 On first listen to Deserters debut album Pale Morning you will be struck by the bands sublime songwriting which when coupled with their articulate mature musicianship reveals an album that exudes a certain attitude without a hint of arrogance.

Deserters portray a classic Australian quality earmarked by Luke Thomas' intuitive writing techniques (Luke also plays with The Pictures and The Ronson Hangup). The songs are rich with melody and a turn of phrase that reaches deep into the well of classic writers such as Neil Finn (NZ), Steve Kilbey and the sadly missed Grant Mclennan. The songs swell with a certain pride and endearing candour that comes from the bands effortless cool confidence.

Pale Morning extends a warm invitation to enter and wander about gleefully in a lush garden of harmony and rhythm. The kind of songs that knock you down on first listen but help you back up again to reveal more depth & personality with every return visit.

the long-player pushes further down the creative path for thomas, who has written a few friends into the bargain: davey lane (the pictures, you am i), mal pinkerton (the ronson hangup) and chris altmann (the vandas), helping out on guitar/keys, strings and pedal steel respectively.

The opening track Waking Birds displays lavish, crisp production and is set to chiming guitars, a longing cello and yearning harmonies.

The albums first single Take It As It Comes sees the band crank up the amps and depress the rock pedals.

I Think It’s Alright is a catchy campfire sing-along ready rock anthem and is quickly followed by the title track Pale Morning which aches with epic emotions and understated production smarts. Looking My Way is a clear cornerstone of Pale Morning. The song is a stark timeless gem which has been stripped back to reveal gorgeous acoustic guitars, a stirring cello and fragile vocals. Life Goes On sees the album veer back down the well worthy rock’n’roll road with an early R.E.M-esque slab of  harmony jangle. The closing track Valerian (Goodnight) is a swirling brooding melodic marathon. A guitar soaked beast that capitulates the mood of the whole album in one sitting

Recorded with band members Xain Milke on bass, Nick Fraser on guitar and Zac Anthony (The Wellingtons) on drums and backing vocals. Pale Morning has clearly extended Luke Thomas down a fruitfully creative path, one also complimented by: Davey Lane (The Pictures, You Am I), Mal Pinkerton (The Ronson Hangup, The Anyones) and Chris Altmann (The Vandas), Nathan Thomas (Lavish) helping out on guitar/keys, strings, pedal steel and backing vocals respectively.

Devoid of studio trickery Pale Morning is a straight-up, organically produced album set to enamour devotees of classic pop and rock. 

I Think It's Alright

Take It As It Comes

Waking Birds

Black & White were a band from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia signed to Mushroom Records in the mid '80s. Members included (not all were at the same time): Mishi Knezevic (Vocals), Greg Llatse (Keys), Simon Kershaw (Keys), Brett Kingman (Guitar), Zoran Romich (Guitar), Xain Milke (Bass), Bruno Le Scoul (Drums). B&W did two sets of demo's in 1986/7 for Mushroom Records - Tracks 1, 2 & 3 at AAV Studios, South Melbourne and Tracks 4, 5 & 6 at Platinum Studios, South Yarra, both sessions were engineered and mixed by Ross Cockle. No material was recorded for release before the bands split in the later '80s. Please excuse the poor quality of these recordings which are from old, well played cassettes.

Xain Milke

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