Naarm/Melbourne-based dance-punk sextet Gut Health has announced their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Stiletto’, set for release on October 11 via Highly Contagious/AWAL. Extra excitedly, they’ve just released the second single from the album, ‘Cool Moderator’, a bratty, groove-driven track that promises to be a dance floor favourite and offers a glimpse of the glitter that is yet to come.
‘Stiletto’ is a ten-track exploration of dance floor-inducing soundscapes and punchy musical prowess. Gut Health’s ability to blend diverse musical influences into such a charming and energetic sound shines through, with band members drawing from varied musical backgrounds, including soundscape design, jazz, punk, folk, and R&B, and taking inspiration from artists like Grace Jones and 80s post-punk band Ludus.
The band shares, “Uncertainty plays a lot through the album, we don’t want the listener to know exactly what is going to come next in the album to create excitement, intrigue and unease.”
The album will delve into themes of consensual rage, the myths and falsehoods of contemporary Australia, and the empowerment of high-femmes and marginalised communities. Recorded with Julian Cue at Button Pusher on Wurundjeri Land in Preston, additional overdubs were done by Julian and guitarist Dom Wilmott in various spaces, including their old warehouse space APAX. Portland’s Evan Mersky engineered and mixed the album on a 24-track reel-to-reel tape machine, adding a warm, compressed quality to the sound.
Gut Health, formed in a Melbourne sharehouse in 2022, comprises Athina Uh oh (vocals), Eloise Murphy-Hill (guitar), Dom Wilmott (guitar, synth), Angus Fletcher (percussion, synth), Myka Wallace (drums), and Adam Markmann (bass). Their debut EP, ‘Electric Party Chrome Girl’, and subsequent singles have made a significant impact on the art-punk scene, setting the stage for their visually adventurous and daring live shows.
Fresh off their second European tour of the year, Gut Health has performed at Valkhof Festival, Health Bells Festival, and a Paris show with The Judges at Supersonic. They’ve also shared stages with Queens of the Stone Age, POND, Otoboke Beaver, and Mudhoney.
‘Stiletto’ promises to be a sparkling debut that captures the essence of Gut Health’s dynamic and exciting sound. With their latest single, ‘Cool Moderator’, we can get a taste of what to expect from one of Australia’s most exciting new acts.
TOUR DATES
Fri 30 Aug – Seasonal Fruit Festival w/ Clamm, Parsnip + more – Felons Barrel Hall – Meanjin/Brisbane
Tue 17 Sept – The Forum – Naarm/Melbourne*
Fri 20 Sept – The Enmore – Eora/Sydney*
*with Hiatus Kaiyote
Photo Credit: Celeste de Clario
