It’s not often you get a band with a name like The Great Emu War Casualties. And when you do, it’s even rarer to discover that they’re a British/Australian/Nepalese collective playing music with indie-pop hooks, art-rock sophistication and a flair for quirky, sharp-witted lyricism. So if that sounds appealing, it’s time to dig deeper into their one-of-a-kind charm with today’s release of their debut album ‘Public Sweetheart No. 1’. Listen HERE.
Vocalist/guitarist Joe Jackson says, “‘Public Sweetheart No.1’ is a blunt, honest self-assessment of my own behaviour over an extended period of time and the various ways in which I have affected the people closest to me, so I’ve at least tried to make it catchy in order to better live with myself. It’s about the clarity I’ve found in going back to basics, in trying to remove the chaos and noise of the world in favour of honesty. An anthemic apology, with some ‘sorry, not sorry’ sprinkled on top. I am sorry though, really.”
The album’s opening song and focus track is the perfect way to become acquainted with their distinctive style. Effervescent vocal harmonies, jangly twee-pop guitars and a nagging synth motif create a sound warm and beguiling. Yet that uplifting atmosphere is countered by heartbroken lyrics that tell the story of a dream being over – and with no redemption in sight.
From there, the remainder of the album flows in a sea of contradictory emotions. If they’re not joyously depressed, they’re bringing sorrow-with-a-smile through songs both brand new and a little older. Previously released standouts include the dopamine power-pop of the off-kilter autobiography ‘Donut’, the summer pop grooves of the Foals-esque ‘Overreacting’, and setting a wonky lifeplan to a similarly sun-kissed vibe with ‘Old Dog’.
The new songs fit in seamlessly alongside them, notably the Americana uplift of ‘Don’t Be Sad’, the way ‘Sob Story’ bursts into punchy funk-rock in a way that contradicts its title, and ‘Old World’, a sweet, sleep-deprived tale of regret that closes the record on an unorthodox high.
The ‘Public Sweetheart No. 1’ album was written by Joe Jackson and bassist/vocalist Saskia Clapton. It was produced by the band with the ARIA Award winner Wayne Connolly (The Teskey Brothers, Julia Jacklin).
In keeping with the band’s general aesthetic, The Great Emu War Casualties’ story also defies the usual tropes of how bands come together. After starting in Sydney, Saskia headed to Japan to pursue her love of J-rock: an adventure which lasted as long as her visa did. Her next band relocated to England but eventually fragmented, right around the same time that Jackson was experiencing the same thing with his band in Liverpool.
After a past playing Kyle Gass in a Tenacious D covers band and turning up the volume and the guyliner in a screamo band, he found a kindred spirit when he started a new project with Saskia. Those visa issues returned, resulting in them leaving, first for The Netherlands and then Melbourne. The line-up was finalised with the addition of Nepalese metal drummer Bibek Tamang and local musician Cat Sanzaro (synths, vocals). The common thread they shared, they joke, was desperation or shared trauma. But as ‘Public Sweetheart No. 1’so instantly proves, that’s precisely what gives The Great Emu War Casualties their distinct individuality and character.
