PIKELET

Pikelet CD

Chapter Music CH59

Pikelet is Evelyn Morris, a 24 year old musical wunderkind from the outer suburbs of Melbourne who began life as a hardcore-obsessed drummer, and still currently serves on sticks in such heavy-hitting Melbourne institutions as Baseball and True Radical Miracle. But a couple of years ago, something tickled Evelyn's brain in a funny way and she felt compelled to grab an old accordion, a guitar and a delay pedal, and launch a decidedly un-hardcore solo career.

The name comes from Evelyn's mother, who used to spoil her kids with pikelets when she was a little strapped for cash. "She always had eggs, she always had flour and powdered milk in the cupboard, so she would just throw together pikelets," Evelyn told Mess + Noise Magazine recently. "It was a really big deal for me, but I found out later that it was just what she did when she had nothing else."

Engineered and produced by US uber-producer Casey Rice (Tortoise, Sea & Cake, Ben Lee and countless others), Pikelet's debut self-titled album is a gorgeous, multi-tiered work of swirling and shifting melody, layered harmonies and charming story-telling, almost entirely performed by Evelyn herself. All in all, Pikelet is a uniquely assured and distinctive debut.

For a quick listen, check out www.myspace.com/ovalyn

JOINT CD LAUNCHES!

Chapter Music is happily launching two Australian post-punk archival reissue CDs, Can't Stop It! Vol 2 - Australian Post-Punk 1979-84 and Primitive Calculators And Friends 1979-82 next Thursday, March 8.

The second instalment of Chapter's acclaimed Australian post-punk compilation series Can't Stop It! comes 5 years after the first, but makes up for the long interval by presenting another incredible array of inventive and often previously unheard music from the period 1979-84, including tracks by the likes of Severed Heads, The Systematics and Scattered Order, and early work from Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard, Hunters & Collectors Mark Seymour, and Candy soundtrack composer Paul Charlier.
 
Primitive Calculators And Friends 1979-82 follows up Chapter's 2004 release of the ferocious Melbourne synth-punk snarlers' self-titled live album from 1979, with a crucial compilation of tracks by Primitive Calculators and their friends from the legendary Melbourne Little Band scene. It includes the Calculators' only studio recording (the single I Can't Stop It b/w Do That Dance), plus the Little Bands compilation EP and numerous live and rehearsal recordings.

Melbourne

Thursday March 8, 8pm, $5

Wintergarden Room, Exford Hotel, Russell St, city

At the scene of many early 80s gigs by bands on CSI #1 & 2, now booked by the legendary Dolores San Miguel, original booker of the Crystal Ballroom and the Exford during Australia's post-punk heyday, see a special performance by the Glitter Kids (featuring members of Lakes, Fabulous Diamonds and Oh Belgium!) playing songs from CSI #2 and Primitive Calculators and Friends. Fabulous Diamonds will also play a short set.

Plus there will be DJ sets from Dave Light from the Primitive Calculators and Chapter boss Guy Blackman, as well as slides and video footage running all night.

Sydney

Wednesday March 21, 8pm, $5

Spectrum, Oxford St, Darlinghurst

At a venue originally set up by Mark Gerber of CSI #2's Scapa Flow, come see a special band made up of members of Kiosk, Naked On The Vague and Holy Balm playing songs from CSI #2 and Primitive Calculators and Friends. Kiosk will aso play a short set.

Plus there will be DJ sets from Mark Gerber, Primitive Calculators' Dave Light, and Chapter boss Guy Blackman.