REVIEWS  BY TOM WIDDUP

MIDNIGHT OIL

The Oils are a band that have helped to raise awareness of many environmental and indigenous issues in Australia. They are also a major inspiration for the Red Hot Green Black concept. The song "Frontier ....What Frontier?" is a departure from the Oils' usual sound. Although the trademark Garrett vocals are absent, the song provides a stimulating and interesting look at the prevailing attitudes towards Australia's original inhabitants at the time of settlement.

PRE_SHRUNK

One of the most powerful and interesting bands in Australian music. With their unusual combination of two bassists and a drummer, Pre_Shrunk have been blowing audiences away at their live shows. Their tours have included support act for Silverchair and also headlining the Triple J Turn Up Your Radio Tour. Scott caught them at a launch and fell in love with the song that is on the album "Hot Robots". This band is one of Australia's most promising acts and we will see heaps more of them in the future.

JASON SCOTT

Jason has established himself as one of the leading indigenous multi-instrumentalist within Australia having played with the best aboriginal bands and artists since the age of 13. His professional career started early playing for his fathers band, Colored Stone, who received regular airplay in Australia. He is from the Mirning mob (whale dreaming) of the Nullabor plain. The song he has given to the Red Hot Green Black compilation is "Modern Aborigine" and expresses the nature of conflict of aborigines cultural past and the world of today.

SKUNKHOUR

Skunkhour have made a long-awaited return to the music scene with a new album. The song that they've contributed to Red Hot Green Black is the B-side off the "Home" single and is titled "Now". The album is described as their most aggressive following the hugely successful "Feed" and "Chin Chin" albums (1995 and 1997 respectively). The song was produced by UK producer Steve James (Sex Pistols, Oblivia). The band will definitely be touring with their latest album and they are one of Australia's premier live acts.

THE RED EYED FROGS

The Frogs are a super-tight, super funky band from Northern New South Wales. They have been involved in numerous events supporting the closure of the contentious Timbarra Gold Mine. "Forest Funk" is an original song from their first album. The band members grew up together and have been playing together for nearly ten years.

GREG SHEEHAN

A master percussionist, Greg is probably best known for his involvement in the then Sydney based Utungan Percussion. Greg is a regular on the Australian folk and festival circuit and has traveled overseas regularly to study indigenous percussion and rhythms. After seeing him perform at Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland and the Bellingen World Music festival Tom And Scott decided that Greg's music would add approach for a bit of variety. His track "Frog" is an instrumental played on the jaw harp.

NATIVE RYME SYNDICATE

A band that is just starting to get the recognition they deserve as a leading rap act. The last twelve months have seen their workload increase dramatically with performances at Livid Festival in Brisbane as well as the Big Day Out. Having worked with various DJs, the problem of establishing a regular line up seems to have been solved and they hope to have an album recorded and out in two thousand. Scott has become good friends with Cameron Callope from the band who gave him an original acoustic version of the song "Everyday".

CRUEL SEA

The band that has fully exposed the talents of frontman Tex Perkins has decided to contribute an instrumental to this charity compilation. The track, "Charmer", comes from their last album "Over Easy". The Cruel Sea has since released a compilation of their best tracks called "The Most", which did well in the charts. They are definitely due to release a new album to satisfy hungry fans.

FUGLEMEN

This trip hop band from Adelaide are extremely well known and respected in their home state. Scott met the band when they performed at the Jabiluka High School and University walkout in Adelaide. The Fuglemen have contributed the title track to their latest album, "Momento Mori".

TREY

A female Hip Hop artist from Sydney, she was recently featured on a compilation called "Mother Tongue" which featured female Hip Hop artists from all around Australia. After spending time in the US where she hung out with street rhymers from places such as the Bronx she has returned to Australia to further explore Hip Hop. The catchy tune she has included in Red Hot Green black is "Changin' Degrees".

METABASS 'N' BREATH

Another Sydney based cut and paste trip hop band that includes full strong string arrangements in their song "Thunder in the Lab" which is included on Red Hot Green Black. Meta Bass have been getting plenty of airplay and support at their gigs in Sydney. They have also played around Australia including the recent St Kilda festival in Melbourne and have twice toured in New York.

SPIDERBAIT

A different style to what people have come to expect from Spiderbait. This is a re-mix of their track ""Buster (found on their album "Grandslam"). It grooves away for over five minutes and lays a permanent track in your mind. Spiderbait continues to be one of the best live acts in Australia and there album "Grandslam" was widely regarded as their best offering yet.

GERLING

What an amazing twelve months for the band Gerling. From obscurity they have captured the minds of the music public especially with their musical diversity. After releasing the extremely popular "Death to the Applegirl" they followed up with this more electronic sounding "Enter Space Capsule" which occasionally reminds one of David Bowie. The version on Red Hot Green black is the Disko Mix.

