The
If If's first single, THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL BREAD
: A rotation FBi 94.5FM
"AWESOME!" [Popfrenzy] "That new bread
song is killer!" [Dsico]
"...Glacially dipped ...crunchy beats...sophistication
and torch light majesty..." [Losing Today]
"Sydney's
quirky electronic-pop outfit Ollo
focus much more on pop, with more vocals and catchy melodies,
on the follow-up to their 2002 debut Sleeper. Alex Crowfoot
sings an enticing cover of Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics (Have
Taken Over The Asylum). Elsewhere, Summer Salt explores the
funky side of electronic instrumentals, while Gordian Knotted
combines female lounge with unexpectedly crunchy electronica."
[Chloe Sasson, Metro Sydney Morning Herald]
"..Combining
the ambient sensibilities of Matthew Herbert
and the lyrical reach of The Triffids, ollo return
with a stunning and anthemic electronic workout with a fantastic
cover of fun boy three's "the lunatics have taking over the
asylum" on the flip...
ESSENTIAL STUFF..." [Rough Trade, London]
"...As
well as being known for their DJ sets,
a radio show and various multimedia connections, [Ollo] were
touted as one of Australia's hottest electronic artists to
watch out for when their critically acclaimed debut album
Sleeper was released in 2002. The upbeat Herbert-esque sounds
of Ping Pong and the darker Prefuse 73 edges to tracks like
Goat's Milk Silk... are still evident here. Yet this follow
up takes things to more chilled territories, planting the
listener in a relaxed atmospheric lounge room where frowning
is banned. Smiling is instead encouraged by a meal of dreamy
and dubby excursions into electronic noodling and mellow pop-infused
beats, all between some tasty organic bread. The cover of
Fun Boy 3's The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum) is a
well thought out down-beaten affair, the Campaign For Real
Bread is so cute that it's intelligent comparison of politicians
and advertising would go unrealised by many appreciating listeners
and Shakey Flakey would compete well with Manitoba's
sound. Shakey Flakey also showcases Ollo's delightful tendency
for quirky humour, which is spread throughout the album...
a very accomplished album and one difficult not to enjoy..."
[Aarom Wilson, Perth Drum Media]
"It's
been a good four years since
the release of Ollo's debut album Sleeper, and this highly
anticipated follow-up The If If certainly highlights considerable
creative change within camp Ollo. While Sleeper showed the
duo working predominantly within electronic music parameters,
this second album shows Alex Crowfoot taking both the production
and vocal reins, for a record that certainly places songwriting
at its forefront. Those concerned about a corresponding loss
in Ollo's 'electronic' side have little to fear however, as
The If If represents something of a headphone treat,
with literally hundreds of unexpected 'found sounds' scattered
throughout its running length. The selection of creative collaborators
enlisted here to flesh out Crowfoot's predominantly downbeat
and lyrically contemplative constructions is certainly no
less impressive. Kevin Purdy imbues the lazily groovy
Shaky Flaky with a bluesy swagger amidst questing prog-rock
keyboards and vinyl spinbacks that certainly hints at Tooth's
epic landscapes, while Inga Liljestrom also contributes her
soaring Euro-inflected chanteuse vibes to icy downbeat electro
highlight Gordian Knotted. Chiefly however, this is Crowfoot's
show, his smooth vocals infusing The If If with a far more
personal and 'human' atmosphere than anywhere the duo have
previously ventured."
[evilchris, 3D World Magazine]
'Sleeper'
"Sublime and satisfying." [3D World
Mag]
"Sleeper is atmospheric, with a slight pop sensibility
and a heady dose of jazz
- a bit of moonless night with a touch of sun glinting off
snow" [XLR8R Magazine, USA]
"Addictive summer listening...a mesmerising
journey...serious(ly) beautiful music."
[InTheMix.com.au : Editor's Pick]
"An amazing sonic journey...musically arresting
and clever...
perfectly plotted...an Australian dance album to get excited
about"
[Paul Turner, SX Magazine]
"An aural alchemist...diverse and compelling."
[Tim Ritchie, Radio National]
"Sleeper is nothing short of great, great record...
In a just world Sleeper's qualities would elevate the boys
to the cultural heights currently ridden by kids like Manitoba,
Fourtet and Prefuse 73" [Vibewire]
OLLO
- MEDIA RELEASE / BIO
OLLO
are ALEX CROWFOOT and LARS CHRESTA.
This second, long awaited album from Sydney's own 'fun boy two',
is a meticulously crafted release. It draws together the critically
acclaimed electronics of their 2002 debut SLEEPER, with
the imaginative vocal-pop, dub and acoustic elements of the
ensuing singles. Whilst remixing, touring live and DJing, these
singles mapped a shifting landscape that ultimately informed
the band's most ambitious project to date, THE IF IF.
Their masterful cover of Fun Boy 3's The Lunatics
[Have Taken Over The Asylum] won them many fans around the
world (from Linda Evangelista to The Dissociatives),
while their popular remix of punk group The Dodgems came
in at #8 ON BBC Radio 1's end of year chart, The Festive
50. It's already tipped to be outdone by the new album's
agitating first single, the brilliant CAMPAIGN FOR REAL BREAD
(check the MySpace
hoo-ha).
THE
IF IF is the result of many months writing/recording
and includes album guests Rok Poshtya from The Herd,
Inga Liljestrom, FourPlay's cellist Peter Hollo,
UK trumpeter Roger Mills and Tooth's Kevin
Purdy). Bridging the gap between the past, present and future,
it's part pop, part dance, part downbeat home listening Ð a
sort of hermetic iPod. No matter what the mood or sound of each
song, OLLO's consistently crafty approach is both a unique outsider's
view of the world and a questioning plea from within. With an
emotional, personal core, it's brimming with IDEAS, WIT,
INSIGHT, TENDERNESS and EVOCATIVE LYRICS,
matched with SMART PROGRAMMING and lovingly played instruments.
Seeds for THE IF IF were sown during a writing sojourn to an
isolated house in Australia's Southern Highlands. Later, tracsk
were fleshed out in OLLO's own audio-lab before a final mix
at Sydney's Tardis Studios, with ex-UK producer Mike
Burnham (Mowax/Output etc).
The
LP marks a radical shift for OLLO,
augmenting the fragmented vocal samples of their debut with
a more fully-crafted 'song' approach. Songwriter ALEX CROWFOOT
lends his vocal talents to a greater portion of the swirling
mix, tackling subject matter ranging from love and risk, to
death, depression and lead single, THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL
BREAD's anti-spin comparisons between the ridiculous claims
of advertising and those of politicians. Alex can also be heard
singing backups and playing keys on the first Astronomy Class
single A Bright Tomorrow.
Apart from making two albums, DJing and remxing
other artists
(see highlights below) OLLO have toured the USA
and twice in Europe as well as Australia. In 2006 they
played two show-stealing sets at London's Rough Trade
showcase RoTA,and at Raison d'Etre in Shoreditch,
as part of 12 Apostles' Charabanc event. They
have also dipped their toes into improvisation with the UK's
Neotropic, resulting in a 6-track performance called
Time +Place transmitted on FBI radio. Several
OLLO live shows have been broadcast live on both SBS
and ABC radio, while OLLO member Lars Chresta's
sound-sculpture work also extends into sound art
through contributions to FBI Radio's experimental Sunday
Night at the Movies programme and his sound-art performances
at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and The
Art Gallery of NSW. Lars also presents an eclectic and highly
respected weekly radio show on Sydney's 2SER, called
Extended Play.
