Summerland

2008 release from the Australian outfit, their fourth album overall. This melodic opus is called Summerland, a mythical place where the term 'relaxed and comfortable' thinly veils something sinister, something complex - in which a bright joyous celebration is tempered with a threat. This is where the Herd flourishes - that space between joy and melancholy, the absurd and the sinister. The album prospers in this mix: musically, with strings and horn arrangements; drums, guitars, basslines; rhymes and singing - and thematically with the widely varying subjects of the 14 songs. From the deeply affecting 'Kids Learn Quick' to the raucous '2020'; from the heart-felt 'Time to Face the Truth' to the light hearted 'Zug Zug'. The eight band members represent a variety of cultures and influences, creating a unique formation of songwriters. The notable presence of Jane Tyrrell continues the evolving sound of the Herd's music - lovingly devoted to headphones as well as house parties. Elefant Traks.