A quirky four-piece who unleash bruising punk bathed in blues that's rinsed through avant-garde textures, Adelaide rockers St. Morris Sinners are back with their sophomore album, 'Zbilanc', six years after the release of their debut LP, 'Songs About Insects'.
A rhythmically diverse 11-track record that delves headfirst into the concept of imbalance, 'Zbilanc' is a rollicking, rambunctious ride across blues-infused rock that also treads a path via erratic art rock and eccentric, cinematic noodlings."'Zbilanc' is the Maltese word for 'imbalance', which speaks to the heritage of lead singer Stephen Johnson," the band says.
Adds Stephen: "'Zbilanc' has been a three-year effort, the overall theme of the album deals with the concept of imbalance.
"I'd like to dedicate this album to all things Australian: housing affordability, over-priced bars and coffee shops, price inflation on a pint of beer at your local pub.
"I'd also like to thank all the amazing musicians who helped create this album with us and amazing sound engineers and all our fans who have been with us over the last 11 years."
St. Morris Sinners launch 'Zbilanc' at Nexus Arts (Adelaide) 25 March.
Boarding Announcement
Every studio seems to be hefty in certain types of musical instruments and Wizard Tone in Adelaide has an amazing collection of percussive instruments; this opener was purely us just fooling around in the studio, having a bit of fun.Big Rev Kev
I was listening to a lot of Captain Beefheart's album 'The Spotlight Kid' when I wrote the lyrics. It's one of the only songs to be character focussed, which was a staple of our music lyrically over the years.Zbilanc
It's the Maltese word for imbalance; the album is based around this concept lyrically and musically. The guys wanted to do a fusion thing like [John] Scofield and I was into it for sure.Gentrification Blues
The title makes this one a bit self explanatory. This song is dedicated to every bar on Leigh Street.
She Swiped Left
I was in a cafe listening to a lot of Zappa at the time and I loved the humour in his music. Albums like 'Sheik Yerbouti'. We always end up doing one doo-wop number in every recording and this was it on this particular album.Le Coq Roc Bleau
A song about the history chronologically of cock-rock bands throughout the ages and their eventual fall – a bit of a tongue-in-cheek number.Elephant In The Gloom
Has a bit of a Neil Young vibe; introduces the second half of the album and a departure in tone from the first about the gradual disassembling of a relationship and denial.Organ Grinder
A spoken word, free number – lots of weird sounds and knockout cello work from Rachel Johnston. It's about the physical effects a breakup can have on someone aside from the emotional. It's supposed to be at least a bit funny. . . hopefully it is.Like Growing Plants
I was sitting in my backyard in a pretty bad place at the time. I wrote this poem close to when we went into the studio. I was staring at a dying tomato bush in my backyard and I wrote it.
Dianne
My personal favourite song on the album, I have to thank Nick Pennington who played bass on this album; he wrote the most beautiful horn parts.During the recording I had to leave for awhile to compose myself. It's an ode to my Mum who passed away when I was very young and I was so happy her mother, my grandmother who is 91, heard this.
