Sneeze are a legendary Australian pop rock band formed in 1991 by Nic Dalton (who runs the band’s record label, Half a Cow and was in The Plunderers) on vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, and drums, and Tom Morgan (from Smudge) on vocals and guitar.
Both now residing in the NSW rural town of Maitland, they have reformed and released a new EP ‘Bands, Jobs and Girlfriends’ with input from original drummer Lara Meyerratken and longtime Sneeze special guest Simon Day (RatCat). Six songs are delivered over eight minutes, gestated over a long period between 1998 and 2025.
The wryly entitled ‘Maggie Swoop Protocol’ (referencing that very Australian ritual of avoiding the very aggressive behaviour of Magpies during breeding season) has a low-fi drive that has within its DNA a little Joy Division with its dissonant delivery over a very brief two minutes. ‘Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock’ is an even briefer burst of energetic punk while ‘Apology Rejected’ surely reference The Go-Betweens’ opposite sentiments with its pop sensibility and sardonic expression.
‘Mums The Word’ is a joyous chant of voices over an nursery rhyme melody and harmonious Casio-toned synths: a shambolic blast of fun. ‘Danger Mouse’ is a fuzzy blast with a rough hewed delivery repeating the title over buzz saw guitars.
‘Jacinta’ is another brief injection of urgent sardonic vocals, barely whispered with a shaky exposition.
This is a raw and visceral collection, filled with charm and insouciance with a care free attitude and a rich vein of larrikin humour.
Out naturally through Half A Cow, you can get the EP through the link above.
