The Lab (band)

Last updated

The Lab
OriginSydney, Australia
Genres Synthpop, electronica
Years active1989 (1989)-1998 (1998)
Labels rooArt, BMG
Past members

The Lab were an Australian electronic band formed by keyboardist Paul McDermott, vocalist Yolanda Podolski and bass guitarist and vocalist Warwick Factor. They issued two extended plays, Ultra (1992) and Terminal (1994), and a studio album, Labyrinth (September 1997) before disbanding in 1998. McDermott, as Paul Mac, also performed in a techno-dance duo Itch-E and Scratch-E from 1991. Factor, as Warwick Hornby, joined the Whitlams in 1999, while Podolski undertook an operatic career.

Contents

History

The Lab's Paul McDermott worked with a DJ, Tristan Mason, to develop an early electronic music group in Sydney, which included two bass guitarists. The project's name, "the Lab", developed from an Eric B and Rakim album track, "Step Back" (1990), which includes the lyric: "Now try to do this step ('Back to the lab') and make sure the pace is kept." According to Mason the phrase "described our after gig practices, as in lets go back to The Lab, which was where me, [Mac] and [Podolski] all lived." The Lab were formed in 1989 by McDermott on keyboards and samples, Yolanda Podolski on lead vocals and Warwick Factor on bass guitar and vocals. [1] They were signed with the rooArt label imprint rA. [1] Their first release was the track "Heaven" which was included on rooArt's new artists sampler Young Blood 3 (1991) by Various Artists. [2]

The Lab's early work was characterised by a dense, darkwave-industrial sensibility mixed with techno and synthpop elements with vocals provided by Factor and the operatically-trained mezzo-soprano Podolski. [3] [4] Their early sound displayed influences as varied as Cocteau Twins to Tackhead. [4] (whom they supported at a 1989 Sydney show) and New Order. By 1991 McDermott, as Paul Mac, had also formed an electronic, techno-dance duo Itch-E and Scratch-E with Andy Rantzen (of Pelican Daughters). [1] [5] [6] Tom Ellard from Severed Heads helped produce an album during this era that was never released, and only a smattering of their darker material made its way on to the Ultra (November 1992) and Terminal (March 1994) extended plays. [1]

The Lab's live performances, mostly at Sydney inner-city venues the Annandale Hotel or the Phonecian Club, used multiple film and/or video projectors, displaying surreal footage and stills synchronised with songs being played. [4] While the group's tracks appeared on youth radio station Triple J, they never achieved high-level commercial success. The Lab took a recording hiatus during the mid-1990s as McDermott concentrated on Itch-E and Scratch-E. [1] Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane compared McDermott's two groups, "unlike [Itch-E and Scratch-E], the Lab concentrated on a more emotional and accessible sound." [1] Two singles, "Beautiful Sadness" (1996) and "I Will Find You" (1997), were released in advance of the Lab's debut album, Labyrinth (September 1997). [1] By that time their sound was ambient-pop-oriented music, with little commercial success.

Labyrinth was the Lab's final album and the group disbanded in 1998 as the members pursued solo and other projects. McDermott performed in Itch-E and Scratch-E (and associated projects) until 2001, when he issued his solo album, 3000 Feet High . [6] Factor, as Warwick Hornby, joined the Whitlams in 1999. [7] [8] Podolski undertook an operatic career including performances of Richard Straus' opera Elektra at Capitol Theatre, Sydney in 2000. [3] [9]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Mac</span> Australian electropop musician, singer, producer, and remixer

Paul Francis McDermott, who performs as Paul Mac, is an Australian electropop musician, singer-songwriter, producer and music re-mixer. He was classically trained at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Mac has formed various bands including Smash Mac Mac (1986–88), The Lab (1989–1998), Itch-E and Scratch-E (1991–present), Boo Boo Mace & Nutcase (1996–98), and The Dissociatives (2003–2005). Mac has released two solo albums, 3000 Feet High and Panic Room – both appeared in the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Swanton</span> Musical artist

Lloyd Stuart Swanton is an Australian jazz double bassist, bass guitarist, and composer.

