{"title":"The Stroppies","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Stroppies are an Australian indie pop\/rock band based in Melbourne. With their catchy melodies and energetic performances, they have gained a loyal following both locally and internationally. Their unique sound blends elements of jangly guitars, infectious hooks, and heartfelt lyrics, creating music that is both nostalgic and fresh. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to their music, The Stroppies are sure to leave you wanting more.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"levity","title":"Levity","description":"\u003cp\u003eSimply sensational album the Stroppies. A real gem for fans of Guided by Voices, Pavement, The Clean, XTC and Flying Nun Records. The title of The Stroppies' newest LP, \u003ci\u003eLevity,\u003c\/i\u003e serves as a creative statement of intent and an acknowledgment of the dichotomy between the music they have made and the conditions in which they were produced. For a group that started over an initial idea to \"create open ended music, quickly and haphazardly”, the logistical challenges of creating their second album in the midst of a pandemic, in a city that endured the longest lockdown in the world, created a need to redefine process.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLevity\u003c\/i\u003e, The Stroppies strongest creative statement to date, is the result of this new approach to creative process. Playful yet focused, but broader in scope and experimentation than previous efforts, the ten songs that comprise \u003ci\u003eLevity \u003c\/i\u003econtinue the band's exploration of the pop song as both foil for experimentation and conduit for personal reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhereas the group's debut LP \u003ci\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrated their ability to craft clean, concise jangle pop,\u003ci\u003e Levity\u003c\/i\u003e takes a different route by utilizing a darker pallet of sounds to create its impressionistic whole. Fuzz and distortion are employed to add weight to songs built on tape loops and Motorik drum patterns. Warbling synthesisers and modulated keys add new moods and dimensions to The Stroppies unique brand of pop classicism. Thematically, the band continues their exploration of the personal refracted through the lens of the absurd, though this time around the music feels a few shades darker, a somewhat inevitable consequence of the collective trauma of the past 24 months. The songs still hit with the immediacy that made their debut so engaging, but there’s a creeping cynicism and wistfulness that now permeates The Stroppies sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile the narrative around the 'lockdown record' is increasingly commonplace, there are unavoidable realities involved in making creative decisions under such circumstances that can't be overlooked, especially for a band that thrives on collaboration. \"The restrictions around COVID really informed the way we made the record', says Angus Lord, the band's co-founder and guitarist. \"It meant that there was a lot less opportunity to meet and build ideas collaboratively, which is how we’ve worked in the past. Instead, ideas were developed in isolation, then shared digitally, developing slowly over correspondence and only bearing fruit when we were able to be in a room together. I think this had a big effect on the songwriting and execution.” This process even extended to the studio, where The Stroppies found a kindred spirit in John Lee of Phaedra Studios, who mixed the record in isolation, somehow managing to synthesise the band's pop sensibilities with their penchant for studio experimentation. Furthermore, the addition of new member Zoe Monk, known for playing in a diverse array of Melbourne acts (Eggy, Thibault, The Opals) contributed both synthesiser experimentation and rock solid rhythm guitar, a huge addition to the band's developing sound, an infectious combination of the off-kilter 90s US underground, British artpunk ala Wire and a more than generous love of classic Pop songwriting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReflecting on the making of the record, bassist and co-vocalist Claudia Serfaty understands their shift in approach, noting that, “the world feels strange and in turn making pop music feels even stranger. A healthy dose of levity had to be employed in order to find meaning in the process.” In spite of this light hearted attitude, The Stroppies have managed to craft a record of weight and substance. Through \u003ci\u003eLevity \u003c\/i\u003ethe Stroppies have, at least temporarily, found their feet amongst the chaos..\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tough Love","offers":[{"title":"Clear | LP","offer_id":50403615506763,"sku":"1146438","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50403620159819,"sku":"1146437","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"White | LP","offer_id":50403620454731,"sku":"1146439","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50403618029899,"sku":"1146436","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/120b30a7-314d-4561-aab8-b425bb5eb2d2_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726562294"},{"product_id":"it-s-a-hit","title":"It's A Hit!","description":"\u003cp\u003e7\"EP on white vinyl, limited to 300 copies only.\u003ci\u003e It's A Hit!\u003c\/i\u003e brings together four songs recorded by The Stroppies at home on their Tascam 4 track in mid 2017. Permeated by dystopian imagery of machines building machines and cats driving cars, \u003ci\u003eIt's a Hit! \u003c\/i\u003eis perhaps the Stroppies most idiosyncratic release. Indeed, the title is a humorous nod to the inherent lo-fi quality of the recordings, a sound that some might not consider to be \"radio friendly\". Surley though, the songs contained herein are still unashamedly pop, albeit adorned in crackle and hiss. For reference think Alex Chilton's \u003ci\u003eLike Flies on Sherbert\u003c\/i\u003e, early Swell Maps, and a touch of \u003ci\u003eLoaded\u003c\/i\u003e-era Velvet Underground shuffle. Originally released only in Australia via Hobbies Galore as a limited edition 7\" in a hand stamped sleeve, the long sold-out EP is now being given an international release on the eve of the band's debut UK tour. