aheadphonehome’ss debut album in the static has a cult following among australian experimental pop circles. Critically praised for its originality, dark beauty and mesmerising intricacy, it occupies a unique space.

The songs are hard to pin down – subverted indie songwriter melodies and wit hide behind a brash wall of fuzzy textures. The music is ambient, electronic, heavy and fragile all at once. A huge library of guitar histories (early post rock? not from there? mid era Sonic Youth?) have been pulled apart with the sonic curiosity and glee of Fourtet or Caribou. “My Bloody Valentine remixed by Christian Fennez” suggested one reviewer, and that might be close enough to the mark.

The man driving the machines is Brisbane musician and producer Phillip Laidlaw. He founded the lofly label with Andrew White in 2006, and was a driving force behind the creation of Hangar, Brisbane’s much-loved DIY palace.

In between producing an album for label mates Toy Balloon, doing remixes for artists such as Sydney’s Underlapper and Cleptoclectics, taking field recordings of local musicians in the Sahara, and soaking up the cream of Brisbane’s most interesting artists from behind the mixing desk at hangar, aheadphonehome has played Sydney and Melbourne shows as well as a host of local slots. In 2009 the live line up expanded into a five piece.

The second aheadphonehome record is scheduled for release in the second half of 2010. It is loosely based around an epic ten-part dream Phil had in August 2001. The album is a collaboration with Pete Maclean (Jazzmaster and beat making) who also contributed to in the static. The new songs are lush, hypnotic and woozy, and feature a stronger emphasis on groove and movement.

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