Although it’s been four years now since the last Horse Stories record (the critically lauded Everyone’s A Photographer), it’s hard to say that Toby Burke hasn’t been busy – with two offerings of experimental instrumental music (via Perfect Black Swan, one accompanied by a photographic exhibition), two collections of short stories, score work, record producing and a major gallery installation, all to his name in that time.
Ever the nomad, Toby’s been on the move again too. In 2007, after two years back in his birthplace, Melbourne and largely out of the music scene, Toby relocated to his adopted home of Los Angeles (his third international relocation in four years). It was there, holed-up in a windowless garage under his house in the Silverlake neighborhood, that the material for November, November was arduously crafted. Day by day, verse by verse, for nearly two years.
Doing what he could to make the dark and dingy garage space as hospitable a studio as possible – including painting one wall “monster” green to brighten things up and rolling in an old piano – Toby set out to write 10 undeniably well-crafted songs, demo’ing each numerous times. All-the-while sharpening not only the songs, but his guitar playing, new piano skills and fresh way of approaching singing.
The result is November, November, Horse Stories’ most assured, mature and consistent album to date. Recorded mostly live-to-tape with producer/multi-instrumentalist Luther Russell and engineer/bassist Jason Hiller. With help from old friend Beth Balmer, they conjured up an album that touches upon the Holy Grail of record making; something that is both classic and original.
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"Expertly judged chamber-pop, twang swapped for painstaking production. Burke's vocals evoke Joe Pernice, gentle, wracked, velvety exhalations that sweeten his powerfully bleak pieces."
- MOJO
"The painterly approach and fragile harmonies have served them well. the quieter moments could raise gooseflesh."
- UNCUT
"Projected via a quietly commanding voice, songs emerge paine and mysterious, but not without hope."
- Q
"Wonderful. Reference points are that lonely, slow-motion American indie rock-of-ages, from early REM to Galaxie 500."
- The Age (Melbourne)
"Three albums in, the unfettered melancholy bliss of the man from Melbourne's electronica-tinged, dust-clouded tales are surely going to find themselves a wider audience. recall(s) Wilco's recent awesome studio-bound experimentation and REM at their most countrified respectively. Really, there's no higher praise than that."
- NME
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VIDEOS:
The Weight (with apologies to The Band)
Live at Toby's "Winter View" studio by Elliot Glass
Rockinghorse Live at Toby's "Winter View" studio by Elliot Glass
Telephone Message (November) by Ivor Jones
Hummingbird (We'll Be Okay) by Ivor Jones and Stephen Sarre Reynolds
You Explained Away Everything by Ivor Jones
PUSH MY BUTTONS Fan Video
THE SEA SHORE (Recorded for the St Kilda Film Festival Trailer)
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