Re:Enactment

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NOVEMBER 2009
Music Feeds Review of our show at the excelsior in Sydney

...Next up were Brisbane’s The Reenactment, whose frontman Jacob Hicks highlighted the diverse nature of the lineup “after The Bznzz, we’re about as experimental as an ABBA tribute band.” With that, the band plunged into an energetic display of keyboard driven punk rock, with vocals that screamed melodic phrases over pleasing chord changes. It wasn’t until halfway through the set that the band’s place on the bill became clear – not afraid to explore their sound, the band embarked on extended jam sections and punched their way through some epic closing material...


MAY 2009
Rave Interview

Re:Enactment


Tuesday, 12 May 2009
ImageJIM GRUNDY, bassist and laptop warrior for RE:ENACTMENT, tells JAKEB SMITH how the local electronic rockers have been keeping themselves occupied.
JAKEB SMITH: We haven’t really heard from you guys since the Regicide EP late last year. What’s been happening?
JIM GRUNDY: Jac [Jacob Hicks, guitar/vocals] was away for four months overseas and he got back and since then we’ve just been writing new material. We’re just getting ready to record an album.
JS: Wow...
JG: We’re recording some demos tonight so that should be good, and will release a little EP at The Zoo as well, which we’re going to be giving out for free. A similar situation [to the last release] – just all of us set-up – but in a controlled studio environment, so it sounds heaps better. We’ve got five new ones...
JS: How is it sounding compared to the current stuff?
JG: We’re looking to do a few tracks that are more electronic – still live, but using laptops and electronic gear.
JS: Re:enactment have always been a fairly even blend of rock and electronica, do you see yourselves pursuing pure electronics in the future?
JG: I definitely want to. When I write a track it’s very purely electronica because I write on the laptop. Then when Jac writes a track it’s very rock orientated, so when we work on each other’s stuff we end up getting a very fine balance between the two. I want the electronic aspect to come through a little more than it has, but we also like the fact that there’s two sides to the band. There’s the recorded version of us, which heavily has that electronic influence; and then there’s the live band which is completely different in itself, which we think is really cool.
JS: It also makes listening to a live recording worthwhile even if you know the songs.
JG: Yeah that’s it, and what we’re doing to tonight is basically recording everything from day one. We’ve got Thems Burnt Puppies on record, but Puppies live is a completely different song – at least we think so anyway. So we think it’s worthwhile having both versions out there for people. If someone is into electronica they may get into our studio versions, but if they’re into a more raw rock sound, then there’s the live stuff.
JS: You’ve also got a nice remix of fellow locals Toy Balloon up on your site. How’d you get into that?
JG: That’s how I started when I was 15, 16, just writing stuff on the laptop. I really enjoy remixing, I find it a lot more inspiring to have something to already work from. Obviously if you love the track you can have heaps of fun with it and end up with something completely different. I’m really not into the remixes where they just slap a dance beat on it and a few cut-off filters and all of a sudden it’s an edgy dance mix. I’m really into the ones that just re-explore in a completely different context. That way I can also bring out the more IDM influence. Obviously with the band we can’t go that far into it, because it still needs to be a song. But we can create these pieces that are not structurally songs.
We’re looking at doing a lot more remixing, and hopefully some more bands will get involved, and we’re also keen for other people to tear our songs to shreds. We’d like to create a little remixing community because I don’t really think there appears to be one in Brisbane.

APRIL 2009
Scene Magazine Article
Written by Courtney Wotherspoon Wednesday, 08 April 2009 15:15

Flyin’ High

The guys from Re:enactment are in a league of their own, producing a sound that somehow manages to simultaneously travel both into the future and back in time to bring you the best in electro sounds, they are, to say the least, unique.

