Skindeep

The debut album by The Forresters 'Skindeep', was recorded in 2005. Here's some background on the making of the Skindeep album...

The Orange Humble Band's Memphis-Ardent studio experience inspired me to make my own record. When I got back home after mixing Humblin' with Mitch Easter I started writing songs and selecting musicians for the recording of the album ‘Skindeep’. I first met Nick Kennedy (Big Heavy Stuff) when Knievel were the backing band for Ken Stringfellow during his Australian tour. Nick is a great drummer, a great guy and a pleasure to make music with. It's little wonder he's the driving force behind a number of top Sydney outfits including Knievel, Anatomy Class and Imperial Broads.

Apart from running a recording studio, Steve Balbi (Noiseworks) on bass is a producer and singer/songwriter. Aside from his solo career, Steve is the lead singer with Mi-Sex. Nick, Steve and I only had one rehearsal before we put down the drums and bass in a marathon session at Milk Bar studio. We then moved to Billy Field's Paradise studios. Matt Galvin (The Barbarellas) chimed in with some killer power pop electrics as only he can. Matt played the bulk of the guitars on 'Assorted Creams' and it was great to get him on board this project. The next day of recording at Paradise we put down the piano and organ with Cameron Bruce (Paul Kelly). Cameron produced some stunning performances, mostly one take straight to tape. We then hooked up with Velvet Sound studios and finished the record there. In-house engineer Daniel Clinch did a great job. Warm sounds, great attitude & along with Anthony The made recording a bunch of fun. Guitarist Charlie Owen (The Beasts of Bourbon, Dark Horses) plays the dobro and electric guitars on the more rockin' and country flavoured tracks on the record. Charlie flew up from Melbourne for 2 days but remarkably got all his stuff on tape in 1! I picked Charlie up at the airport about midday, drove him to the studio and he plugged straight in. Without a break, 11 hours later, and with some stinging electrics and beautiful dobro playing, he had put his stamp on the record. Two other Sydney musicians who played on 'Assorted Creams’ also appear on The Forresters' Skindeep album. Peter Cross delivers some beautiful trumpet and flugel horn lines on a number of tracks and Jess Ciampa (Bernie Hayes) dragged in his entire collection of vibes, chimes, bells and whistles for a very fun percussion session. I was extra fortunate to have Wayne Connolly come in for the mixing. I love the way Wayne works those sounds and he's a lot of fun to record with. Many thanks to Wayne for some great mixes and also sitting in on the mastering.

The album was well received by music fans and reviewers alike. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the Skindeep CD, please get in touch via our contact page. The tracks from the album are also available through iTunes and Bandcamp. 

Video for the track 'Outtamyhead'

 

 

 

 

photo by Steve McLaren

photo by Steve McLaren

THE FORRESTERS

Emerging from Sydney’s ongoing lockdown, The Forresters deliver their rock’n’roll antidote - an uplifting power pop album, ‘Something to Give’.

As a feeling of isolation extends across the country and musicians and artists are unable to perform, The Forresters ‘shine a bit of light’ with their sparkling, guitar-based sound. On the back of their debut album and EPs in 2016 & 2019, The Forresters’ follow-up LP ‘Something to Give’ is a joyful excursion into contemporary power pop. 

Singer/songwriter Anthony Bautovich’s (The Lonelyhearts, Orange Humble Band) guitar-driven anthems are filled with chiming emotional sounds. ‘Something to Give’ is a blissful evocation of the radiant '70s power pop bands including Big Star, Rasberries and Badfinger.

The shimmering guitar work of Matt Galvin (Perry Keyes, Orange Humble Band) and keyboard playing of Cameron Bruce (Paul Kelly) are elevated by the mighty rhythm section of drummer Nick Kennedy (Big Heavy Stuff, Imperial Broads) and bass player Steve Balbi (Noiseworks). The record boasts a great line-up of guest appearances including Peter Kelly (The Gadflys, Orange Humble Band) on trumpet, Jess Ciampa (Bernie Hayes) on percussion, Nashville based Emma Swift on backing vocals and Charlie Owen (Beasts of Bourbon) on electric guitar.

Founded on a rich sonic tapestry, The Forresters create authentic songs that go straight to the heart. The melodious components of their current single ‘Tightrope’ are carried throughout the album, creating a body of work that is both fresh and timeless.

The Forresters’ distinctive brand of '60s and '70s inspired power pop was produced by the ARIA award winning producer Wayne Connolly with additional recording and mastering by Michael Carpenter. The album was mixed by US indie legend Mitch Easter at his Fidelitorium studio in North Carolina.

‘Something to Give’ is now available through Bandcamp.

design by Madeleine Preston - painting by Sam Massey

design by Madeleine Preston - painting by Sam Massey

I collect old forms of media – photos, slides, 8mm and super 8 films. I purchased some 35mm slides at auction and this 8mm film of a group of people parachuting in regional Australia during the 70s was hidden in one of the boxes. I added a bouncing ball animation over the lyrics. Pretty happy the way it’s turned out. Hope you like the clip.

REVIEW BLURBS:

“…Sydney outfit the Forresters were formed by singer-songwriter Anthony Bautovich of the critically acclaimed Oz ensemble The Orange Humble Band…it's a cool-sounding EP, and will surely find a home with the alt.country audience that is so enamoured of Vigilantes of Love and Golden Smog…”   - Maverick (UK)

“…bright harmonies, guitars that really should be pouring out of open car windows, joy in a Teenage Fanclub / Jayhawks vein…”  Americana UK 

…it's a luscious mixture of pop, rock, r'n'b, and country, tantalising and exploratory. It never rests on it's laurels: the songs develop and change as they progress, new elements continually introduced, new echoes from rock's rich tapestry setting off gentle footfalls down the passageways of memory…” Nick West - Bucketfull of Brains (UK)

… regardless of vogue, there's always a place for a band like The Forresters…” - Amplifier Magazine (U.S.A)