Kite Club’s top five albums
Formed on a 50-acre citrus orchard, Kite Club is the brainchild of Melbourne-based romantic Nicholas Futcher. Kite Club has just released ‘Jupiter Smiling’- the first single off his upcoming debut record ‘Fresh Air For Humans’. We asked Nicholas to tell us his favourite and influential albums:
1. The Sleepy Jackson – Personality (One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird)
I lived in Darlinghurst, Sydney for a few years and this record always brings back those feelings. It was a time of self-discovery and new beginnings, and I heard something incredibly astounding in the production and instrumentation of these songs. The layers upon layers of vocals and strings fascinated me like a Disney score as a child. I feel like this record is as close to Brian Wilson as anyone has come in decades. It’s my favourite to date.
2. Bjork – Debut
It was the summer of ’07. I’d bought my first car and I would thrash this cassette on the long drives between band mates houses, dropping them off after rehearsals for our psychedelic prog. band ‘Santiago’. It was a big secret that only I knew about. Every majestic melody threaded it’s way into my teenage skull with lush instrumentation and pushing 808’s. Her vocal timbre whispered a sacred dialect which vibrated frequencies so foreign and welcoming. I fell heavily and curiously in love. This lead to a dense Sugarcubes period, which I’m not sure has really ended.
3. Silverchair – Diorama
Much like Luke, Daniel is on par as my favourite songwriter. I feel that they are Yin & Yang, light and dark. Although I wasn’t old enough to truly understand the power of this album at the time of it’s release, it has become a reference of the album I aspire to write one day. Theatrical with an aspect of fantasy, and entirely uplifting, positive and hopeful.
4. The Cure – Disintegration
Our drummer Joel introduced me to this classic, and I can safely say that I’ve listened to it everyday since. Such a melancholy and reflective nature spill from each song.. It’s definitely the #1 break-up album of all time. It reminds me of moonlit solo bike rides to the beach, contemplating what the future would bring in this vast world, the warm winds throwing the smell of salt.
5. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
It’s quite established that Kevin Parker is an actual genius. He is deservedly living every contemporary musician’s dream life. His songs are like complex equations that have no solution nor explanation, and all we can do is marvel in the divinity of these creations he has brought to earth. Every time I listen to both albums, there’s something new to hear, perceive and contemplate.. all in a very tidy and tasteful package.
Listen to Juniper Smiling below and, if you’re in Melbourne, you can check Kite Club out on 10th July, at the Workers Club.