GRAND THEFT AUTO

In the same candy pop mould as Fatboy Slim comes this cut and paste band from Sydney. John from the band was the producer of the Stiff Gins who appear on Red Hot Green Black and mentioned that he was also in a band. The band received lots of airplay for their recent hit "Cha Cha Cha" and have provided the never before released track "This is the Tempo".

THE BIRD

The Bird combine live drumming and percussion (ex Pablo Percusso) with electronic music. They have just starting to make a huge name for themselves mainly in Sydney and Brisbane. Their live shows are amazing and it was after seeing them at the ZZZ market day concerts in Brisbane that Scott and Tom decided that they had to promote these guys on the next album.

ENDORPHIN

A strong supporter of the environment and indigenous, being involved in the Wilderness Society in Cairns, Eric Chapus (Endorphin) was also on the first Red Hot Green Black album. Since then he has swept all before him, with supports for bands like Massive Attack and Portishead. Now he headlines his own gigs. Quite an amazing background of childhood travelling until he made it to the shores of Australia. He now resides in Sydney.

UNDERGOUND LOVERS

Over nearly ten years the Underground Lovers have built a tremendous reputation and body of work. They have managed to both refine their sound whilst redefining and exploring new tangents. The song on Red Hot Green black is "Cold Feeling", the title track off their sixth album and possibly their best yet, which is a feat in itself. Recorded around the core of Glenn Bennie and Vincent Giarrusso, "Cold Feeling" was recorded at Birdland Studios with Lindsey Gravinas and mixed by Tim Whitten.

AUSTRALIA

Australia is a non-profit collective aiming to inspire people to action on the myriad of issues surrounding the current proliferation of the nuclear industry in Australia as exemplified by the travesty of developing the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu National park. Featuring some of Melbourne's finest Koori and supporting musicians, this forty piece choir expresses the sentiments of the majority of Australians on this vital issue in the hope that an irresponsible and visionless government will hear the voice of the people and "stop Jabiluka mine".

DRUM DRUM

Drum Drum is a an explosive percussion and dance troupe based in Darwin. The members come from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Torres Strait and Australia. They use contemporary and traditional instruments to create a fusion of indigenous rhythms and urban sounds. Dedicated to preserving the traditional forms and artistic integrity of Pacific music, these young artists perform ancient songs and dances previously unseen outside Papua New Guinea. Their drumming is spectacular with costumes and body painting evoking their traditional ritual origins.

RUBY HUNTER

Partner of Archie Roach, the two have been inseparable for years. Ruby Hunter originally started out as primarily a back up vocalist at gigs but then started to forged her own reputation as a leading indigenous performer. This led to her to the release of her solo album from which the song "Modern Day Girl" is taken. This track appears on Red Hot Green Black: Where 2 Now?

STIFF GINS

Scott and Tom originally saw these three girls from Sydney play at the students and Sustainability conference in only their third performance. They were so impressed they asked if they had any recordings. After some hunting around for affordable recording, Scott and Tom decided to record them for the first time. Since then, they have received and interview on Triple J, played at the Opera House on New Years Eve and appeared on the Today Show. All this and they are only twenty. The song "Morning Star" has created the obvious connections to Indigo Girls and Tiddas. Big plaudits indeed.

PENELOPE SWALES

One of Australia's leading singer / songwriters, Penelope has developed an impressive following here and overseas with her exuberant performances that feature her deep passion for people and issues, presented with an emotional honesty and a social consciousness. A born story teller, Penelope talks to her audience bringing them into her travels. The song "Mines Mortgages and Madness" tells of the contrasts in rural indigenous life and the madness of modern life in the city. This song is yet to be released on any album.

KERIANNE COX

Kerrianne is one of Australia's premiere indigenous artists. Her songs are a mix of Country / Rock / blues and her vocal range is from Jazz singer Billie Holiday through to Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman. Her long awaited debut CD "Just Wanna Move" was recorded at Perth's renowned Planet Studios with some of the West's finest musicians. The song that she has donated to Red Hot Green Black is "Woman has No History".

TULIPAN

Winner of Triple Js "Unearthing the World" and a finalist at the prestigious Kastinen Competition in Finland, Tulipan has proven to be one of the Worlds leading "World Music" bands. Tulipan is made up of four Women who met whilst studying at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

SOMETHING URBAN

The song on Red Hot Green black is "Sacred" which is from Something Urban's debut EP released independently in March 1999. It was on Radio National playlists for some time and the single "Reasons" got high rotation airplay on Triple J. A new recording is currently underway with a new line up. Tom had seen them a couple of times in Sydney pubs and was so inspired that he approached them to get involved in Red Hot Green Black.

