John Kennedy talks to Australian band Expatriate about recent support slots for dEUS and Placebo and their new album In the Midst of This

With photo shoot completed on a dismal, twilight evening, we repair to a pub near St Paul’s Cathedral where, contrary to rock ‘n roll protocols, Australian Expatriate songwriter/guitar/vocalist Ben King and bassist, Dave Holland, decline the offer of a great British pint. Now based in Berlin where they composed and recorded their new album, the band are over here for a whistle-stop promo and two discreet gigs in London where, according to their very fine website, they, ‘celebrate the forthcoming UK release of the band’s debut album, ‘In the Midst of This’ on March 1st. French film maker, Bruno Barthas has edited together a stunning promo video for the song, ‘Blackbird’.’ Said gigs are, Saturday, February 6th, @ The Borderline and Wednesday, February 10th, @ The Flowerpot

Recognising influences including The Smiths, INSX, Triffids, Joy Divison (they were rather keen on that one with their admiration for the syncopated beats) and U2 it was of particular note that they cited Dead Can Dance, a fellow compatriot cathedral/ambient ensemble led Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard. The latter having teamed up with Hans Zimmer to create the majestic anthems for ‘Gladiator’ staring Russell Crowe, who, of course is from, yes, you guessed. This antipodean/Germanic fusion seems catching. So, how do they distill all of these and synthesize what has become Expatriate? We eventually agree it’s synonymous with an hour-glass. All the grains are captured above, then channeled through the focus of their interpretations and creativity to shared in to the receptive bowl of the public domain. We also agreed that, given the tortuous analogies, we really should have had that drink.

We move on to the web page design which prominently features a schematic cut-away of a Boeing 737. It’s put to the guys that it could be interpreted as an extended visual metaphor in keeping with the band name. A sense of transient flux. The exploration and baring of their physical and spiritual identities with the diaspora from native Oz to Europe. ‘But, at the same time,’ says Ben, ‘there’s an essential, fundamental aspect that’s important to me.’ And that being? ‘I love planes.’ Ah, right!For the UK, at least, we’re charting new territory with Expatriate. They’ve already cut their teeth with European stadium support gigs with dEUS and Placebo last year. What’s certain is that we have much to look forward to given the already proven strength of Myspace heavily hit sample tracks, ‘Space Between’, ‘Blackbird’, ‘Gotta Get Home’ and ‘Shooting Star’. Intelligent, reflective and devilishly handsome to boot, this is a band in for the long haul. 2010, bring it on.

Just in from their management the following reports that: The band have already been earmarked for success in 2010 after coming 7th in the Rock Sounds reader poll for ‘Best International Newcomer’ and being nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the year at the ARIA Awards (Australian version of the Brits). Following the band’s widely received support slot on Placebo’s European arena tour in 2009, they will be making appearances at a number of the main festivals across the UK and will be announcing both headlining and supporting tours in due course.

J Kennedy 4th February 2010

© Andy Willsher