It was way back in 2022 that we were mightily impressed by the single ‘Don’t Forget To Breathe’ from central Victorian Steve Lane, and we are very honoured to premiere his new single ‘A Song You Can’t Write No More’.
Coasting on crisp jangling guitars and heavenly melodies, this song has delicate layers of harmonies and yearning lyrics. There is an element of Sixties West Coast/LA shimmering americana (touches of Crosby, Stills and Nash or the Mamas & the Papas), but just as much genetic coding from antipodean indie pop royalty such as Paul Kelly. The result is something of the geography down under: endless horizons and wide open plains capped by cloudless skies, infused with a little melancholy, a little regret.
The sounds also seems to incorporate First Nations percussive beats with an indie pop sensibility – a pattering entry and thrum that runs like an undercurrent throughout the track with some muscular fuzzy guitar running over the top.
The accompanying video clip documents the creation of an artwork by emerging Melbourne artist (and Steve’s nephew) Darcy Shilton. Shilton shapes a limestone block into riverstone-like sculpture—inspired by the song itself. One side of the finished piece features a topographical view of a bend in Australia’s longest river, the Murray River, that Shilton arduously paddled during a time of intense retrospection.
‘A Song You Can’t Write No More’ is out on 18 July and will be available through all the usual streaming and download sites. It was produced by ARIA award-winning Darren Seltmann (The Avalanches).
This is the first single off Lane’s upcoming album ‘Where the Rivers Meet’. The album came to life in both Australia and Scotland—in both Steve’s Troubled Waters studio near Bendigo and Beetroot Studio in Ayrshire, Scotland. The album features Steve’s son Kai on bass and daughter Neneh on keys, alongside input from long-term drummer and good friend, David Williams (Augie March, Fanning Dempsey National Park). The album also features John and Stephen Douglas of the legendary Glaswegian band, the Trashcan Sinatras.
Lane will be launching the album in October – tickets available here and details below.
The album is being released through the Scottish independent record label Last Night From Glasgow – a patron funded not for profit label. They are an ethics-first business who believe in gender equality and fair pay for all and they’ve had phenomenal success with their business model since launching in 2016. Founder Ian Smith says of the label:
First off, we need to believe in you as artists. We are not concerned with your commercial viability, although such can be a sizeable bonus. For us, you have to really care about what you’re doing and be doing it for the right reasons. Anyone solely chasing fame is probably not for us. Not because we don’t want that, but pursuit of fame should not be your overriding concern.
We want artists who simply can’t imagine not being songwriters or performers. We want artists who are able to contribute to the community of LNFG, who will lend a hand when needed. We are built upon the principles of trade unionism – we are stronger together.
Lane has been a three times nominee for the International Songwriting Award and his 2011 album The Romance of Communication, released through ABC Music/Universal, was nominated for the prestigious Australian Music Prize. Lane’s band The Autocrats and numerous other collaborations have seen him work with members of The Avalanches, Paul Kelly & The Dots, Augie March and more.
Lane is also one half of Realtone, with Wayne Glenn. Both are experienced sound engineers, award-winning song writers, workshop facilitators and video producers with experience in community development, project management, alternative education, case management, mental health and the AOD sector.
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