Cobaw / Fool's Gold

The new 45 from The Cactus Channel, Cobaw, takes its name from a small town in the gold rush end of the Macedon Ranges. Scrubby forests, disused mine shafts and quiet dark lagoons border the grazing land and history hides in all the shadows. Straight out, The Cactus Channel's heavy, ominous drums and reverb-drenched guitars take this record into soundtrack land. It's not clear whether it's a road movie or a horror movie. The B-side,Fool's Gold, a warning that all is not what it seems, is a slower, thicker tune on the same tip.

The Cactus Channel's trademark echoing horns, crunchy organ and boom bap beats are evolving, joined here by synthesizers, strings and sitar. More cinematic? Certainly. Cobaw marks the beginning of a collaboration between The Cactus Channel and Point Cool Productions. Shot on location in Cobaw and surrounds, the video uses the landscape to great and surreal effect. Arid Australiana goes dark film funk goes shlock scream movie tone poem is probably a fair description of the results.

As the first 45 produced by Cactus Channel members Henry 'JNBO' Jenkins and Lewis Coleman, Cobaw marks the addition of these guys to the HopeStreet production team and the first release to come out of the band'sWyall Style studio, located in the lounge room of their shared house. New hands on deck, same heavy duty HopeStreet sound you love. Cobaw, population 1100. It's not just a destination; it's a journey baby.