THE PASSPORT LABEL's second release (VISA002) came from Melbourne's undeniably fantastic CHILDREN COLLIDE - Frozen Armies is out on very limited 7" now. The single is distributed in the UK through our good friends Forte and is still available from selected independent record stores and also directly through The Passport Label website.
Also from Melbourne, this trio is creating somewhat of a quiet commotion in their homeland, after releasing their debut EP, We Three, Brave and True in Australia last year. The Passport single, Frozen Armies is taken from this EP, as are the equally impressive B-sides Amphibious and Look Good On Paper.
Having gained rotation on the influential national broadcaster Triple J, the band have amassed a load of loyal enthusiasts within Australia, and are now set to find a whole new legion of fans in the UK. In fact, there’s no doubt they will be clamouring to see the band live when they hope to make it over this side of the world later this year.
With caterwauling guitars here, immense rumbling bass there, and percussion relentlessly holding it all together, the most exciting feature of Children Collide’s music is actually what lurks beneath the noise. The swirling Frozen Armies sees guitarist and lead singer Johnny Mackay’s rasping vocals complemented by their female drummer’s sweet harmonies.
Meanwhile, both B-sides more than challenge the lead track for pole position. Amphibious not only contains one hell of a catchy chorus, but also the most tremendous use of stop-start rhythmic patterns. Not to mention the strangest of influences in Sir David Attenborough's Life on Earth. But then a lot of the inspiration behind Mackay’s songwriting is not exactly what you would call normal. "I was reading a book about societies the other day,” he explains, “a story about how the Vikings colonised Greenland and then essentially wiped themselves out after about 400 years, and that for some reason got in my head as an idea for a song. But it came out through hearing Boney M. It came into my head as music and I started putting guitar to it and I've written the song now." And there you have it. Easy.
You’re strongly advised to come to your own conclusions about the band’s sound, but in music, comparisons are inevitable. Children Collide have had some pretty big names such as Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Fugazi thrown around, but ultimately, that’s just like one of your mum’s friends telling you how much you look like your grandmother.
