The Clouds (Australian band)

The Clouds
The Clouds performing at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne in 2014
Background information
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Indie rock
Years active	1989–1997 2011–present
Labels	Red Eye Records Elektra Records (USA)
Associated acts	The Girls From The Clouds, The Dearhunters, Roger Loves Betty
Website	http://thecloudsofaustralia.com
Members	Jodi Phillis (guitar, vocals) Trish Young (bass, vocals) David Easton (guitar) Raphael Whittingham (drums)
Past members	Robert Phelan (guitar) Stuart Eadie (drums) Andrew Byrnes (drums) Ben Nightingale (guitar)

The Clouds (also called just Clouds) are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis (guitar and vocals) and Patricia "Trish" Young (bass and vocals). The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists. The Clouds' music is distinguished by rapid and unusual chord changes, creative bass guitar, and Phillis and Young's vocal harmonies. They released 4 albums and numerous EP's and singles before breaking up in 1997. They reformed in 2011.

History

Clouds were one of Australia's most promising acts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with other up-and-comers like Ratcat, Falling Joys, Tall Tales and True and The Hummingbirds.

Clouds secured a recording contract with Red Eye Records in 1990 and began recording the Clouds EP in May which was released in October, including Cloud Factory. The following April the Loot EP, featuring "Soul Eater" was released. Loot was Clouds highest charting release. It reached 22 and was in the top 50 for 9 weeks.^[1] In June recording for the Penny Century album began and was released in October 1991, reaching number 23, and staying in the top 50 for 6 weeks.^[2] on the national mainstream charts in Australia. The previous September "Hieronymous" was released as a single and peaked at 45 on the Australian chart.^[3] In March 1992 "Anthem", the second single from "Penny Century" was released, and reached 47 on the Australian chart.^[4]

The single "Say It", was released in September 1992, from the upcoming Octopus eight track 'mini' album that was recorded from March to May, and released in October 1992. Octopus reached 24 on the Australian chart and was in the top 50 for 5 weeks.^[5]

In June 1993 recording began on the next album, Thunderhead, with the first single, "Bower of Bliss," released in August and the album in October, which peaked at 30 on the Australian chart, but was only in the top 50 for one week.^[6] The second single, "Alchemy's Dead," was released in December.

In 1994 Clouds took a six-month tour to Europe and the United States, securing an American record deal with Elektra Records. Whilst in London the EP Beetroot was recorded and released in Australia in October. Following the signing with Elektra Records Thunderhead was released in the United States in March 1995 along with an EP (3 Songs) and a promotional "Bower of Bliss" single. This was followed in May with two more promotional releases; "Say It" and a four track called Bang Bang! which took three tracks from Octopus and "Boy Of Air" from Beetroot. However shortly after these releases Clouds were dumped by Elektra when the label dropped their entire overseas roster of bands.

Despite this setback, recording of new songs continued and two EPs were released Aquamarine and Panel Van, August and November 1995, respectively.

In May 1996, Red Eye Records released a remastered Penny Century which include a limited edition bonus CD of early songs called Pre-Raphaelite. This helped the album to become Gold (35,000 copies sold).

In 1996, the band released their third album Futura which peaked at 50 in the Australian chart and was only there for one week.^[7]

Although Phillis and Young were widely praised for their ability to harmonise their vocals, Clouds suffered from a lack of promotion and support within the industry and eventually disbanded in 1997. Although Phillis was living in a small town in Tasmania and Young was living in London, the two occasionally reunited over the years to perform a few shows. Phillis went on to form The Dearhunters and Roger Loves Betty, and also records and performs as a solo artist.

In late 2005, Phillis and Young resurfaced under the name The Girls From The Clouds, launching a 5-track EP titled Lalalala. In April 2007, however, the duo announced they had disbanded again.^[8]

Reformation

On 14 June 2011, it was announced that The Clouds would reunite to tour with Jesus Jones and The Wonder Stuff in August 2011.^[9] In late 2011 and early 2012, the band toured Australia in The Clouds Reunion Tour.^[10]

Discography

Albums

• Penny Century, 1991
• Octopus, 1992
• Thunderhead, 1993
• Futura, 1996

Compilation albums

• Collage, 1996 - USA-only release: EP tracks (Aquamarine, Beetroot, Panel Van), Penny Century tracks, and the demo track Pretty Head.
• Pre-Raphaelite, 1996 - Bonus CD of B-sides, included with 1996 re-issue of Penny Century album.
• Favourites, 1999

EPs

• Clouds, 1990
• Loot, 1991
• Bower Of Bliss, 1993
• Beetroot, 1994
• Aquamarine, 1995
• Panel Van, 1995
• Pretty Greens, 1999 - Bonus CD of 'demos' from 1995-1996, included with the compilation album Favourites.^[11]

Singles

• "Hieronymus", 1991
• "Anthem", 1992
• "Say It", 1992
• "Bower of Bliss", 1993
• "Alchemy's Dead", 1993
• "Bang! Bang!", 1995. U.S Sampler For Promotional Use Only
• "Here Now"/"Down From The Sky", 1996
• "Never Say Forever", 1997

References

External links

• The Clouds of Australia (official website)
• Unofficial Clouds website
• Clouds: The Website (unofficial)
• The Girls From The Clouds official website
• The Girls From the Clouds page
• J FILES: The Clouds (from ABC Radio JJJ)

Listening

• The Girls From the Clouds audio samples
• Jodi Phillis audio samples
• Roger Loves Betty audio samples