Let’s get cynical –
it’s the debut album from
THE BARREN SPINSTERS
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These were the parameters: two people, no loops, no dreadlocks, few rehearsals.
Smack bang in the middle of ‘hipster’ and homeless, The Barren Spinsters look like the plot of Pretty Woman gone wrong. The band is based in Canberra and consists of Brendon Houlahan (Vocal/Guitar) and Matt Tennant (Vocals /Drums). Come the auspicious date of July 19, 2019, their debut album, Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking, will be available for all to feast and gorge upon.
Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking is a modern day ‘Pet Sounds’, (caveat) if the pets in question were screaming alpacas and The Beach Boys were in fact The Addams Family. Earlier this year they released the lead single “West Of The Happiness” which did quite well, thanks for asking.
“I’m very proud of the lyrics on this album. There’s certainly some impressive words in there, even if I did have to look them up in the dictionary first to confirm that they meant what I thought they meant. They didn’t, and now I’m worried that Inigo Montoya is after me.”
– Brendon Houlahan (vocals/guitar)
Current single “Hey Ruth” takes its inspiration from the wonderfully iconic and subversive band, TISM.
‘’Ruth, one of my former employers used to date the manager of TISM. Once over yum cha she told me stories of touring with TISM, hanging out washing on fake washing lines mid gig behind the band whilst they performed on stage, and also a cheeky little tale of throwing their vulgar rap cassette tapes out of the car window whilst driving as a form of protest’’.
– Brendon Houlahan (vocals/guitar)
What’s been said about “Hey Ruth”:
“This is the Quentin Tarantino kind of sick!!! Heavy, rocking, slick, tight, timeless”
– Nkechi Anele (Triple J)
The album was mixed and mastered by Don Bartley (Cold Chisel and Nick Cave) and the artwork was done by Ruth Palmer, known for her Enid Blyton illustrations.
“We originally wanted the artwork to look like an old 50s advertisement for cigarettes or something. But when we got the incredible Ruth Palmer on board for the cover art, it kind of morphed into more of a children’s book theme. Ruth has done illustrations for a number of Enid Blyton books, which is just crazy. Not sure how we convinced her, but here we are.” – Matt Tennant (vocals/drums)
If you like dancing at festivals and having a good old fashioned knees up, check them out at Jamberoo Music Festival, Echuca Winter Blues Fest, Caloundra Music Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Healesville Music Festival & Queenscliff Music Festival later this year.
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STREAM “TEN STEPS TO CYNICAL THINKING” HERE
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Follow The Barren Spinsters
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