Outer

by SweetCell

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    SweetCell's debut record Outer. Beautifully printed and packaged by Implant Media. The release comes with a gloss covered disc, tucked inside a single pocket, gatefold cover, featuring the striking "bird & mushroom" front cover. And, with additional inside sleeve photography by Melbourne photo artist Guy Cleeve.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Outer via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Usymbolizme 04:59
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2.
Rigmarole 04:49
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3.
Co-Ti-Lar 06:05
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4.
Amygdala 05:36
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5.
The Barrios 05:08
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6.
Outer 04:19
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7.
Rendezviewers 05:46
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8.
Eel of the Storm 05:52
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9.
On Their Sky 06:05
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10.
Pangloss 04:35
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11.
Luxuries 06:14
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about

SweetCell is the name of the project started by Melbourne musician and songwriter Joel Alexander Keane.

This album was three and a half years in the making; though the somewhat slow process was not the result of any particular indecisive or extended creative blocks. Instead, the work flow was halted on two occasions by some significant life events. The first occurred in early 2017 when Joel, was admitted to hospital with what was diagnosed in the following weeks as Leukemia. In fact, if you listen to the track On Their Sky (track 9), you will hear the lead vocal take that was performed in the studio on the day before Joel was admitted to hospital. In mixing the record it was decided that the performance sounded suitably fragile, in keeping with the mood and concept of the track, so it was kept on the final release.

After a six month stint out of the studio, Joel returned to recommence recording. The work was getting back on track in July/August of 2017 with early recordings of the tracks Rendezviewers and Eel of the Storm. However, September 2017 arrived and Joel's world was thrown into a spiral of immense tragedy, with the passing of both his sister and mother, within 25 days of each other. Joel's father Mervyn Keane has discussed this double tragedy in the media over the last two years.

These events are mentioned here to hopefully provide some context to the music that was finally arrived at on the album. Although the songs were mostly written in 2016/17, the arrangements and performances took place over a three year period of huge transition in Joel's life; a time in which he was faced with intense grief and personal loss. To this extent, the album is, like many albums, full of emotional highs and lows, as can be heard on tracks like The Barrios, Amygdala, Co-Ti-Lar and Luxuries. However, at the same time, given that the album was well and truly commenced prior to these external events, the final product is not necessarily an official statement on grief and loss. Rather, Joel says that the interesting thing about the personal tragedies he faced is that they not so much influenced the content of the album, but rather forced him to consider ways to get the best performances out of himself, despite the hardships that he was dealing with. In this sense, the album grew to be a project as much about taking comfort in the creative process, as well as persisting with things even through difficult times, and being thankful for what you still have.

In addition, Joel says that there is an added layer of complexity to this already messy picture, in the sense that the album can be listened to as much as the work of an artist who is feeling like he has produced the best work of his life. After more than a decade of playing around Melbourne in punk, alt and prog rock bands, SweetCell is a project that represents the sounds that were swirling around in Joel's head for some years, but that he was unable to realise in any of the other band situations he had previously been involved with.Thus, the album is a positive statement about venturing out on your own and having faith that eventually, the right recording circumstances will come along.

To this extent, SweetCell is a Tame Impala(esque) project, with Joel operating as the primary songwriter, whilst relying enormously on the talents of other musicians to help him realise his creative visions, particularly for live shows. As a result, the album was able to incorporate a dense mix of instrumentation that was helped along by sound engineer and producer Rob McPherson (Garagee). In short, the final release is a mix that features a full spring bloom of guitar tones, rich vocals, catchy drum hooks and layers of keyboard and synth textures, some performed by Melbourne jazz virtuoso Martin Pang.

In closing, Joel recommends that the album is best enjoyed when played unbroken and uninterrupted from track 1, through to track 11. In this way, there is a linear sonic progression that the listener can enjoy. Lastly, it is preferable to play the album loud, and on the best system you have, or, through a good quality set of headphones. Happy listening to all.

credits

released March 1, 2020

SweetCell 2020: this album is dedicated to the memory of my mother Kaye and my sister Emily.

Recorded at TinTern Studios

All music written and arranged by Joel Alexander Keane

Produced by Joel Alexander Keane and Rob McPherson

Engineered by Rob McPherson

Mastered by Simon Polinski at Laundry Goat Studios

Album photography by Guy Cleeve

Album artwork by Joel Alexander Keane

Thank you to the additional musicians who gave their time and talent to the project including: James Donald, Brooke Kymberley, Bella Mcmahon, Martin Pang, Adam Rudigeair, Louis Spencely, Samuel Stone and Jethro Kalt for the contributions he has made to our live shows.

Further thank yous go to my family, Mervyn, Zachary and Marija. Thank you to my friends Paul Fahey and Darrell Cruise who, more than anyone, frequently asked about the progress of the record. It meant a lot.

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