For the uninitiated, Jack Ladder (real name Tim Rogers) could be described as Sydney’s answer to Melbourne cool, epitomised by Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard. Along with his band the Dreamlanders (consisting of various moonlighting indie rock luminaries) he has performed internationally, making appearances in London, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles and shared stages with John Cale, The Horrors, Bill Callahan and Okkervil River. He also features on the live Bill Callahan record Rough Travel For A Rare Thing (Drag City 2010), playing bass guitar on the single, “Rough Travel For A Rare Thing”.
Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders have just announced the issue of a new album entitled ‘Blue Poles’ and released a new single and video for the song ‘White Flag’.
Ladder’s gorgeous velvety vocals – somewhere between Jarvis Cocker and Nick Cave – are to the fore in this languorous cool song that recalls the melancholic tone of Tindersticks with a sense of wry humour. According to Ladder, “It’s written from two perspectives. I didn’t want to duet so I sang both parts. It allows for more mystery.” It is an enigmatic and poised song that doesn’t take itself too seriously – “I’ve got no fingers left to cross, each time I leave you cut one off.” – matched by a somewhat droll video shot in Indonesia – and the beautiful imagery of the binding nature of a freeing love I surrender to be set free:
Breathtakingly lovely.
The Dreamlanders are made up of Donny Benet on bass, Laurence Pike on drums and two guitarists – Kirin J Callinan and Ben Hauptmann.
‘Blue Poles’ is out on 4 May and you can pre-order here.
Jack Ladder is touring solo throughout the UK and Europe in March and April:
Solo support with Alex Cameron
27/03/2018 Denmark Copenhagen Lille VEGA
28/03/2018 Sweden Stockholm Debaser Strand
29/03/2018 Sweden Gothenburg Pustervik
30/03/2018 Denmark Aarhus Atlas
1/04/2018 Germany Nurnberg Z-bau
3/04/2018 Italy Bologna Covo Club
4/04/2018 France Lyon Marche Gare
5/04/2018 France Bordeaux iBoat
6/04/2018 France Paris Cabaret Sauvage
9/04/2018 France Roubaix la Cave aux Poetes
10/04/2018 United Kingdom Birmingham Mama Roux’s
11/04/2018 United Kingdom Bristol Thekla
12/04/2018 United Kingdom London KOKO
13/04/2018 United Kingdom Liverpool The Magnet
14/04/2018 United Kingdom Cambridge Junction 2
(Photo Credit: Kylie Coutts)
