The Birds have landed

08 February 2010 17:30

Birds Of Tokyo hit London this week for their first ever UK show. Ahead of the trip, in a time-out from studio sessions in Sweden, singer Ian Kenny gave Kate McCabe an update on album number three and reveals who he thinks is Australia’s next big thing.

editor@australiantimes.co.uk

By Kate McCabe

AFTER the huge success of their second album Universes, which reached gold back home in Australia and netted three Triple J Hottest 100 slots, the expectations are fever pitched for Birds Of Tokyo’s next effort.

But the Perth-based alt rock quartet are a world away from the stress and pressures of being one of the country’s hottest bands, recording in the Swedish city of Gothenburg.

“We are achieving just what we wanted for this record,” said vocalist Ian Kenny about the sessions.

“I don’t think number three will be anything like our other releases. This record has a better sense of self and a much stronger story.
"It will be at least July before we get to hear the results, but the singer assured us it will be worth the wait.

“It’s feeling good in the gut, just as it should.”

Despite his burgeoning rock-icon status, off stage Kenny remains a pretty regular Perth boy. Still, he and the guys don’t mind the perks.

“Like most bands, I assume, we share a philosophy to use our music to allow us to see different parts of the world and experience all that comes with it,” the singer said about their stint in Sweden, with just a hint of mischief.

“Not to mention, it’s an amazing studio we have here... and Swedish food, women and liquor of course,” he laughed.

Surely, a recipe for Scandinavian rock n’ roll debauchery? The most salacious tale he’s willing to divulge though, is about the night a few too many vodkas lead drummer Adam Weston to realise his divine fantasy of walking on water, Nordic ‘au-natural’ style – well, a frozen river… in just his undies. You can only imagine what lies beneath the ice.

Back home, the ‘Birds recently completed their highly lauded Broken Strings acoustic tour. For Kenny and the others, the experience was a welcome artistic detour.

“It was one of the most enjoyable endeavours we have taken on,” he enthused.

“It was great to not be a rock band for a few weeks...we were something else.”

Leaving the amps behind, naturally the band were forced to approach their songs from a completely different angle. Offering fans a less cluttered perspective on their music was paramount to the project.

“We wanted to expose our songs for what they are,” Kenny explained.
“There is a lot that can get lost or missed amongst whaling guitars and crashing drums.”

For UK-based Aussies who missed out, the Broken Strings DVD and CD are now on release. As well as the performances, the DVD documents the band grappling with the process of stripping their songs back.

“We had a camera crew right from the first rehearsal, so we captured the whole process, warts and all,” Kenny says, genuinely proud of the end result.

Taking a break from the studio and drunken, moonlit waltzes on the river, Birds Of Tokyo nip over to London this week to play their first ever UK show, as part of the HMV New Music Festival.

The group know they can expect a more than warm welcome from the Australian contingent, but Kenny said it will be healthy for the band to play to the uninitiated locals.

“We are looking forward to playing to a new audience and gauging an honest reaction.
“No doubt there will be a fair whack of Aussie’s amongst all the Poms, but I wonder who’ll be louder?”

Either way, there’s sure to be a few industry hotshots in the room on the night, making their own assessment as to whether the Birds of Tokyo spell can be cast as well in Britain as it has been back home.

But if there was one up-and-coming Aussie artist that Ian Kenny recommends they keep an ear out for?

“Peter Russell Clark, he is a genius!”

Birds Of Tokyo play HMV's Next Big Thing at Highbury Islington’s Relentless Garage this Friday, February 12.

Universes is available in UK stores now, or you can grab a copy of the Broken Strings CD or DVD from www.birdsoftokyo.com.

 

Perth birds fly high