GEORGE

Scott met George's manager when he worked at the NUS Queensland office which was based in the university of Queensland, as the manager was at that time activities officer. After seeing them at a gig at the Uni., Scott asked them to be on the first album. Since then a strong friendship has grown and with the release of their latest EP Scott definitely wanted to have them on. The first single "Spawn" has been on Triple J's regular rotation list and the song on Red Hot Green black is "Polysrena", the latest single which sounds like Jeff Buckley.

DIANA AH NAID

An old school friend of Tom's from Northern New South Wales, Diana was quite happy to contribute the song She Says. Diana's new album "I Don't Think I'm Pregnant" has seen this onetime solo performer come back stronger than ever with a band behind her.

TELEK

Telek is a Papua New Guinean performer who is now residing in Australia. He has been playing around at various venues for about 10 years here in Australia. Originally he came to our shores on a Tour with Not Drowning Waving to display traditional PNG instruments in the late eighties. The relationship with Not Drowning Waving's keyboardist continues on this track produced by David Bridie.. The song is "Boy's Town" and seem to sum up Canberra as well as anywhere else.

VINCE JONES

A long time supporter of environmental issues Vince met Tom at a public meeting on forest issues held at Sydney Town hall in 1999. He a world renowned performer with his soulful jazz and really needs no introduction. His song is "Jettison" and his wonderful personality and support has been a huge help for this project.

THE WHITLAMS

It is ironic that the Whitlams have a song on East Timor but "4000 Miles From Darwin" is just that. The version on Red Hot Green B"lack is the original as Tim Freedman had wanted to do something with it instead of being a b-side for the Melbourne single. Since then he has also done a more elaborate mix for the Whitlams latest album, "Love This City". The band itself has become a role model for other aspiring bands with the success of their independent "Eternal Nightcap" and in particular "No Aphrodisiac" which was voted number one on the Triple Js top 100. The album received various other accolades including 3 ARIA awards.

NEIL MURRAY

Neil is most famous for his involvement in the famous Warumpi Band. As a solo artist Neil has also produced some amazing work. He has just released a new solo album and will be touring throughout early 2000 both solo and with the Warumpi Band. The song that is on Red Hot Green Black is the haunting "Spirit" off his last album. In particular the chanting chorus is quite chilling and like so much of his work captures the spirit of outback Australia. Neil has been closely involved in the movement for reconciliation and played at the hugely successful Corroboree 2000.

ARCHIE ROACH

One of Australia's most renowned indigenous singer songwriters and also part of the stolen generation, Archie chose to give the song "No No No" to the Red Hot Green Black compilation. Archie has been playing for years and is one of a few indigenous artists that has been given the consistent commercial airplay that so many of our indigenous musicians deserve. The combination of Archie Roach and his partner Ruby Hunter is electric and very moving.

TIDDAS

It was a sad moment when Tiddas announced their retirement as a band late in 1999. They concluded playing in April. There is also a documentary being filmed as well. Scott had contact with the band via his housemate who has been stage managing and guitar teaching for the band in the past and on their new album reference is made to him as Russell "the love muscle" of which he denies any knowledge.

SHIHAD

Originally it was questioned whether they should be on the album due to their New Zealand origin but once the band offered the song "Interconnector" the debate was over (also the fact that a lot of Oz bands have NZ roots). What can be said about this band that melts your speakers and have a love sound out of this world. They have been around since 1993 yet it was the EP Blue Light disco that really launched them. "Interconnector" is the ideal start to the harder of the three albums and is a strong appetiser for what's coming up.

VIOLETINE

One of the best debut albums to come from an Australian act in recent time was "Small Speaker Joyland" from Violetine. Describing themselves as Pavement meets Fugazi meets Husker Du with the addition of hip hop influences they carve a very unique sound. Violetine have been keeping themselves busy with heaps of powerful live gigs as well as working on a follow up album. The song they contributed to the Red Hot Green Black compilation is "The Rocking Buzz".

POWDERFINGER

Red Hot Green Black owes a lot of its success to the lads from Powderfinger. Scott originally approached friends who were members of Powderfinger with the idea of putting together a Queensland compilation album. They offered strong support giving a song and advice. Again they have chipped in for the second album with the song "Control Freak". Well what can be said about these Brissie boys. They have gone on to win Arias, The song "These Days" was voted in Number one in the Triple Js top one hundred and the album "Internationalist" is still in the charts. Currently they are working on a new album and hopefully their well deserved success can continue.

NOT FROM THERE

Another Queensland band from the original album. This band too has received huge success recently with the ARIA award for best independent album. That album was "Sands on Seven" and included the hits "Jacinta's Tea Party", and "What is Better" (off the first Red Hot Green Black). The track that appears on the new compilation is also off this album and it is the slow and eerie "Neurons". The song seems to be a good break for the power of the first few songs and the songs to come.