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tough Love","offers":[{"title":"7\"","offer_id":50421138293067,"sku":"1067708","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/97aac04f-a6a9-47ff-9261-cf7dac6017c6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726755909"},{"product_id":"the-stroppies","title":"The Stroppies","description":"\u003cp\u003eStarting out as a recording project between Angus Lord, Claudia Serfaty and Stephanie Hughes, the germ of what would eventually become the Stroppies was formed around a kitchen table in Melbourne's inner west early 2016. The initial idea was to create open ended music, collaged quickly and haphazardly together on a Tascam 4 track Portastudio that drew on stream of consciousness creativity and a DIY attitude a la Guided By Voices and The Great Unwashed. The desire to move beyond the pre programmed drum patterns available on their Casio Keyboard led to the addition of Rory Heane on drums and a more conventional band dynamic. In Late 2016, Alex Macfarlane recorded the band in their lounge room direct to 4 track, capturing 7 songs that would become their 2017 self titled cassette tape debut. The songs were bounced back and forth from tape machine to computer to tape machine to computer again. In keeping with the bands initial aesthetic, dubs were laid over a 4 month period incrementally on different devices as members had babies, explored intercontinental love affairs and set up homes together. Since the release of the tape, Adam Hewwit has joined the group on third guitar as they settle down into exploring the new band dynamic and focus on their next recording project. The Stroppiesis composed of members of many Melbourne and UK bands (Claudia is originally from London) including Dick Diver, Primetime, Possible Humans, White Walls, Boomgates, The Stevens, See\/Saw to name a few. They make modest, idiosyncratic pop songs that reward with repeated listening. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - Black Vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP+ - Limited Yellow repress - 300 Copies.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tough Love","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50449693573451,"sku":"1019015","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50449692098891,"sku":"1026458","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/42528a14-b5e3-4ffb-8eed-93342d4d738c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727105837"},{"product_id":"whoosh-1","title":"Whoosh","description":"\u003cp\u003eRough Trade Albums of the Month - March 2019\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the debut album from Melbourne-based former members of Primetime, Boomgates, Twerps, Possible Humans and many more!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGus Lord, Rory Heane, Claudia Serfaty and Adam Hewitt play on vintage synths, rain sticks, bits of old doors and whatever is to hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJaunty joyous guitars, chugging plaintive dual vocals. Stripped down simple hypnotic melodies. Basic like the first time someone discovers a song or a melody. Chiming notes given plenty of space. Simple and sweet harmonies. Chining guitar jangling. Piping organ chirping joyfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - Black Vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP+ - Limited White Vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCD - Four Panel Digipack.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tough Love","offers":[{"title":"White | LP","offer_id":50498130968907,"sku":"1055215","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50498131067211,"sku":"1055212","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7f0f702c-1c76-4062-8eeb-a53a74c8073c_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727740202"},{"product_id":"look-alive-1","title":"Look Alive","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginally starting as the DIY home recording project of Angus Lord and Claudia Serfaty, The Stroppies have now evolved into what some might call a “proper band”. Following on from their 2017 demo cassette and a sling of singles, 2019 saw the release of their debut LP \u003ci\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/i\u003e, a studio-based affair that evolved The Stroppies sound, underpinned with a newly discovered melodic classicism. \u003ci\u003eLook Alive!\u003c\/i\u003e, their latest effort which was recorded only months after the bands return to Australia after their second European tour of 2019, represents a marriage of the two different styles of Stroppies recordings and rounds out an incredibly productive twelve months for the group. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf \u003ci\u003eWhoosh! \u003c\/i\u003eglimmered and sparkled with tight production and succinct pop songwriting, \u003ci\u003eLook Alive!\u003c\/i\u003e is a somewhat darker shade, employing a more diffuse, impressionistic sonic palette and a more obvious penchant for experimentation. Tracked by the band and long time friend \/ collaborator Alex Macfarlane (Twerps, The Stevens, Hobbies Galore) at home and then mixed and mastered direct off the tape at Phaedra studios in Coburg by John Lee, it’s also a somewhat collaborative project, drawing in influence and inspiration from myriad sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuch means of production are evident in the resulting eight songs. The title track sees acoustic pianos duel with synthesizers over Pavement-esque guitar wig outs, whilst \u003ci\u003eThe Aisles of the Supermarket\u003c\/i\u003e employs tape loops to forge loose ambient foundations. Though these ideas may reflect the band’s noted “stream of consciousness creativity”, remarkably the songwriting remains as sharp as ever. Album opener \u003ci\u003eBurning Bright\u003c\/i\u003e gallops forward with the propulsive energy of ‘77-era Talking Heads and is transported by a casually brilliant chorus delivered by shared vocalist Claudia Sefraty. Elsewhere, lead single \u003ci\u003eHoles In Everything\u003c\/i\u003e presents the band at its pop best: \"If I could disappear into the atmosphere, I would be around you all the time\" sings Lord, before swiftly throwing shade on the sentiment in the chorus, \"It's always frightening what I think\". It's this penchant for push and pull of light and dark splashed against the backdrop of trepidation and humour that make The Stroppies records so endearing and open-ended. Though undeniably pop structure orientated, the bands propensity for re-inventing and re-appropriating their recording and writing process ensures that nothing starts to fossilize. Indeed, \u003ci\u003eLook Alive!\u003c\/i\u003e is that most intriguing of records precisely because it represents two ideas at the same time - the sound of a band in flux, but also the sound of a band becoming more sure footed as they walk their crooked line. For fans of Guided by Voices, Pavement, Terry, The Chills, The Clean and The Verlaines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tough Love","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50508451447115,"sku":"1089778","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/25ddd1e8-ccac-4e0a-bd9c-0cc9820f3682_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727858933"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_19c8d54c_thumbnail_4096_90825bf2-c683-4f78-b2dc-21435ad3b1e9.jpg?v=1726562242","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/the-stroppies.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}