Centred around guitarists Alex MacFarlane and Travis MacDonald, scratchy pop foursome the Stevens released a 6 song EP in 2012 that was without doubt the catchiest non-Chapter release of the year. Originally on CD-R and cassette, Chapter is now reissuing the self-titled EP as a handsome 7” vinyl affair (with download card).
The EP comes in advance of a debut album, now in the process of being completed with ubiquitous rockstar engineer Mikey Young (Eddy Current, Total Control) at the helm. The album will follow in September this year.
The germ of the Stevens began in 2009 when Alex Macfarlane met Travis MacDonald, after moving to Melbourne from the Central Gold- fields Region. After establishing a shared obsession for bedroom recording and favourites such as Wire, Guided by Voices, R. Stevie Moore and Flying Nun releases, they began combining their home projects. Together they started writing songs and soon enlisted the help of Macfarlane’s old school friends, Tam Matlakowski and Callum Foley. In 2011 they officially coalesced as a band, which also meant picking a name. They all agreed that Steven was a name.
Both MacDonald and Macfarlane are still in their early 20s, but have been playing and recording under various guises for almost a decade. Macfarlane is notable for playing in such groups as Teen Archer, Cut Sick, Breaker Morant and Pets With Pets.
In late 2012, Matlakowski and Foley departed, and were replaced by Gus Lord (Boomgates, Teen Archer) on bass and Matthew Harkin on drums. The new lineup has already supported ragged US punks the Men and UK indie rock icons the Wedding Present.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Stevens
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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