Guy Lochhead, 05/11/11
Australian singer-songwriter of pared-down acoustic guitar and voice music as well as out-and-out rock in his band The Drones. His lyrics are wordy, poetic and incisive but have still received widespread acclaim in his native country – The Drones’ ‘Shark-Fin Blues’ was voted “greatest Australian song ever written” by a panel of musicians polled by national youth network, Triple J. His single solo album ‘Strange Tourist’ was released in 2010. Strange Tourist comprises eight long tracks telling modern folk stories through a very Australian perspective of indigenous folklore and current politics, commenting on national themes of machoism, colonialism, globalisation and isolation in a totally accessible, international manner. He is a story-songwriter in the vein of Billy Bragg or Bruce Springsteen – using his whole background (including nationality) rather than conforming to the Dylan or Guthrie “bard” image. The old tools have been sharpened. Hearing this album was a revelation for me. I haven’t heard acoustic folk music this relevant and exciting in years. Sadly, he seems pretty much unknown outside of Australia, despite ATP’s best efforts. I will include a double LP of ‘Strange Tourist’. The Drones are great too but their sort of rock dates quite quickly and sometimes that can get in the way of Liddiard’s ambition.