouds reunited to tour with Jesus Jones and The Wonder Stuff in August 2011. [5] In late 2011 and early 2012, the band toured Australia in The Clouds Reunion Tour. [6]

In February 2017, The Clouds released a new song, "Mabel's Bookshop" from an EP Zaffre, their first new music in 20 years. [7] Two more songs followed in 2017 and 2019.

They toured at the 2017 The Day on the Green with Blondie and Cyndi Lauper.

In December 2022, The Clouds toured in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Penny Century . [8]

Members

Timeline

The Clouds (Australian band)

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[2]
US CMJ
[9]
Penny Century 23-
Octopus
  • Released: October 1992
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (517089-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
24-
Thunderhead
  • Released: October 1993
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (521148-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
3031
Futura
  • Released: November 1996
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (527983-2)
  • Formats: CD
50-

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details
TitleAlbum details
Collage
  • Released: 1996 (US Only)
  • Label: Altered Records (ALT 3114-2)
  • Formats: CD
  • Notes: EP tracks and demos recorded between 1991 and 1995.
Favourites
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Universal (547911-2)
  • Formats: 2x CD

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
TitleExtended play detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[2] [1]
Cloud Factory
  • Released: October 1990
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (877772-2)
  • Formats: CD, 2x7" LP, Cassette
118
Loot
  • Released: April 1991
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (879855-2)
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
22
Beetroot
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (853997-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
65
Aquamarine
  • Released: August 1995
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (853997-2)
  • Formats: CD
-
Panel Van
  • Released: November 1995
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (853997-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
72
Zaffre-

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
AUS
[2]
US CMJ
[11]
"Hieronymus"/"Lucy's Eyes"199145-Penny Century
"Anthem"199247-
"Say It"56-Octopus
"Bower of Bliss"199369122Thunderhead
"Alchemy's Dead"--
"Boy of Air"1994--Beetroot EP
"Panel Van"1995--Panel Van EP
"Aquamarine"--Aquamarine EP
"Here Now"/"Down from the Sky"1996--Futura
"Never Say Forever"1997--
"Mabel's Bookshop" [7] 2017--Zaffre
"Beautiful Nothingness" [12] --Non Album Single
"Check Us Out" [13] 2019--Non Album Single

Notes

  1. 1 2 As The Girls From The Clouds

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1992 Penny Century ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist - Album Nominated [14]
1994 Thunderhead ARIA Award for Best Adult Alternative Album Nominated [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regurgitator</span> Australian rock band

Regurgitator are an Australian pop-rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in late 1993 by Quan Yeomans on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards; Ben Ely on bass guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Martin Lee on drums. Their debut studio album, Tu-Plang was released in May 1996; it was followed by Unit in November 1997 which was certified triple platinum. Unit won five categories at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998: Album of the Year, Best Alternative Album, Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year (Magoo) and Best Cover Art. Their third album, ...Art was released in August 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Birdy</span> Australian alternative rock band

Little Birdy were an Australian alternative rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in 2002 by singer and guitarist Katy Steele, drummer Matt Chequer, guitarist and keyboardist Simon Leach, and bass guitarist Scott O'Donoghue. They gained public attention when their single "Relapse" gained popularity on alternative radio stations such as Triple J, leading them to be signed by the record label Eleven: A Music Company. They released three studio albums, two EPs, and ten singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eskimo Joe</span> Australian band

Eskimo Joe are an Australian alternative rock band that was formed in 1997 by Stuart MacLeod, on lead guitar, Joel Quartermain, on drums and guitar, and Kavyen Temperley, on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.

Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales, formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, Grinspoon won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore, with their post-grunge song "Sickfest". The name "Grinspoon" was taken from Dr. Lester Grinspoon, an associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, who supported marijuana for medical use.

