Big Smoke was formed in 2009 by lead singer and songwriter, Adrian Slattery. The band became a beloved staple of the Melbourne music scene, building a reputation as a group of phenomenal players with an exceptional command of classic rock ‘n’ roll song-writing.

In early 2015, Adrian was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer. Despite significant health obstacles and the knowledge his cancer was incurable, Adrian was determined and the band was unstoppable, continuing to tour and eventually tracking their debut album between a four-month regimen of chemotherapy and brain surgery in November 2015 (at Soundpark Studios with engineer Nao Anzai). Working tirelessly, the band continued to produce overdubs at The Aviary Studios in Abbotsford from late 2015 to early 2016. 

Adrian died from oesophageal cancer in May, less than a year after his diagnosis. Throughout his illness, he was determined to leave behind a legacy – for his family, his friends and the world. That legacy is Time Is Golden, the debut album from Big Smoke and the record Adrian always wanted to make. 

The album features 10 songs written by Adrian over the period of a decade, with additional arrangements by band members Luke Brennan (drums), Alex O’Gorman (bass), Tim Baker (guitar) and Joe Cope (keyboards). 

“Given my terminal diagnosis, I have a profound sense of urgency and gravitas about what I want to achieve in my career and the completion and release of the Big Smoke album is paramount to this,” Adrian said during the recording process. “The songs on the album were written in the time period following the dissolution of my marriage and diagnosis with terminal cancer, pairing these lyrical themes with our established musical sensibility for rock ‘n’ roll, pop, country and soul.”

Before he died, Adrian and the band had earmarked engineer Shawn Everett to mix the record. They wanted a sound modern yet timeless and believed Shawn – who won a Grammy for his work on Alabama Shakes’ Sound & Color – was the best person for the job. Shawn flew to Melbourne in August and mixed the bulk of the album at St Charles Studios in Northcote. The remainder was done in LA the following week – including an additional guitar arrangement by Blake Mills. Luke, Alex and Adrian’s ex-wife and best friend Paige Clark were heavily involved in the process, acting as creative decision makers in Adrian’s absence. They worked 12-hour days, from midday to midnight, turning Adrian’s grand vision into a bold, beautiful reality. 

The result is Time Is Golden, a testament to the band’s determination and vision that lives out Adrian’s wish to create an enduring, major work. But this tale isn’t a tragedy. As Adrian himself said, “This is not the story of heartbreak or of illness, it is the story of living and all that it entails.”

Time Is Golden is a lasting tribute to Adrian’s immense talent, extinguished too soon. Out now via Barely Dressed Records. Purchase/stream here: http://bigsmoke.lnk.to/timeisgolden

onshiftingsands are a Melbourne-based 2-piece electronic-indie-pop-rock outfit.

Autumn Gray formed in 2005 from the ashes of Jim, Matt and Damien’s previous band, Insert Bold Statement. Jeff,  John and Jimmy joined and suddenly we had a six-piece band, a handful of songs, and a first couple of gigs booked. Not to mention the majority of J’s in the lineup.

This outfit lasted a good while, and we launched our debut EP As of Now – No Guarantees for Later in August 2007 to a packed house at the Rob Roy Hotel in Fitzroy (now the Workers Club). We annexed Greg Foletta into the band during 2009 after realising that his trumpet solos brought the ladies, although he claims it was his wit and charm.

Whilst we were mixing our debut album, bassist Jimmy Allan departed to focus on his own band, Buckley Ward. After scouring the usual places for a suitable replacement, we were lucky enough to come upon James, thus allowing us to maintain the required quota of band-members-whose-names-start-with-J. With the septuplet now structurally complete once more, we launched The Diary of a Falling Man upon the unsuspecting(!) punters at the Evelyn Hotel in July 2010.

A major highlight of our career thus-far came in October 2010 when we performed our album backed by the beautiful Orchestre Nouveau in the stunning confines of the BMW Edge Theatre at Federation Square, Melbourne. This show was recorded purely for our own enjoyment, until we realised it was actually half-decent. It’ll see release in November 2011 as Live at Fed Square.

Never being a band to do things the traditional way, we released the first single from Diary in January 2011 – the Love Handles mini-EP. In 2011 we’ve also made our first steps outside Victoria, with shows in Brisbane and Sydney. We’re currently bunkered down in our Kensington studio recording new material for a 2012 release, and rehearsing for the launch of Live at Fed Square.

So that’s the story so far.

Autumn Gray are:

Jim O‘Neill (vocals / guitar / piano)
John Paterson (vocals / guitar)
Jeff Clementson (keys / piano / samples)
Greg Foletta (trumpet / guitar / backing vocals)
Damien Langley (drums)
James Rogers (bass)
Matthew Watson (guitar)

p4ts is following