There's only one word to describe this band … different, and it's definitely not a bad thing. Frontman Jacob Hicks states he's not entirely comfortable with interviews and wants to know if he can ask questions too - sure he can, but us first.
The enthusiasm emanating down the phone line is infectious. It is perhaps this enthusiasm that has resulted in the band releasing two separate EPs in 2008 and has seen them begin work on their debut album. What sets this band apart though is that they not only have the EPs, ‘Regicide’ and ‘Kittens’, on their website for people to download but have also included artwork and parts of tracks so they can be remixed.
“James wants to continue releasing EPs but we thought it would be good to work on something that could showcase our sound so we have a few tracks for our debut album but it's still a work in progress.”
The band, which includes an ex-Regurgitator member, say their name came from watching plane crash shows.
“I really like cheesy re-enactment shows with bad actors playing Hispanic pilots, there's something about the sweat running off their face when they're trying to stop the plane going down, it sounds bad but I've always wanted to dress up and be in one of those re-enactments,” fair enough then.
There's definitely something going on in this band and whatever it is, it’s working for them, with established fan bases in Germany, the UK and the US, and that’s just on the back of the EPs, one thing's for sure - they're going to be big.
Jacob says that the boys each have vastly different tastes in music and some write songs on their laptops while others write from their instruments, resulting in a sound has been compared to that of the Happy Mondays and Joy Division.
The boys begin a tour that will take in Sydney and Melbourne in July but Brisbane punters can see them in just over a week, a gig they say will definitely be worth the wait. “We'll be bringing it to the people, if it's escapism you need, we've got it.” 

Re:enactment play Ric’s April 11, as part of Valley Transmission April 18 and The Zoo May 15.




OCTOBER 2008

Scene Magazine on "regicide"
Wanna a slice of Kraftwerk meets The Chemical Brothers with The Happy Mondays and Joy Division as tasty side-dishes? Then I introduce you to the synth-loving, cymbal crashing rhythms of Re:enactment. This four-tracker EP showcases plenty of promise from the local five-piece. At once intense and decidedly edgy, vocalist Jac Hicks leads the way into more somber territory coursing through devilish beats on the way to an 80s electro-clash lifted straight off a Factory Records template.


SEPTEMBER 2008

Time Off Magazine review of the "Regicide" ep
"bless the re:enactment for being wierd. Regicide is their new ep and it has been delivered to me on a usb stick that makes forward thinkers like NIN and Radiohead look like luddites. It's got MP3's and wav files of this and their first ep "Kittens". It's got a bunch of remixes by other people in a folder all of its own. It's got all of the individual parts for the songs off 'Kittens' so you can make your own remix if you're that way inclined. It's got a folder of photos and flyers for gigs. The Regicide ep itself is a progression again from 'Kittens'. Their multi-genre mashing rock and electro craziness goes off in both directions of more weirdness and more accomplished songwriting with great catchy bits and cool wig out bits. It makes you realise how little so many other bands are actually trying. (CY)




Rave Magazine review of the "Regicide" ep
...Local electronic rock five-piece prove they're improving, and then some.
Steel Drums opens with a driving thud thud thud of sticks on skins, before guitar and synthesiser emerge muck-ridden from wells of reverb and delay. It's two minutes of dirty, dancey intro before Jacob Hicks finally starts singing. His voice has a kind of rhythmic, repetitive quality to it that suits the music, but is a bit awkward lyrically. It never really becomes a problem though, as the tunes either lay down enough solid beats for rocking out, or use a sufficient amount of shifting layers of twinkling sound effects to be entirely cerebral. That there's little middle ground is indicative of band actively spurning pop conventions, and the EP is much better for it. Each song travels well enough to be worth the five-to-seven minute investment, without ever requiring too much faith on listener's behalf. The songwriting isn't perfect, and neither is the production, but Re:enactment are the kind of outfit who'll improve exponentially as their compositional processes begin to catch-up with their rampant experimentalism. Even now, they're still one of the Brisbane's most exciting bands. That the EP comes on a USB stick with their previous record, remixes, remix data files, unreleased tracks, demos, and (presumably for completeness) photos, sweetens the deal considerably. You need to hook one of these up. JAKEB SMITH"


