Andre Hooke on Half A Cow, Comparisons and the Khancoban sound.
» khancoban announces second album and tour - June 15, 2011
When it is proclaimed that you are one of only four bands from your label that has created a truly unique sound, the hype may give way to pressure. When the label is Half A Cow records, one of Australia’s most respected indie institutions, and the bands you are being compared to include Tendrils, Crow and Art of Fighting, the shoes only get bigger. But Andre Hooke, singer-songwriter and guitarist for Khancoban, seems relaxed…
“I don’t really agree with Half A Cow’s assessment of Khancoban as being truly unique. But I am, of course, honoured by it,” Andre says. “The thing that I find most interesting is the dynamic betweens the instruments and the space people leave for each other.”
Khancoban take their name from a small mountain community in Southern NSW; Andre feels that the place reflected the openness of the group’s sound. “We liked the idea of it being a small town next to a big mountain; it seemed to suit the music we were making - lots of open space there.”
“We stayed at the back of the local pub, where there is a restaurant called the ‘Pickled Parrot’, with an out-of-place Basil Fawlty-esque proprietor, running around trying to look official. So that kind of stuck in our minds a bit.”
The mountain in the music of Khancoban is the dark and haunting ambience that hangs over tracks like ‘I Wish I Was On A Plane Somewhere’. Mesmerising harmonies, unusual instrumentation and the stripped-back approach of engineer Hugh Counsell (Pitching Woo) help lift the release into slightly experimental territory. “All of the sounds and ideas were there already. When we play the songs live they sound pretty much the same.” Andre is also quick to credit their engineer. “In terms of working out how the tones would work together and the mixing, Hugh Counsell pretty much did it all.”
The lo-fi indie approach of Khancoban is one aspect of the band’s makeup that is drawing comparisons to other acts. But when these comparisons include Wilco, The Decemberists and Augie March, does Andre feel these assessments are fair? “Those bands are okay reference points … I think people naturally make comparisons to things they know.”
While Khancoban’s debut EP contains some of the mystique of early Augie March and the diverse instrumentation of recent Decemberists, Half A Cow are correct in their appraisal of the uniqueness of Khancoban. Songs such as ‘Take Me Where I Might Want To Go’ and ‘Smoke And The Light’ reject the commercial tendencies of their contemporaries and in its place offer a more traditional-meets-experimental approach.
Khancoban’s willingness to experiment extends to all aspects of the release. Defying an industry trend, the group created a seven-track mini-album. “I’ve never really liked EPs. I just never listen to them as they’re so short. We didn’t have the money for an album, so that was out, but we wanted something a bit longer lasting and worthwhile – something that would make an impression as a whole rather than as four or five separate songs.” The extended length does allow the band to create a flowing narrative where songs can exist in context with each other, rather than a simple collection of tunes. “Plus seven is a prime number. Our bassist is very superstitious.”
Khancoban are about to embark on a small tour between Melbourne and Sydney to celebrate the sweet sixteenth of Half A Cow Records and promote their new self-titled release. So what has been the legacy of Half A Cow to Australian music? “From being one of the leaders in the 90s’ fuzzy pop sounds to uncovering a great array of new bands (including some of my favourites like Crow, Love Positions and Tendrils) to re-issuing some real landmark older Australian bands … Half A Cow bands tend to be ones whose quality stands up over time as well.”
With the reaction of the press, the praise from their label and the upcoming single launch in February/March, Khancoban are a band poised to do great things. If the comparisons run true they may also be the next big thing …