The Screaming Jets are an Australian hard rock band formed in Newcastle, Australia, in 1989 by frontman Dave Gleeson (vocals), Paul Woseen, Grant Walmsley (guitar), Richard Lara (guitar), and Brad Heaney (drums). The band has three albums that peaked in the top five on the Australian ARIA Charts: All for One (1991), Tear of Thought (1992), The Screaming Jets (1995), and Professional Misconduct (2023). Their 1991 single "Better" reached No. 4 on the related singles chart. Walmsley left in 2007 and formed his own band. In 2013, bassist Paul Woseen released an acoustic solo album, Bombido.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Living End</span> Australian band

The Living End is an Australian punk rockabilly band from Melbourne, formed in 1994. Since 2002, the line-up consists of Chris Cheney, Scott Owen, and Andy Strachan (drums). The band rose to fame in 1997 after the release of their EP Second Solution / Prisoner of Society, which peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. They have released eight studio albums, two of which reached the No. 1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart: The Living End and State of Emergency. They have also achieved chart success in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Dirt</span> Australian rock band

Magic Dirt is an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially forming an alternative underground band called Deer Bubbles which split and formed into the much heavier, rock based group called The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt. Their top 40 releases on the ARIA Albums Chart are Friends in Danger (1996), What Are Rock Stars Doing Today (2000), Tough Love (2003) and Snow White (2005). They have received nine ARIA Music Award nominations including four at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995 for Life Was Better – their second extended play. Turner died in August 2009 of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. From 2010 to November 2018, the band were on hiatus.

The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney, New South Wales formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental-only band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins in addition to Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar and keyboards. Their albums include The Honeymoon Is Over (1993), Three Legged Dog (1995) and Over Easy (1998). Some of their best-known songs are "Better Get a Lawyer", "Takin' All Day", "The Honeymoon Is Over" and "Reckless Eyeballin'" – an instrumental track from their debut album Down Below that became the theme of Australian TV police drama, Blue Heelers. The band has won eight ARIA Music Awards including five in 1994 for work associated with The Honeymoon Is Over.

Def FX was an Australian band created by Sean Lowry (keyboards) in 1990 and included Fiona Horne on lead vocals, Blake Gardiner on guitar and Martyn Basha on bass - the band had no drummer. They released four albums, Light Speed Collision, Baptism, Ritual Eternal, Majick before disbanding in April 1997. For United States releases and touring they used Definition FX as their band name to avoid confusion with similarly named groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodi Phillis</span> Australian musician

Jodi Christine Phillis is an Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist and founding member of the band The Clouds. Phillis is best known for her vocal ability in many of her songs, such as "Hieronymus", "Souleater" and "Ghost of Love Returned".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frente!</span> Australian alternative rock band

Frente! is an Australian folk-pop and indie pop group which originally formed in 1989. The original line-up consisted of Simon Austin on guitar and backing vocals, Angie Hart on lead vocals, Tim O'Connor on bass guitar, and Mark Picton on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beautiful Girls</span> Australian roots band

The Beautiful Girls are an Australian roots music group founded in Sydney in 2001 by Mat McHugh, Clay MacDonald, and Mitchell Connelly. They have released three extended plays, Morning Sun (2002), Goodtimes (2002), and The Weight of the World (2004), plus five studio albums, Learn Yourself (2003), We're Already Gone (2005), Ziggurats (2007), Spooks (2010), and Dancehall Days (2014). The last four albums have all peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Spooks and Dancehall Days also debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Independent Chart and No. 7&5 on the American Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, respectively. Their single "I Thought About You" reached No. 60 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faker (band)</span>

Faker are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1996 by mainstay Nathan Hudson on lead vocals, piano and guitar. They have released three studio albums, Addicted Romantic, Be the Twilight and Get Loved. Their highest charting single, "This Heart Attack" (2007), peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The group disbanded in December 2013, but they announced their reformation in October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonia (band)</span>

Ammonia was an alternative rock band from Australia which made a name for itself in the 1990s, producing a mixture of grunge and guitar pop. The group began in 1992, initially comprising guitarist Dave Johnstone, drummer Alan Balmont and bass guitar player Phil Natt. This line-up performed under the name Fuzzswirl and, following the departure of Natt, they continued to perform with a variety of bass guitar players around their hometown of Perth. In 1993, when the bass guitarist Simon Hensworth joined the group, the name was changed to Ammonia. The band was considering the name "Glorious Noise Earthquake", but selected Ammonia for its simplicity after Hensworth stumbled across the word in a science textbook.

