It’s taken a while for The Vandas to get to this point.
All the doubts, fears and frustrations are put to rest. Four years after four gentlemen from west and north of the Murray River colluded in the southern capital, their first long play record Slow Burn is finally here, out September 6 on Liberation. And to celebrate, the Vandas are taking their cracking live show on the road for shows up the East Coast and Adelaide in September and October.
Produced by Joel Silbersher (GOD, Hoss, Tex Perkins), Slow Burn is honest, raw, heart-worn, and devoid of the arch pretence or tired detachment of those chasing the zeitgeist. The record’s aim was to be true to The Vandas’ greatest strength: playing live. Right down to the choice of their favoured rehearsal studio, Soundpark in Northcote, Victoria, and their live mixer, Justin Hermes, to engineer.
Those familiar with The Vandas will recognise their classic melodies, barbed lyrics, and truly Australian sound throughout the record. But this time the delivery hits harder, the songs cut deeper.
Great art is rarely offered from a place of comfort. The Vandas’ scars are there for all to hear on Slow Burn. Anyone left dazed and misused by the fickleness of love’s hopes and diminished returns will find a redemptive affirmation in these ten songs. Time can lead to triumph.