Bleak Squad, a new Melbourne four-piece, is emerging from the shadows with their debut LP, “Strange Love.”
While the members are far from unknown—Mick Turner (Dirty Three), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), Adalita (Magic Dirt), and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting)—the band themselves are described as “the most well-known Melbourne band no one’s heard of.”
Adalita notes the name Bleak Squad speaks to both a loose collection of misfits and the noirish mood of our music.
In addition to the album release today, Bleak Squad has announced several live shows in October, including an exclusive performance on Friday, October 17, at The Unconformity, a renowned cultural festival held in Queenstown on the state’s West Coast. This is a significant addition to their tour, which marks the first time many of the members have played in a new band outside of their long-standing projects.
The band’s creation was sparked by Marty Brown, who, while “sitting around Fitzroy pool one summer bemoaning I wasn’t playing drums enough,” decided to call the others.
He had a hunch their unique musical personalities would complement each other, and he was right. The nine songs on Strange Love were largely recorded in second takes, a testament to the instantaneous chemistry they found at Melbourne’s Head Gap studios.
Harvey agrees, saying, “Marty concocted something good… But everyone put in lots of ideas and committed to the project.”
Strange Love is described as a regal compilation of bruised tunes, with tracks like “Lost My Head” and “Everything Must Change” building from sparse rock to a “swampy swagger.” The album also features more lonesome and celestial songs such as “World Go to Hell” and “Blue Signs.”
Adalita shares that the process was effortless, with members adding their own strengths and we take turns in the spotlight.
Looking ahead, the band is excited to perform live.
Adalita expresses her enthusiasm, stating,
“This is the first time I’ve been in a band outside of Magic Dirt and my solo thing… I really am pinching myself. It’s unreal.”
Brown and Harvey share the sentiment, with Brown believing the album’s energy will make for a great show on stage.
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