BEAVERLOOP

A band from Perth who have been long time blockaders and protesters of the Western Australian Forests (what is left of them). Part of what seems to be the most rapidly growing music scene in Australia they released the album "Resistance is Useful" in ‘99. The album contains influences such as Beastie Boys, Janes Addiction and even Tea Party. The song on the Red Hot Green Black compilation is "Pelt" and is aimed at the boys club that is Australian politics.

NANCY VANDAL

The band Nancy Vandal are renown for taking the piss and this track (off the album of the same name) is no exception. The introduction is a stereotypical build up of b-grade American horror films for a song that cuts through like a bloodied chain saw. A couple of band members have also had success in yet another piss taking band, The Tenants who had the hit "Shit Me To Tears". They have just released a new album.

FINI SCAD

A band that never really received the attention they deserved. The band has a large social focus with their music and it is a large reason why they seemed so appropriate on the compilation. The song offered is "Wider Screen" sums up the need for people to take a more holistic look at the world, instead of the finite one presented on TV, to really gain any sense on the truth behind a lot of the issues. In this way it sums up what Red Hot Green black is trying to do.

JEBEDIAH

One of Australia's most promising new bands. After the success of their debut album "Slightly Odway" they have successfully followed up with the more refined "Of Everyday Shambles". They were very determined to give Red Hot Green Black something that hadn't been heard in Australia so they chose the song "Tracksuit" which was a re-mix that only found its way onto a vinyl EP in Asia. It is a far more mellow sound than usually associated with Jebediah and fills the spot of a lead in to the more pop orientated part of the Manta disc.

CUSTARD

Another Queensland band and contributor to both Red Hot Green Black albums. Their latest album "Loveramer" has again given them another huge hit that follows on from earlier catchy albums. "Loverama" is a slower groovier album but the B-side, "Caboolture Speed Lab" on this compilation, is a lot like the fast songs of earlier albums. A version of this song has appeared as a b-side on every "Loverama" single and they even play it live. The original version of the song appears on Red Hot Green Black.

SCREAMFEEDER

The Queensland connection continues. Tim from the band has been one of the biggest promoters with the first album and was more than happy to be involved with the second album. It is good to hear something new and original from this band as they have been caught up in disputes with record labels and other "non-music" based issues. The original contact with the band was with Scott when he spoke at a Jabiluka benefit at the University of Queensland before the band played.

EVEN

Tim from Screamfeeder originally passed on the details of the first album to Wally from Even and he inquired about location in Melbourne that he could get a copy. Scott and Tom then invited him and the Even band to become involved which they happily have. The song "2 Stones" is off their debut album "Come Again". They also are planning to enter the studios very soon for their follow up album.

FAR OUT CORPORATION

Ian Haug from Powderfinger asked for his other band to have a song included on the next Red Hot green Black after being involved with the first. FOC also has famous Brisbane stalwart Grant Maclennan (Go Betweens) up front with his brother on Drums and Adele Pickvane on Bass. The song that they have donated to the Red Hot Green black compilation is "Parachute" from their self titled debut album.

REVOLVAR

This Adelaide band has received some strong airplay on Radio stations for their first two EPS and will be recording their first full length player soon on the record label "Laughing Outlaw", which is run by former Hoodoo Guru manager Stuart Coupe, they seem to be heading in the right direction. Again Red Hot Green Black's inclusion of this band shows an overall view of Australian music not just from the Eastern Seaboard. The song is "Mr. E".

MAGIC DIRT

The manager of Violetine recently took on the management of Magic Dirt and asked if they could be involved. The song that has been donated is "Poem", a haunting b-side of the single "Party Girl". Having just finished recording we can expect to hear some new material from this Geelong band very shortly.

FRONT ENDLOADER

It has been a while since we have heard anything new from Front End Loader but the good news is they have just finished recording a new album (it must be remembered they have recently recorded with the legendary Barry Crocker). The song is poignantly aimed at Mr. Howard's treatment and policy towards the indigenous people of this country, and is aptly named "4 Star Heritage Arsehole".

WARUMPI BAND

Probably one of the most admired and influential indigenous bands in the country after the success on the song "Black Fella White Fella", that was on the Midnight Oil single "Dead Heart". From the album "Big Name No Blankets" comes the song featured on this compilation, "Warumpinya" (Good Home). Anyone that has had the pleasure of seeing this band play live will recognise this as their closing favorite. The band also includes Neil Murray who also has a solo performance on this album.

 SUPERJESUS

It has been a while for some new material to come from the South Australian band The Superjesus since the extremely successful debut album "Sumo". The reasons have been varied but a new single followed by a new album is on the way shortly. The Superjesus track provided a lot of problems to obtain due to problems with record companies etc that took a long time to sort out but the song is a classic version of the 60's song "Something in the Air" which is a perfectly apt song for the Red Hot Green Black experience.