Sunnyboys were an Australian power pop band formed in Sydney in 1979. Fronted by singer-songwriter/guitarist Jeremy Oxley, the band began performing on the city's pub circuit – where, according to music historian Ian Mc Farlane, they "breathed some freshness and vitality into the divergent Sydney scene". Their first two albums, Sunnyboys and Individuals, both appeared in the Top 30 of the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart.

The Badloves are an Australian R&B, soul band that formed as DC3 in 1990 by founding mainstay member Michael Spiby on guitar and lead vocals. They changed their name after a year. Their debut studio album, Get on Board, was issued in July 1993, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they won Best New Talent and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Get on Board and Breakthrough Artist – Single for its first single, "Lost" (1993). The Badloves' second album, Holy Roadside, reached the top 20. Their highest-charting single, "The Weight" (1993), is a cover version of the Band's 1968 single and features Jimmy Barnes on co-lead vocals. It reached the ARIA singles chart top 10.

Tall Tales and True were an Australian rock band formed in 1983 by Matthew de la Hunty on lead vocals and guitar and Paul Miskin on bass guitar, backing vocals and guitar. They released three studio albums, Shiver (1989), Revenge! and Tilt (1995). They disbanded in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Temper Trap</span> Australian rock band

The Temper Trap are an Australian indie rock band formed in 2005 by Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon Aherne, and Toby Dundas. In 2008, the group relocated from Melbourne to London. The band released their debut album Conditions in June 2009 to favourable reviews and commercial success; it peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Albums Chart and into the top 30 on the UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Sweet Disposition", peaked in the top 10 on the Belgian, Irish and UK Singles Charts and reached No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 in November, The Temper Trap won Best Group and Most Popular Australian Single for "Sweet Disposition". Their eponymous second album was released in late May/early June 2012 under Liberation Music (AUS), Infectious Records (UK) and Glassnote Records (US). The album won the band Best Rock Album, and they also won Best Group at the 2012 ARIA Awards. In October 2013 guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto left the band, during the recording of the third album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloud Control</span> Australian alternative rock band

Cloud Control were an Australian alternative rock band, originating from the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia. The band were signed to the Australian record label Ivy League Records, on which they released their first album, Bliss Release. They were also signed to Infectious Music in the UK and Europe, Humming Records in Germany, and to Votiv in North America.

<i>Penny Century</i> (The Clouds album) 1991 studio album by The Clouds

Penny Century is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band The Clouds. The album was released in October 1991 and peaked at number 23 on the Australian ARIA Charts. Following a re-release, the album was certified gold in Australia in 1996.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 17 December 1990". www.bubblingdownunder.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  3. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1995/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1995-07-10.pdf#search=%22clouds%22
  4. "The Girls From The Clouds News". The Girls from the Clouds. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  5. "Jesus Jones the Wonder Stuff and The Clouds Tour". Faster Louder. June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. "The Clouds Announce Reunion Tour". The AU Review. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. 1 2 "The Clouds Release a New Song After 20 Years". The Dwarf. January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. "The Clouds Announce 'Penny Century' 30th Anniversary Tour". Rolling Stone Australia. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1995/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1995-07-10.pdf#search=%22clouds%22
  10. "Zaffre (EP)". Apple Music. February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1995/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1995-04-17.pdf#search=%22clouds%22
  12. "Beautiful Nothingness - single". Apple Music. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  13. "Check Us Out - single". Apple Music. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  14. "Winners by Year 1992". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  15. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1994: 8th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 4 January 2017.