Brillig
Genre:Acoustic, Alt. Country, Americana, Folk, Gothic, Pop
"If you know what Cohen, Cash, Cave & The Cure have in common, it's right here."
-Periplaneta Magazine, Germany
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* BIOGRAPHY
Combining sea shanties, murder ballads, tender tales of lost love & lost life, Brillig's inimitable style is enchantingly melancholic, beautifully tragic, and ....strangely uplifting...!
With a deliciously dark look & captivating stage presence, Brillig draws its audience in with their command of infectious melodies and sweet harmonies. This dreamily romantic style draw influence from such noted songwriters & storytellers as Nick Cave, The Decemberists, Leonard Cohen & Neil Young.
Driven by the vocal harmony & interplay between lead singers and multi-instrumentalists Matt Swayne & Elizabeth Reid, Brillig's trademark sound features a graceful combination of acoustic guitar, viola, autoharp, harmonica, banjo, piano accordion and ukulele. Bassist Denni Meredith combines rich and thoughtful melody with smooth rhythm, while drummer Ben Macklin (ex-Bit By Bats) adds his subtle percussive style.
The band's recordings have earned national and international airplay, including national station Triple J (Australia) and reaching number 3 on the Italian Alternative Chart (2007) alongside such acts as Interpol and The Editors. The band's 2007 releases have been receiving glowing reviews from the UK to Italy, Russia to Germany. See the official website's Press page for quotes.
Over the years Brillig's recordings have also enjoyed sold-out pressings (MRA), national & international distribution (MGM, MRA, Black Rain), inclusion on numerous compilation CDs around the world, and critical acclaim (Top 10 LPs of the year voted by SA press, South Australian Music Award -Best Release).
On Halloween 2008 Brillig released five track EP "Jack Davey". In the same week, the EP went to #1 (twice in a row) on popular South Australian tastemaker station, Three D Radio. The EP also became the #3 most-played record on the station for 2008, ahead of such acts as The Audreys, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Cat Power.
In July 2009, Brillig released their debut acoustic full LP "The Red Coats" across Europe, UK, Russia and North America. The 12 track album was recorded by famed South Australian producer Matt Hills (Wolf & Cub, The Lucksmiths), and its release coincided with the band's international festival debut in Leipzig (Germany) in May 2009, where Brillig received a standing ovation at Schauspielhaus Theatre, along with dates in Berlin & Prague.
"The Red Coats" has been attracting incredible reviews, and over the last few months Brillig has been enjoying interviews in numerous glossy magazines and airplay across the globe, including Germany, Australia, UK, Spain, Belgium, Italy, France, Russia, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Portugal & more. The Australian edition of the LP was released in 2010 at the Adelaide Fringe Fest (Feb/March 2010), and further national launch dates will be announced mid year. Brillig will also be international guests in New Zealand in October, where they will launch their LP at the Wellington Folk Festival.
BRILLIG ARE:
Matt Swayne; vocals, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars, banjo, harmonica.
Elizabeth Reid; vocals, viola, autoharp, piano accordion, ukulele.
Denni Meredith; bass guitar.
Ben Macklin; guest drums
www.myspace.com/brilligacoustic
* NEXT GIGS
Saturday 4th September, at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, with Melbourne's Dandelion Wine
Thursday 16th September, live to air on Radio Adelaide's (101.5fm) Live Music Fest, 3pm
Saturday 16th October, Coopers Alive Showcase at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, with The Timbers & Self Preservation Society
Select the GIGS tab at the right of this page for all upcoming gigs.
The Red Coats LP ('09/'10)
"The band conjures sounds like I have never heard before, unique style, unique playing and superior production. This is a very special gem within the vast ocean of imports [to Europe]! The listener is inclined to be absorbed into a musical world of charm, elegance and distinctiveness. All in all, a total work of art."- MEDIENKONVERTER (Germany) 
Murder Ballads * Sea Shanties * Folk Tales
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"a masterpiece that you can not readily pass up.... we hear musical pearls full of fragility and grace."- USELINKS (Germany)
"BRILLIG has this magical "not-of-this-world touch. Absolutely recommendable."- DARK MOMENTS (Germany)
"the atmosphere thickens with a magic charm that increases with each listen to this excellent work of music, where style & experimentation create a nostalgic combination, wise and genuine. 8 out of 10"- BABYLON MAGAZINE (Italy)
" one catchy moment after another -- madness! - it's a compulsory purchase."- KULTUR TERRORISMUS (Germany)
"The Australians have suceeded in delivering twelve beautiful, melancholic and tragic stories that need to be heard."- WHISKY SODA (Germany)
"A truly consciousness, mature and well designed brew on the way to the next trip into Wonderland. 8 out of 10" - SCHWARZE NEWS (Germany)