Scene Magazine Interview
Local electro-rockers Re:Enactment, after a solid two years getting about the Brisbane scene, have followed up their debut 'Kittens' EP rather promptly with a second. "Regicide"
"Rachel who books the Zoo asked us if we were releasing anything at the time, and we had a few new songs, but none of them were really together... but i actually said yes," explains frontman Jacob Hicks, of how the 'Regicide' launch came about.
"That was about three weeks before the actual gig, so it was a bit of a shotgun EP. You always look back at things and think you could've done them slightly differantly in some ways, but it's got a lot of energy and it's something differant; I'd like to think it's not too contrived or derivative as such, it's just our differant personalities coming out, which is what i wanted."
Having recorded in such a swift fashion, the finished product is somewhat differant to their 'Kittens' EP.
"Me and James write the core of the songs, and I kind of let James really step up in terms of putting his personality into the songs for this one, whereas I was probably a bit more controlling on the last EP." Jacob admits.
"Everyone had their say, everyone kind of brought to the table with this EP a lot more, which was good, and that's why it feels so natural and probably more exciting than the last one."
With a couple of upcoming gigs, Jacob tries to define the bands sound and influences for the unfamiliar. "I'd say say we're a rock band that likes dark electronic music, and that comes out in what we play. Shane is really into tragic 90's and 80s electro, and John Farnham, and he's proud of it too. I draw a lot from rock music like 'Queens Of The Stone Age', but also a lot of dance-rock like 'Soulwax, and i like Supergrass as well, and i like a lot of hip hop as well. James is kind of in the same boat, but more towards a lot of dark electronica like Aphex Twin and Nine Inch Nails. Bree's a bit of an indie chick; she's a bit Steve Albini fan, and Sam has grown up in jazz and stuff."
YEN TRAN



Time Off review of Re:Enactment EP Launch @ The Zoo
...Given that headliners Re:Enactment are launching an EP this evening, it's disappointing to watch a significant portion of the audience depart after Mr Maps, but such is their loss. They miss what is, unquestionably, the best band of a stellar evening. Preceded by a slew of bizarre and entertaining multimedia footage, the group establish themselves early as the only artists of tonight's evening with a conscious live presence. Jacob Hicks is a livewire of a frontman and Shane Rudken is possibly the only man alive who can truly rock a keytar, while the band's songs sound flat-out fantastic. Newer tracks like 'Steel Drums' burst at the seams with ideas, while closer 'Them's Burnt Puppies' is absolutely phenomenal, cementing Re:Enactment's position as one of Brisbane's best bands, live or otherwise.


AUGUST 2008
Rave Interview With Sam & Jim:
JAKEB SMITH fires off questions in quick succession, but SAM and JIM – from Brisbane party rockers RE:ENACTMENT – stop them with a raised hand, and send them rushing straight back.
JAKEB SMITH: A new EP, already. Is this indicative of a good work ethic, or did you just happen upon a bunch of songs?

SAM: I think it's more indicative of the live music scene. It's challenging to keep the momentum strong and maintain a high level of performance while trying not to play too many shows in Brisbane. We haven't ventured outside of Brissie yet so we have to make every show count. If we can constantly be producing new stuff hopefully no one will get sick of us. Also, releasing another EP was the only way we could get a headline gig at The Zoo.... Oh yeah, we think the songs are cool too.
JS: What's changed – sonically – since the Kittens EP? Are parties still started?

JIM: There is definitely some dancing to be done to this EP, but in my opinion it seems a bit darker and more aggressive. I definitely pick up on a lot of tension in some of the songs. Rhythmically it's changed a fair bit as well, there is a lot more programming in this new EP, whereas on Kittens it was kept to a minimum in favour of the 'live' sound, we've tried to strike a more even balance between the live and electronica elements....
S: Well, we have another keyboard player, Bree. And I don't hit the cymbals as much....I think. Longer songs, so hopefully more time for the songs to build gradually, as opposed to three and a half minutes of all-in slamfest.
JS: Who was involved in the production process?

J: Essentially it's the same as kittens, we have Greg Reason recording and mixing with Alex Hodgins.
S: The dynamic duo!
JS: The name Regicide reminds me of playing AoE 2 back in the day, what's the actual reference?

J: Hehe, I never actually played that game, but yeah ... the opening track on the EP, Steel Drums, lyrically, is about basically a higher power getting de-throned. The word regicide stuck out though because of a really good Matmos song by that name. We liked it and it stuck!
S: That's interesting Jim, I never new what that song was about ... lyrics.
JS: You're releasing your two EPs (and assorted extras) on a custom-printed USB key. Do you see a future for the branded USB concept?

