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Beyond the Sirens (remix EP)

by The Nature Strip

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amarklucas
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Henry Lipput
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1.
Beyond the Nether (2023 remix) 03:58
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2.
Handy Round Here (2023 remix) 03:35
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3.
Growing Up (2023 remix) 03:13
4.
Where The Sirens Waited (2023 remix, feat. Zoë Carides) 05:50
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about

May 2023 marks ten years since the release of The Nature Strip’s debut album Stars Turn Inside Out. They’re celebrating with (1) a gig on 2 June at the Gasoline Pony at which they’ll play the album in full, followed by a set of more recent tunes and (2) an EP of remixes of some of their earliest recordings, most of which were not on that album.

The Nature Strip began in late 2009 when Peter Marley rang up John Encarnação and asked for his help to finish off a couple of songs he was writing. They finished them both that evening, and started plotting towards the group that became The Nature Strip.

Those two songs were “Worst One”, which landed a place on Stars, and “Handy Round Here”, which though recorded for the album was deemed (along with “Cup of Tea”) not to fit, appearing on the b-side of the vinyl 45 of “Beyond the Nether”. If fact, part of the impetus of this new EP was to launch “Handy” properly into the digital domain – it had thus far slipped through the net. It’s as bluesy as TNS gets, with an unhinged vocal from Pete, genuine floor stomping instead of bass drum by John, and some slide guitar (12-string acoustic no less) courtesy of their old buddy from The Flies, Michael de la Motte.

“Beyond the Nether” is one of the stand-out tracks of Stars. It boasts a punk/new wave vibe (though one part is half-stolen from a prime piece of Oz Rock) and a strange story involving sleep deprivation. Funnily enough, the start of the song was in John’s head when he woke up one morning – he just had to follow the trail. The Springsteen cover “Growing Up” is the first recording of the enduring line-up of the group – Pete on bass, John on guitar, Matt Langely on keyboards and Jess Ciampa on drums. It was recorded for a Springsteen tribute for the group’s then label, Laughing Outlaw. John was most familiar with the version by obscure power-pop group Any Trouble, but that starting point was soon forgotten with the group’s own evolving arrangement, which sparkles and soars.

Perhaps the highlight of the EP is the remake of “Where The Sirens Waited”. An early co-write, John had written all the music and structure but had no words. He sent it to Pete, who was inspired to write stanza after stanza of a sea-going epic which features whales and dolphins, a giant octopus, fishes with wings, jealous mermaids, and of course, sirens luring the protagonist to who-knows-what, performed here in an inspired cameo by Zoë Carides. It’s quite a trip, one of Pete and John’s faves.

Having released three new singles last year, this celebration has not slowed progress on The Nature Strip’s fourth album, due early next year, with another single before the year is out.

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The Nature Strip discography
2013 Stars Turn Inside Out album
2013 “Beyond the Nether”/”Handy Round Here” single
2014 Plainclothes EP
2016 Presents album
2017 Beetle Bones album
2018 Past Pacific EP
2022 “Surgery” single
2022 “Sixth Sense” single
2023 “I Cannot Deny You” single
2023 Beyond the Sirens remix EP

credits

released May 24, 2023

1. Beyond the Nether (Encarnação)
John Encarnação – vocals, guitars, keyboards, radio. Peter Marley – bass, backing vocals. Jess Ciampa – drums. Original version on Stars Turn Inside Out, Laughing Outlaw, 2013.

2. Handy Round Here (Marley/ Encarnação)
Peter Marley – vocals, guitar, bass. John Encarnação – lead guitar, drums, stomping, backing vocals. Michael de la Motte – slide 12-string acoustic guitar. Original version on b-side of “Beyond the Nether” 45rpm single, China Pig Records, 2013

3. Growing Up (Springsteen)
Peter Marley – vocals, bass. John Encarnação – guitars, backing vocals. Matt Langley – keyboards. Jess Ciampa – drums and percussion. Original version on I Hear You’re From Australia, My Name’s Bruce Too, Bruce Springsteen tribute, Laughing Outlaw, 2013.

4. Where The Sirens Waited (Encarnação/Marley)
John Encarnação – vocals, guitars, piano, drum machine, the sea. Zoë Carides – vocal. Peter Marley – bass, organ, backing vocals. Original version on Plainclothes CD EP, China Pig Records, 2014.

Produced by The X-Flies, 2010-2013, remixed 2023.
Recorded by Peter Marley, except basic tracks of “Beyond the Nether” by Adrian Barr, and “Sirens” mostly by John Encarnação. Recording locations (NSW, Australia): Currarong, Coogee, Marrickville, Kingswood.
Mastered by Tim Bruniges.

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The Nature Strip Sydney, Australia

"Beautiful, crafted, intelligent pop . . Power pop maestros" - Backseat Mafia

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