Gyroscope
is bringing something new to the table this time - and it's not what you would
expect.
Coming off the back of the #1 album 'Breed Obsession' in 2008, complete
with Gold certification and an ARIA nomination in tow, you would think that they
would stick with what seems like a formula for success.
But for something
to succeed you don't need a formula - you need a solid foundation on which everything
can be built. And few in music have set a foundation as strong as Gyroscope.
"The
foundation is what we hold true to, whether it be the foundation of being around
for a while or it be that we've done so much touring and travelling and seen so
many things and met so many people," singer-guitarist Dan Sanders says. "The
band has become a backbone in each member. Each of us, our lives are almost all
made up of playing in this band. It's the foundation, the backbone, and we realise
we've got to this point through this. And these opportunities don't come around
every day."
It is this foundation that has produced the most cohesive
album of their career, not sticking to the formula. And from this base shoots
fourth album, the aptly titled 'Cohesion', a record with enough power to rock
even the strongest stadium foundations.
And within 'Cohesion's' wonderful
shades of light and dark, of pounding energy and delicate emotion, there's an
honesty that shines through. It's the same musical honesty the four have built
on since starting out in their early teens.
It is from the mere fact that
the band formed when they were still at school, to the size of their enormous
fan base built on more than a decade of releases and relentless touring, that
the Perth rock quartet has shown that while nothing in music can be foretold,
the right foundation makes anything possible.
The album came to life late
in 2009, in the aptly named Rockfield - a picturesque town in Wales where Sanders,
guitarist Zoran Trivic, bassist Brad Campbell and drummer Rob Nassif took to the
grindstone with around 30 songs they'd spent the year penning.
They recorded
in a studio of the same name, the oldest residential studio in the world. With
an awe-inspiring history - including the recording of Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen),
'What's the Story Morning Glory' (Oasis), and albums from Coldplay, Black Sabbath
and The Stone Roses - it's no wonder another epic, exceptional album was born
within these legendary walls.
Surrounded by this bands history for amazing
live acts, producing tracks that would be larger-than-life on stage was the main
focus on this album, with the aim to construct an LP that sounded like a live
set. And they have certainly delivered.
"We feel we've gone back to
our roots and made the rock record we set out to make," says Trivic. "We're
at our best when we're playing live and that's what people know us for."
"People
have seen Gyroscope can do a lot of different stuff, so we wanted to knock it
home with what we can do live," adds Sanders. "We're a live band; that's
where we started. 'Cohesion' isn't heavy and crazy, but it's more purposely built
for touring. Someone will hopefully listen from beginning to end and say, 'I can
close my eyes and pretend it's those guys playing the songs.'"
With
the songs down to a mean dozen, Gyroscope nailed the perfect dynamic by recording
live. Killer hooks and honest, assured song writing is laced with infectious energy
and enthusiasm - a reflection of the band's studio time. Meanwhile, Sanders tapped
into a powerful simplicity behind the mic, simultaneously inspired by rock heroes
like Kurt Cobain and his single-tracked vocals, to legendary Paul Simon and his
delicate emoting.
Enter two weeks of preproduction with pivotal producer
Gil Norton, the man behind band favourites like Foo Fighters' 'The Colour And
The Shape' and The Pixies' 'Doolittle'. While Gil laid the perfect foundation,
Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Gomez) mixed up a storm.
"Gil
believes preproduction is the most important part of the record-making process,"
states Sanders. "You get the foundation right and then you can try things
afterwards, but you can always go back to what you had."
With Norton
often assuming the role of conductor, standing between the four and hand-signalling
for extra drum fills or more meaty guitars, mutual respect of talent soon turned
into the most rewarding recording experience of Gyroscope's career. This is heard
loud and clear on 'Cohesion', an album demanding to pick up where 2008's ARIA
#1 'Breed Obsession' left off.
"We've gone to other studios,"
Sanders explains. "In LA we came out with a Hollywood sheen, and when we
did Breed Obsession in the UK it was clean and beautiful. But there are still
producers around who go for more of a live, old-school sound. Gil kept reminding
us, 'You want to make a rock album or what?' and we were like, 'Yeah!'"
"You
don't have to make it sound so big and pretty," Sanders continues. "In
a way the album is stripped-back, but Gil's given it the oomph. It's got what
we wanted in body, but it's also got the attack and energy of a live record."
And
their first line of attack? Get ready for Gyroscope's live assault with 'Cohesion',
it'll be another killer.
www.gyroscopemusic.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/gyroscope
'Cohesion'
is available now. For your chance to win one of five copies thanks to Universal
Music, simply tell us in 25 words or less, why you should win. Winners will be
notified via email. Good luck!