J: Maybe, I don't know, I'm hoping people will upload the data, then wipe it clean and use the USB stick for personal use, be it uni stuff, or whatever; then it has a use other than just being a means to get our songs on your iPod, and it doesn't end up being another CD-R buried on the floor....
JS: Do you see yourselves exploring similar limited edition, new format release options in the future? Exclusive downloads, branded hardware, virtual worlds....

J: Virtual worlds would be nice, but I struggle with basic HTML as it is. We love to experiment and try new things. I'd love to do vinyl and as a result of being a child from the '80s I also have a massive cassette fetish. Branded boomboxes perhaps.
S: LP/phone/hard-drive/alarm-clock/dildo/biscuit.



JULY 2008
Rave Live Review Of Pivot / Traps / Re:Enactment gig at wolfgang
"Local electro-rock act Re:Enactment contribute a solid first set that sits comfortably amid the DIY aesthetic that the monthly Wolfgang nights have come to embody. The band play tracks from their Kittens EP, among newer creations; a few moments of inspired instrumental brilliance signify the band's potential for future prosperity. Good songs, genuinely delivered. What more to ask for?"





FEBRUARY 2008
Kittens EP Reviews :
Brisbane locals Re:Enactment cover so much ground that they are a hard band to keep up with. They are clearly not in the business of limiting themselves to a specific style or scene. Mixing glitchy electronica, shouty indie, sonic noise jams and other hard to describe elements into a cohesive sound is no easy task, but it's one that Re:Enactment have already achieved on their debut EP. Kittens is an accurate representation of the live show this exciting and challenging act are responsible for. Although the musical landscape for the songs is multi-layered and often confrontational, the accomplished slow-burning melodies are still treated as a priority and manage to emerge from the complex blend of sound to give the listener something to hold on to. Kittens is a refreshingly distinctive and accomplished release from a band with a lot left to offer.
(CY) (TIME OFF)

You say party we say... Party! Cleverly!
Re:enactment are Brisbane's own experimental, new wave party band. Darting under the feet of their thumping kick-drum are flirtatious guitars, sinuous synth-lines and the clamour of harmonized, call-and-response vocals. It makes for an overtly quirky listening experience, one that never outstays its welcome in any particular style, but instead pleasantly surprises with a range of soulful musical references to eras past. The arrangement can be overly busy, which is due in part to instrumentation. Distorted guitar chords and over-hit cymbals take up valuable sonic real estate, which could be put to more creative use. The production of the EP contributes to its burdensome aural aesthetics. The vocals tend to sit oddly in the mix, jutting out at odd angles, with little reverb or any attempt to blend the layers of harmonies together. That's all well and good – The Vines' Highly Evolved featured a great deal discordant harmonies (if you'll allow the oxymoron) – but the voices here are so close together they seem accidentally placed, rather than irreconcilably opposed. It doesn't detract from the EP's main function however, which is to make you dance about the place wondering what the hell is going on. To that end, these Kittens are certainly worth picking up.
JAKEB SMITH (RAVE MAGAZINE)



JANUARY 2008
from the Before Hollywood Blog's "Bands To Watch in 2008" article
The Re:Enactment are quite obviously influenced by Nine Inch Nails, but rather then simply going for a straight out industrial sound the band takes that sound and mashes it up with the current electro-rock trend doing the rounds. While the effect is not yet consistent, when things come together the Re:Enactment really shine. Shambolic vocals and 8-bit beeps give way to Rhodes organs and searing guitar with nimble ease to create a unique palette of sound. Having just recorded an EP you'll be sure to hear more about the Re:Enactment in 2008.



SEPTEMBER 2007
from the Before Hollywood Blog (http://before-hollywood.blogspot.com)
"Next it was off to Rics for Stature::Statue and the Re:Enactment. This was the first time I'd seen the Re:Enactment and they definitely proved that colon's in band names are good thing. The band's take on electro-rock (or electroclash, or indie dance, or nu-rave, or whatever you would like to refer to it as) was refreshing with the goal obviously being to keep the rock at the fore."

 

 

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