Rough Skies Records

Reviews of the Community 2 compilation (& Process Praise)

2012-01-14T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Mercury
The Thousands
4ZZZ-FM
Collapse Board
The Australian

Looking at doing some vinyl releases and some archival compilation type things this year, hopefully.

Community 2 Press Release

2011-10-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

Title: Various Artists – Community 2: a compilation of Hobart music CD

Catalogue: RSKYR 005

Right when you least expected it, naive little dears that you are, it’s that magical time again: Rough Skies Records proudly, boastfully presents Community 2: a compilation of Hobart music, another enchanting visit to the sleepy Tasmanian seaside town last seen in 2010’s Community. The first compilation was heard far and wide, disseminated, analysed, dissected; reviewed eagerly, dismissively, fawningly, hyper-critically; and finally hidden away in that awkward “various artists” corner of the CD cabinet between the Mojo Magazine covermount discs and the copy of Smash Hits ’93 left behind by an ex-housemate. How else to put it: here we go again!

If we’re being literal about it, this is a collection of rare and exclusive tracks from Hobart’s current musical underground. For the artists involved, however, this compilation represents a collection of stolen moments in very busy lives: moments between workdays; between uni assignments; between children’s naps (or during, if they’re not too loud); between thunderstorms; between assassination contracts. They do what they can when they can, and when they do, it’s astounding. Listen to the individual songs and you’ll see they are beholden to no faction, fashion or movement. Listen to the whole disc and you’ll never hear the same idea twice.

Hobart music was already in flux at the time of the first Community, and sure enough, there’s a lot of change and upheaval evident on Community 2. Emerging champions let obscure success and minor victories go to their heads in the best possible way. Restless kids from the eastern suburbs storm the city streets, the outsiders of the outsiders. Some of your favourite bands from the original do not appear here. Some of your least favourite bands from the original each make a desperate ploy to become your new favourite bands. Familiar names drop deeply unfamiliar sounds on your heads. Rumour has it that two of Hobart’s best-known bands have submitted tracks for this compilation under each other’s names, like unruly students trying to bamboozle a substitute teacher. There is indeed something in the water around here, and it’s something only we can handle with our sanity and preconceptions intact. Best of luck to you and yours.

(Older) Hobart Punkssssssssssss

2011-09-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Exciting new/old Frustrations release coming soon!

Really neat ad for Hobart Kitchen's Floor show (with the Native Cats)

2011-09-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

George Harrison and The Master take it up a notch!

2011-09-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Two songs from the Native Cats 'Process Praise' album launch.

Making plans

2011-08-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

After the promo work for Community 2 settles down I'm looking at doing some archival releases of Tasmanian music, most likely compilations, as they document and expose the widest spread of music with my somewhat limited resources. Would also like to do some vinyl (if the exchange rate with the USA stays OK), probably 7" singles with freakin' natty artwork. There's an unreleased Frustrations album that I plan to do one day, but it would be good in the long run I guess that Rough Skies wasn't just a vanity label.

I'd like Community to be a continuing series of documenting contemporary Hobart music that I dig, but I'm thinking that it may not always be a compilation CD. Perhaps some sort of long form DVD or (probably a cheaper option) a series of linked YouTube videos. The Frustrations were on a compilation 7" of Australian bands doing short songs a few years ago, could be an interesting idea to get local bands to compose short songs for something similar. Even had the idea of compilation as the soundtrack to a book/fanzine about living in Hobart or with a calendar with a band for each month...er, maybe that last idea was the result of an overexcited internal brain-storming session while at my day job. Either way I'd be happy having this record label having some sort of long term positive influence of my hometown's music scene.

Native Cats - K-Man

2011-08-26T06:26:00.001-07:00

Native Cats_K-Man by Rough Skies Records

Yet another song from C2, there was a really early peformance of this song on youtube but has disappeared. Kind of the mutt/orphan/mongrel/bastard-child song that didn't fit on the 'Process Praise album, hopefully it's got a good home now.

Machines of Indeterminate Origin

2011-08-26T05:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to a Vimeo video for the Machines of Indeterminate Origin C2 song, suggest folks check out one their rare gigs whenever they come up:
A video for 'M.O.I.O' by Machines Of Indeterminate Origin by Matt Warren

Manchester Mourning

2011-08-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

Manchester Mourning, this is a live version of their C2 song, James has a better looking guitar now.

The Story so far...

2011-08-25T05:27:00.001-07:00

RSKYR 001 - Community - A Compilation Of Hobart Music CD
RSKYR 002 - The Bad Luck Charms - Live At The Brisbane Hotel CD
RSKYR 003 - Mess O'Reds - Dog Under Wheel CD EP
RSKYR 004 - The Native Cats - Process Praise CD
RSKYR 005 - Community 2 - A Compilation Of Hobart Music CD

Myblackson - House Party Stylee!

2011-08-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

Myblackson play their C2 song "Living Room" in a, er, living room.

Presenting Anthony "Flash Tony" Rochester!

2011-08-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

An actual proper clip for one of the songs from the Community 2 compilation.

Greetings!

2011-08-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

Have tried coming up with something witty and succinct for this blogs first post and have deleted several thus far. This blog will hopefully serve as the main information point for my record label Rough Skies Records, which I have been working on for the past two years. Just put out the 5th release - the Community 2 compilation of Hobart music and starting to plan for the next couple of releases. Will be putting up links to videos and songs and talking about Hobart music in general.