Itch-E and Scratch-E are an Australian electronic music group formed in 1991 by Paul Mac and Andy Rantzen, both playing keyboards and samples. The duo recorded as Boo Boo & Mace! during the late 1990s. At times they have included a third member, Sheriff Lindo, recording under the name Boo-Boo, Mace 'n' Nutcase. In 2001 they disbanded as Mac pursued his solo career. In 2010 the duo reunited as Itch-E and Scratch-E to release new material.

The Dissociatives were an Australian alternative rock band consisting of Daniel Johns of Silverchair and dance producer and DJ Paul Mac, which formed in mid-2003. They were supported by touring members, Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes, and James Haselwood. Their first single "Somewhere Down the Barrel" peaked at No. 25 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The duo's debut album The Dissociatives reached No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2004 they won two trophies; Best Cover Art for James Hackett's work on The Dissociatives and Best Video for Hackett's direction of "Somewhere Down the Barrel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volition Records</span> Australia-based record label

Volition Records was a Sydney, Australia-based record label specialising in electronic music styles such as house, techno, synthpop, and trance. It was founded by Andrew Penhallow and was active from 1984 to around 1997.

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

The Whitlams are an Australian Indie rock band formed in late 1992. The original line-up was Tim Freedman on keyboards and lead vocals, Andy Lewis on double bass and Stevie Plunder on guitar and lead vocals. Other than mainstay Freedman, the line-up has changed numerous times. From 2001 to 2022, he was joined by Warwick Hornby on bass guitar, Jak Housden on guitar and Terepai Richmond on drums – forming the band's longest-lasting and best-known line-up. Four of their studio albums have reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 20: Eternal Nightcap, Love This City, Torch the Moon and Little Cloud. Their highest charting singles are "Blow Up the Pokies" and "Fall for You" – both reached number 21. The group's single, "No Aphrodisiac" was listed at number one on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1997 by listeners of national radio station, Triple J. In January 1996 Stevie Plunder was found dead at the base of Wentworth Falls. Andy Lewis died in February 2000.

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

Ratcat are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney who formed in 1985. The band is fronted by mainstay vocalist and guitarist, Simon Day. Their combination of indie pop song writing and energetic punk-style guitar rock won them fans from both the indie and skate-punk communities. They found mainstream success with their extended play, Tingles, album Blind Love and the single, "Don't Go Now" (April), which all reached No. 1 on the ARIA Charts during 1991. The band released two subsequent albums that did not match their earlier chart success. Ratcat ceased performing live regularly in the late 1990s; however, they continue to perform sporadically. During their career, much of Ratcat's albums and singles artwork was created by Simon Day.

JakHousden is an Australian guitarist, singer, and composer. Best known as a long-standing member of or The Whitlams, he is also a founding member of The Badloves, appearing on all their classic 1990s releases. A revered session guitarist, Jak has performed and recorded with Barry Gibb, Olivia Newton-John, Richard Clapton, Steve Kilbey, Kate Ceberano, Jimmy Barnes, Daryl Braithwaite, and Steve Balbi. Since 2015, Jak has been involved with Tim Minchin, touring extensively and recording on the album Apart Together.

The 16th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 15 October 2002 at the Sydney SuperDome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Freedman</span> Australian musician

Timothy James Freedman is an Australian musician, best known as the mainstay lead singer and keyboardist of the Australian band The Whitlams formed in 1993. The song "No Aphrodisiac", co-written by Freedman, was their breakthrough hit in 1997; their top four ARIA albums by sales are Love This City (1999), Torch the Moon (2002), Little Cloud (2006), and their compilation album Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You: Best of the Whitlams in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Plunder</span> Musical artist

Stevie Plunder, born as Anthony Hayes, was an Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of the groups, The Plunderers (1984–1995) and The Whitlams (1992–1996).

