A new experimental duo operating under the name Nocturnal Tapes is turning heads with their weird blend of electronic and organic elements.
Although their published music consists of one demo, they are already generating buzz around their live show and have reached the final of National Campus Band Competition as the Queensland heat winners. The duo consists of Harry Suttor on guitar and vocals, with Lachie Mulligan on electronic duties: Moogs, Ableton Push and controllers; you name it, he can play it.
Both of the boys are from the New South Wales north coast. “Yeah, we’re both from Yamba. It’s where we met,” explains Harry. “Nocturnal Tapes isn’t our first project together. Originally we had a group of seven people and we would improvise everything. We’d go to gigs and make up the music as we went."
Nocturnal Tapes was only born from spontaneity. “About seven months ago, I went to Lachie’s studio for a jam. We wrote out first demo during the session, and Nocturnal Tapes was born.”
For the duo who describe themselves as psychedelic-electronica, there’s a fairly normal story behind the name. “We are both nocturnal people,” Harry says. “Late one night, we were looking through tapes, and we thought of the name, which just stuck.”
The duo always write together, which makes fusing the two dissimilar elements not as hard as some people would expect. “Lachie has all of his sounds going and I sit on top,” explains Harry.
As to why Nocturnal Tapes are pursuing their current music path, which is similar to Nicolas Jaar’s project Darkside, Harry has a unique view. “There are lot of drummers and bass players, but not a lot of guys who can play seven electronic instruments simultaneously.”
Harry’s personal influences range from Jeff Buckley to Radiohead and Talking Heads. But at the moment, he is listening to James Murphy’s now-defunct LCD Soundsystem, Half Moon Run and Foals. Even though their project is young, the boys behind Nocturnal Tapes are always looking to the future. “If I had a blank cheque, I would love to expand the live show. Get some visuals in. A video DJ could be cool, but I want lots of lights and stuff which will trip people out and give them the whole Nocturnal Tapes experience.”
Nocturnal Tapes won the recent Queensland State Finals of the National Campus Band Search. “It has certainly given us a platform and an audience because we are preparing to put out some music soon.”
When pressed for details, Harry said the duo were: “working on a few singles due out for release in the next two months”.
Written by Conor Hughes
Nocturnal Tapes are the 2015 QLD State winners of the National Campus Band Competition. The final is held in Sydney 24 September
