Brillig Biography Brillig
Genre: Acoustic, Folk, Gothic
"Curiously dark in the tradition of Lewis Carroll, both lyrically and in mannerism, Brillig possess an odd quality that imbues adept story-telling with days-gone-by poetic flair." - DB MAGAZINE (Australia)
* BRILLIG
With a deliciously dark look & captivating stage presence, Brillig draws its audience in with songs that are quite often tragedy & more often than not melancholy. Though Brillig spin tales of loss and longing, their command of enchanting melodies and sweet harmonies also creates a strangely uplifting and dreamily romantic atmosphere.
Driven by the vocal harmony & interplay between lead singers and multi-instrumentalists Matt Swayne & Elizabeth Reid, Brillig's Gothic Folk sound features a graceful combination of acoustic guitar, viola, autoharp, harmonica, banjo, piano accordion and ukulele. Bassist Denni Meredith adds rich & thoughtful melody and smooth rhythm, while drummer Ben Macklin rounds out the tracks with his superb & subtle percussive style.
Brillig have shared the stage with acclaimed acts The Handsome Family (USA), The Audreys, CW Stoneking, Ned Collette, Sime Nugent, Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra, The Yearlings & more, and have enjoyed performances across Australia. Previous recordings have earned national and international airplay, and the band's 2007 releases have been receiving glowing reviews from the UK to Italy, Russia to Germany.
Signed to Germany's Black Rain label for European releases, whilst remaining independent in Australia, Brillig have just finished the recording of "Jack Davey", a five track EP due for release on 31st October 2008. A full LP will follow in April 2009, and soon after Brillig will make their European festival debut.
* 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; drums (not pictured)
www.brillig.com.au
www.myspace.com/brilligacoustic
* BRILLIG'S NEXT GIGS :
* Every Sunday in January 2009 at the Grace Emily Hotel; 9pm FREE
* BRILLIG'S NEW EP:
Brillig have just released their brand new EP! Titled "Jack Davey", the 5 track recording was completed at the end of September in Hillside Studios with famed SA producer Matt Hills, and showcases Brillig's reinvention as a four-piece gothic folk act. In true Brillig style, "Jack Davey" was launched on Halloween (Friday, 31st October 2008) at the beloved Grace Emily Hotel. The full acoustic band (including drums) played amongst their own Tim Burton-esque cemetery on stage, created especially for the occasion.
The Jack Davey EP went to #1 on the Three D Radio charts (Top 20+1 Weekly Countdown) on 31st October.
Listen to a couple of the new tracks on Myspace: Title track "Jack Davey", and "Phantom's Theme" - Brillig's cover of Paul Williams' plaintive anthem from the amazing cult film, "Phantom of the Paradise."
* INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS
'the Australians manage to create an enticing, dreamily romantic, twisted and sinister melancholy feeling, which captivates their listeners and stimulates their power of imagination.' - ORKUS (German version)
'incredible enchantment that distills the songs' 'the magic, the enchantment, the irresistible attraction that you encounter is something purely visceral and inexplicable' '8.75 out of 10' - MENTENEBRE (Spain)
"...an admirable synthesis of class and cleverness" - VERSACRUM (Italy)
"Brillig possess simultaneously a very airy, graceful, sensual and saturated contemporary sound" - MACHINIST (Russia)
"we have an important band here, that now will have fans not only in the Outback but also in Europe. Art-full music." - ELEKTRAUMA (Germany)
"shines like a diamond in the constantly self-copying music scene." - GROUND UNDER PRODUCTIONS (Australia)
"I hope that Brillig, from now on, becomes important in this scene, not only at level of its native Australia but at the level of the entire world." - RESANAS (Spain)
'A decadent, beautiful and sophisticated recording with the wonderful music of dual vocals and an airy, graceful and sensual modern sound, with a clearly defined curtsy to the rich heritage of gothic Europe and the Americas' - EVERYTHING SYNTH (Russia)
'Desperate decadent ideas and absolute disappointment in the outside world, yet somehow also positive, organic and wonderful'
- MACHINIST (Russia)
'The instrumental sets you in a melancholy landscape, ridden with autumn rain and the atmosphere of Soviet cinema in the 70-80s' ' the prevailing mood is Autumn-Grief... albeit with some flashing of the warm September sun' - MUSIC.COM.UA(Russia)
