The Laurels (band)

The Laurels are an Australian neo-psychedelic four-piece based in Sydney's Inner West.[1] They formed in 2006 after the members met through mutual friends at a silly hat party, each of them originally living in disparate parts of the East Coast of Australia.[2] The band garnered critical acclaim in the Sydney live music scene after playing extensively throughout the latter 2000s in both headline and international support slots[3] before releasing their first 7" single Art School Girl/Wandering Star in 2009[4] and their full length Plains LP in 2012.[5] The band's second album, Sonicology, was released in 2016.[6]

This article is about the neo-psychedelic band based in Australia. For the British greyhound race, see Laurels (greyhounds). For the Irish greyhound race, see Laurels (Irish greyhounds).

The Laurels
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresNeo-psychedelia, shoegazing
Years active2004–present
LabelsMagnetic Recording Council, Other Tongues, Rice Is Nice
Associated actsLowtide
Websitethelaurels.bandcamp.com
MembersPiers Cornelius
Luke O'Farrell
Kat Harley
Ben James
Past membersKate Wilson
Aimee-Lee Curran
Conor Hannan
Jasper Fenton

Musical style

The Laurels developed a live sound that differs notably to the sound that appears on their recordings. The band uses shoegazing guitar techniques and understated vocals to emulate the loud and heavily distorted sound of 90's artists such as Ride and My Bloody Valentine when playing live. The band says that their live wall of sound style arose from their reliance on layered guitar recordings for their recorded works, and that the best way to emulate this live with only two guitars was to play at a greatly increased volume.[7]

Shoegaze influences also feature strongly on the group's recordings, with many of their songs using multiple guitar layers and reverberation to achieve complex musical textures. However, while many shoegaze groups intentionally use lower recording quality to add texture to their recordings, the Laurels' works are notably cleaner and of higher fidelity than the bands from which they take influence.[8] This is especially true of the works that appear on Plains, which feature cleaner guitars than those on Mesozoic EP or on their singles. Liam Judson, who worked with Australian acts Cloud Control and Belles Will Ring, produced both the Mesozoic EP and Plains.

Reception and critical success

The Laurels' extensive live headline shows and support slots for international artists throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s in Sydney and Melbourne were well received by the Australian music media.[9][10][11] They have won and gained nominations for several awards for their live shows. In 2011 they were nominated Best Live Music Act in FBi Radio's Sydney Music, Arts & Culture Awards,[12] voted Best New Talent in The Age EG Awards[13] and were voted the fourth Best Live Band in the Mess + Noise Readers Poll.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles and EPs
  • Art School Girl/Wandering Star (2009, Magnetic Recording Council)
  • Mesozoic EP (2011, Other Tongues)

References
  1. Lymangrover, Jason. "The Laurels: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  2. Piper, Reece. "The Laurels: Six years later, the Laurel's debut album makes a strong first impression". Time Out Sydney - Music. Time Out Group Ltd. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. FBi radio. "SMAC awards: Best live act 2011". SMAC awards 2011 nominations. FBi radio group. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  4. Scott, Tim. "The Laurels: Art School Girl/Wandering Star`". Mess + Noise Record Reviews. Sound Alliance. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  5. Williams, Tom. "The Laurels - Plains". Fasterlouder Music Review. Sound Alliance. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. Stafford, Andrew (13 October 2016). "The Laurels: Sonicology review – a psychedelic hip-hop reinvention from shoegaze stalwarts". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  7. Robertson, Hugh. "MUSIC: Interview: The Laurels". The Brag: Issue 471. The National Grid. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  8. Rav. "The Laurels released an album". Splashbacks 2012. Polaroids of Androids. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  9. Ohandjanian, Sevana. "Gig review: The Laurels, Lansdowne Hotel, 8/7/2011". Professional Losers. Wordpress. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  10. Constable, David. "GIG REVIEW: THE LAURELS". Groupie Magazine: Music. Pages Digital. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  11. Carr, Michael (4 July 2011). "Listen to: The Laurels – Mesozoic EP In Full". Music Feeds. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  12. "BEST LIVE MUSIC ACT, presented by Allans & Billy Hyde Music". Smac Awards 2011. FBi Media. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  13. Mihelakos, Mary. "Get your votes in". The Age: EG Awards 2011. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 December 2012.

The Laurels on bandcamp

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