Andrew Joseph Lewis was the original bassist of Australian band The Whitlams. He first played in Canberra, Australia in a duo called In Limbo, playing Everly Brothers and other songs from the 1950s and 60s with two acoustic guitars and close harmonies. In October 1985, he joined Canberra band, The Plunderers, on keyboards, guitar and harmony vocals. He left The Plunderers in April 1987, leaving a small legacy of recordings with the band, most noticeably a version of The Velvet Underground's "Stephanie Says" and the original version of Stevie Plunder's "Where Are You?". In 1992, he formed The Whitlams but left them in late 1995, and went to Melbourne to join The Gadflys. He battled a gambling addiction and committed suicide in February 2000, aged 33, after losing an entire week's pay in a poker machine.

Warwick Hornby is an Australian musician, best known for his time as bassist for The Whitlams. He joined the band together with drummer Terepai Richmond in 1998, and remained with them until 2022.

Timberyard Records is a pioneering record label in the Australian independent music movement of the 1980s.

<i>All for One</i> (The Screaming Jets album) 1991 studio album by The Screaming Jets

All for One is the debut album by Australian hard rock band The Screaming Jets which was released in April 1991. It peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Faith (Australian band)</span> Australian rock band

The Faith is an Australian rock band first formed in 1987. The members are vocalist Alan White, guitarist Jonathan Purcell, bass player Scott Millard and drummer Chris Briggs. Their music was influenced by bands as diverse as REM, the Cult, Television and the Velvet Underground. They were contemporaries of Died Pretty, Trilobites, Crash Politics, Candy Harlots, Bell Jar and The Screaming Tribesman.

Martha's Vineyard were an Australian rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia in May 1986 by lead singer Peggy Van Zalm. In June 1989 the group issued their debut self-titled album on rooArt, which was produced by Nick Mainsbridge. It peaked in the top 100 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their sound as "reflective folk rock [which] mixed melancholy vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, gentle percussion and spacious arrangements to arrive at a harmonious and intriguing whole". They shared a similar sound and outlook to that of fellow Perth bands like The Triffids, The Honeys and Chad's Tree. Van Zalm's vocals drew positive comparisons with Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde and Joni Mitchell. The group had toured nationally supporting Mick Hucknall's Simply Red, INXS, Annie Lennox's Eurythmics, The Go-Betweens, Paul Kelly, The Triffids, Mental as Anything, proto punk band,The Saints and Weddings, Parties, Anything, before disbanding in 1990. By 1994 Van Zalm had launched her solo career.

The Ninth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 20 October 1995 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. There had been a 18-month gap since the previous award ceremony which was moved to be "closer to the business end of the music industry's year" and so reflect that year's works. Presenters distributed 28 awards from 1060 eligible submissions. Big winners for the year were Silverchair with five awards and Tina Arena with four, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year – both first time they were won by a female.

The 12th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 20 October 1998 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Presenters, including Democrats deputy leader Natasha Stott Despoja and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, distributed 29 awards with the big winner Natalie Imbruglia receiving six trophies.

The ARIA Music Award for Best Dance Release, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), an organisation whose aim is "to advance the interests of the Australian record industry." To be eligible, the recording must have been commercially released. The award is presented to an artist within the dance genre. The accolade is voted for by a judging school, which comprises between 40 and 100 members of representatives experienced in this genre, and is given to a solo artist, group, production team or various artist compilation, who is either from Australia or an Australian resident.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Lab'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.
  2. rooArt (1991), RooArt Young Blood 3, rooArt , retrieved 22 April 2024
  3. 1 2 "Voiceworks - Yolanda Podolski". Voiceworks. Archived from the original on 5 October 1999. Retrieved 22 April 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 Lancaster, Alex (1996). "The Lab Bio". Australia Music Web Site. Archived from the original on 3 March 2001. Retrieved 22 April 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  5. McGregor, Paul. "About Paul Mac". Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 McFarlane, 'Itch-E & Scratch-E' entry. Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  7. McFarlane, 'The Whitlams' entry. Archived from the original on 26 July 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. Bolger, Clayton. "Torch the Moon – The Whitlams". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  9. Agreement with Yolanda Podolski to perform in the chorus for four performances of the Opera, City of Sydney Archives, 1999, retrieved 24 April 2024