Mistletone

Mistletone will release the new Panel of Judges LP Moods On The Move through Inertia on July 22 as a vinyl / iTunes release only. All LPs come with a download code.

PANEL OF JUDGES TOUR DATES:

SYDNEY: Thursday 14 July Album launch @ Goodgod Small Club (Siberia series) w/ Circle Pit + Marf Loth plus a collaborative performance from SAM (Bum Creek), CHRIS PETRO and DS (Siberia). Tickets $10 at the door.

SYDNEY: Friday 15 July Instore @ Repressed Records (356 King Street Newtown) w/ Lost Animal. All ages, free entry, starts 7pm.

MELBOURNE: Saturday 23 July Album launch @ The Tote w/- Peak Twins, Woollen Kits, Parading + Beaches DJs. Tickets $12 + BF presale or $15 at the door if still available.

These will be the last Panel shows for 2011 at least, so don’t miss ’em!

While the heritage of Panel Of Judges is stooped in the understated, though often cult-followed Australian and NZ pop underground of the 80s and 90s (see The Go Betweens, The Clean, The Moles), their tunes just as easily align with the new breed of sun-washed guitar pop currently emerging from humble beginnings across the globe. Audiences leaning towards honest, bright, chilled and thoughtful sounds will find their perfect indulgence in Moods On The Move, the latest LP from the Melbourne institution affectionately referred to as “Panel”.

Like all great bands, Panel have created their own universe – a world in which the everyday transforms into beautifully layered, levitating pop songs, written by some of Australia’s truly idiosyncratic musical personalities. Along with sporting some lively toe-tappers and sing-along choruses, Moods on the Move also sees some literary influences come to the fore, as Panel turn out Proust-ian pop symphonies for the indie kids (see Take the Long Way).

Their acclaimed 2008 release and Mistletone debut Bad Vibrations was described as “their most fully-realised (release) to date” by “a band at the height of their songwriting powers” (Mess+Noise). This album is yet another step forward, as significant changes in band dynamics and personal circumstance — including but not limited to the addition of Martin Frawley (The Twerps) on guitar — result in a broad and significant collection of recordings.

Panel has always been blessed with the gifted songwriting abilities of Alison Bolger and Dion Nania, who rotate on lead duties throughout the album. Dion tells a good story, his casually conversational yet beautifully poetic narrative stylings garner attention without demanding it; sharing personal expressions of undeniable love, pondering tricky friendships and musing on everyday happenings. Alison’s often subtle yet evocative tunes work in contrast and complement to Dion’s pieces, her off-kilter observations on the turns of the tides set us adrift, moving through delightful and poignant twists. In addition, we get a breezy guitar driven love song by Marty (Drift Away), strengthening an already sublime songwriting team, to which Paul Williams provides the perfect rhythm and percussive nuances as he has done for all Panel songs since day one.

All tunes sit comfortably side by side in conversation with each other like good mates — a true indication of the right and natural process of the album’s development, born out of a common vibe, genuine friendship, and a comfort/freedom to express. The album as a whole is a joyous celebration of everyday life in all its tangled glory; while the stories are not mine or yours, the sentiments can easily be shared.

Bad Vibrations reached completion just as Dion and Alison’s long-term relationship came to an end. Consequently, the foundations for a new friendship were forged and their creative/musical partnership evolved and strengthened.  Moods On The Move took shape as both Dion and Alison grew into their new relationships, and thus the album celebrates new loves, ponders the uncertainty of the present and future; and pays respects to the significance of all that has been before.

With Dion departing for New York immediately following the album launches in Sydney and Melbourne, and Alison embarking on motherhood shortly after that, these are the only Panel Of Judges shows scheduled for 2011 and should not be missed.

Opting for a vinyl only release (with digital download code included with the record – & it’s also available on iTunes) the band and Mistletone join music lovers in reviving the tradition of attractive, engaging and meaningful album packaging, to be cherished in cahoots with the content of the recordings, embracing the LP format in all its full artwork glory. The high-quality collectible record with cover art by Paul Williams (Panel’s drummer, also an accomplished visual artist), will be one to treasure.

Moods on the Move was recorded by Jack Farley at Headgap Studio in Melbourne, Australia and is released by Mistletone Records/Inertia in Australia and New Zealand.

Panel of Judges is:

Dion Nania: Vocals/Guitar/Bass
Alison Bolger: Vocals/Guitar/Bass
Martin Frawley: Vocals/Guitar
Paul Williams: Drums/Percussion