The Ovals

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THE OVALS, formed as a four-piece rock outfit in Melbourne in 2006, and after gigging and writing for a few years emerged with their first independent release 'Inner Space' in 2009, somewhere in between the realms of Psychedelic, Progressive, and Space rock. Taking inspiration from bands such as Pink Floyd, The Doors, Radiohead and also their own reflections on life, they twist vast atmospheres into structured musical narratives via sweeping guitars and attacking keys grounded by bass and drums.

I got in touch with them and they answered my questions.
#####################################################################
When, where and by whom was your band born ? Did 
any of you, past and present members, play in any other bands before joining up 
in your band ? Why did you choose that name ?

The band was birthed by the cosmos 5 and 
half years ago in a shed devoted towards the cultivation of dried roses.  In 
this setting Tadhgs W Neal (guitarist) and David Kalkman (Keys) learned the art 
of seeing sounds and hearing the hue of colours that surrounded them.  Before 
that the drummer Duane Manning played in an Elvis tribute band and our first 
bassist, who's playing appears on Innerspace (first EP) was a yound lad from 
North England.  Daniel Smith, the current bassist, played guitar in Melbourne 
band St James.  The name arrived through the realisation that the suns particles 
arrived through our atmoshpere in the shape of an Oval. This distorted dimension 
is the form in which all life springs on earth.  And so The Ovals speak for all 
life, all be it through our interpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche. 
Dig! 

Over to your two albums. Your debut album Inner 
Space was released in 2009. Please tell us more about this album.

Innerspace was a labor of love and 
complete innocense surrounding the psychedelic genre.  The song structures are 
more odd than that of the new EP.  We like to think that our song writng has 
progressed in such a way that our songs flow better which was something we were 
always striving to do.  But we all hold a special love of this EP.  It was 
recorded in the alpine regions of Victoria in a wooden lodge over the course of 
a week.  The clouds would settle over the mountains every eve and make the ghost 
gums appear a surreal vision among the rock filled streams and dew covered 
shrubs.  We like to think these images are nestled in with the music created on 
the album.  But we'll look back on it more later in life like a warm hug 
of fantastic memories. 

Your second and brand new album Into The Eyes of 
Those Who Sleep has just been released. Please tell us more about this 
album.

Into the Eyes is a collective effort of 
four songs painstakingly put together over the course of eight or so months.  
Another step in our musical growth.  Weve already surpassed this material with 
our newer songs but they are all necessary and good songs for what we were 
writing at the time.  These tracks have much more of a rolling feel than those 
on innerspace, a psychedelic prog steam train if you will.  The more rolling 
sound was found when our new bassist got hold of the group and buried himself 
into the song writing like a little tick. Were all better musicians now also and 
it definatley shows through in the songs. It has been recieved well, and this 
is pleasing to our cause.

How would you describe you music and which bands 
would you compare yourself with ? 

Like a planet blessed with sun,  a groove 
in the earth blessed with water and a wild dog blessed with a farmers sheep 
herd.  In terms of sounding like other bands, theres a smattering that gets 
thrown our way and we plan to conquer them all.  Although we are well aware of 
the difficulties that face us when one thinks of ELP or Van Der Graf Generator 
and the like.  Some of the others are reachable however, and we plan on doing 
that over the vast slog that awaits.  One must be prepared to stare into the 
eyes of all who sleep should they want to achieve anything 
great.

Besides of the new album, what is your latest update ? What 
is your plans for this year and beyond ? 

We plan to record again at the soonest 
possible date.  But we have a small film in the making which will feature three 
songs played live in a field at the foot of Mt Baw Baw in the alpine region, 
back to the scene of the original crime you might say.  This will feature 
everything; from our philosophy to Poetry and excellent film expertease from 
some very talented men working in Melbourne at the moment.  The music on it will 
be Huge.  We will also be booking more tours around Australia and attempt 
to leave the country should we be allowed. 

To wrap up this 
interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview 
?

New infant, I give you a seminal 
moon,

Dripping beams through a pregnant 
night,

To freeze times wintry 
stream,

your only infinite 
delight.

Cold winds droned by your 
ear,
Singing hymns like a ghostly 
seer,
And you dragged your body
through 
the grass at night, towering
inferno's of your minds twisted 
sight.

The sweet motherly breats of 
nature
with it's darkled trees against the 
sky,
will give you no pity, for it's love is 
born
entirely of your eye.

If 
you fall into a stream, weak and shivering
Because some Ewe 
will not give you fleece nor milk,
Rest assured that there 
was no evil,
Just minds of ill 
refute.

Should you pass the dreams of tender 
alacrity
then poor child i give you lurking 
mortality.
But do not curl from the hand that 
passes
blessed oblivions sweet phlight, find 
futire joy
in your last infinite 
delight.

T.W Neal

Thank you to The Ovals for this interview
Their PA profile is here and  their homepage's here

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toroddfuglesteg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Retired Joined: March 04 2008 Location: Retirement Home Status: Offline Points: 3658	Topic: The Ovals Posted: May 24 2011 at 14:37
	THE OVALS, formed as a four-piece rock outfit in Melbourne in 2006, and after gigging and writing for a few years emerged with their first independent release 'Inner Space' in 2009, somewhere in between the realms of Psychedelic, Progressive, and Space rock. Taking inspiration from bands such as Pink Floyd, The Doors, Radiohead and also their own reflections on life, they twist vast atmospheres into structured musical narratives via sweeping guitars and attacking keys grounded by bass and drums. I got in touch with them and they answered my questions. ##################################################################### When, where and by whom was your band born ? Did any of you, past and present members, play in any other bands before joining up in your band ? Why did you choose that name ? The band was birthed by the cosmos 5 and half years ago in a shed devoted towards the cultivation of dried roses. In this setting Tadhgs W Neal (guitarist) and David Kalkman (Keys) learned the art of seeing sounds and hearing the hue of colours that surrounded them. Before that the drummer Duane Manning played in an Elvis tribute band and our first bassist, who's playing appears on Innerspace (first EP) was a yound lad from North England. Daniel Smith, the current bassist, played guitar in Melbourne band St James. The name arrived through the realisation that the suns particles arrived through our atmoshpere in the shape of an Oval. This distorted dimension is the form in which all life springs on earth. And so The Ovals speak for all life, all be it through our interpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche. Dig! Over to your two albums. Your debut album Inner Space was released in 2009. Please tell us more about this album. Innerspace was a labor of love and complete innocense surrounding the psychedelic genre. The song structures are more odd than that of the new EP. We like to think that our song writng has progressed in such a way that our songs flow better which was something we were always striving to do. But we all hold a special love of this EP. It was recorded in the alpine regions of Victoria in a wooden lodge over the course of a week. The clouds would settle over the mountains every eve and make the ghost gums appear a surreal vision among the rock filled streams and dew covered shrubs. We like to think these images are nestled in with the music created on the album. But we'll look back on it more later in life like a warm hug of fantastic memories. Your second and brand new album Into The Eyes of Those Who Sleep has just been released. Please tell us more about this album. Into the Eyes is a collective effort of four songs painstakingly put together over the course of eight or so months. Another step in our musical growth. Weve already surpassed this material with our newer songs but they are all necessary and good songs for what we were writing at the time. These tracks have much more of a rolling feel than those on innerspace, a psychedelic prog steam train if you will. The more rolling sound was found when our new bassist got hold of the group and buried himself into the song writing like a little tick. Were all better musicians now also and it definatley shows through in the songs. It has been recieved well, and this is pleasing to our cause. How would you describe you music and which bands would you compare yourself with ? Like a planet blessed with sun, a groove in the earth blessed with water and a wild dog blessed with a farmers sheep herd. In terms of sounding like other bands, theres a smattering that gets thrown our way and we plan to conquer them all. Although we are well aware of the difficulties that face us when one thinks of ELP or Van Der Graf Generator and the like. Some of the others are reachable however, and we plan on doing that over the vast slog that awaits. One must be prepared to stare into the eyes of all who sleep should they want to achieve anything great. Besides of the new album, what is your latest update ? What is your plans for this year and beyond ? We plan to record again at the soonest possible date. But we have a small film in the making which will feature three songs played live in a field at the foot of Mt Baw Baw in the alpine region, back to the scene of the original crime you might say. This will feature everything; from our philosophy to Poetry and excellent film expertease from some very talented men working in Melbourne at the moment. The music on it will be Huge. We will also be booking more tours around Australia and attempt to leave the country should we be allowed. To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview ? New infant, I give you a seminal moon, Dripping beams through a pregnant night, To freeze times wintry stream, your only infinite delight. Cold winds droned by your ear, Singing hymns like a ghostly seer, And you dragged your body through the grass at night, towering inferno's of your minds twisted sight. The sweet motherly breats of nature with it's darkled trees against the sky, will give you no pity, for it's love is born entirely of your eye. If you fall into a stream, weak and shivering Because some Ewe will not give you fleece nor milk, Rest assured that there was no evil, Just minds of ill refute. Should you pass the dreams of tender alacrity then poor child i give you lurking mortality. But do not curl from the hand that passes blessed oblivions sweet phlight, find futire joy in your last infinite delight. T.W Neal Thank you to The Ovals for this interview Their PA profile is here and their homepage's here

sidereal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: May 29 2006 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 22	Posted: May 25 2011 at 03:44
	awesome!
	"Without music life would be a mistake" - Friedrich Nietzsche