Rave
Magazine
GENSHEN
- Someplace Else EP - November 2002
Brisbane's
Genshen are one of the more distinctive bands playing around our fair
city, as the EP shows. Their sound is an often alluring cross between
eighties synth-pop and early nineties shoegazing guitar-rock, an amalgum
which, on tracks like Don't Believe, results in compact and wistful
pop songs couched in swirling, sometimes cheesy synth textures and
resonant guitars. Vocalist Quentin Brown sounds like a cross between
Neil Tennant and the Underground Lovers' Vince Giarusso, and indeed
much of the music recalls the Lovers' template of chilly synths and
widescreen atmospherics. Aided by rich, detailed production, these
songs are a finely honed introduction to an interesting act." by
B Collingwood
Timeoff
Magazine
Genshen
– Love Is On The Radio (Independent)
Brisburg’s
own Go-Betweens always struck hardest when the pop was tight and luscious
and the production and delivery delightfully imperfect. And here these
fellow locals serve up much the same delicacy and with much the same
sonic tone. Breathy, spacious, ethereal and utterly pop. Go buy it,
go see ’em and get yourself lurved! by
RICHARD KWONG
Semper
Magazine
Love
is on the Radio (Independent)
“Quite
simply, Genshen are a revelation. Love is on the Radio (their
debut single) is a dream: a majestic, heady ride from start to finish.
Nothing local’s sounded this good for years, nothing since Gaslight
Radio’s Hitch on the Leaves, or Shuriken’s Defining Attempts at Structure.
This is music steeped in music’s history, an obvious labour of love
that somehow escapes sounding derivative. Frontman Quentin Brown’s
vocal stylings are beautiful, floating above and around vintage synths,
shabby guitars, spot on bass and drums. B-sides Find a Roost and
Thermodynamic just make you wish this was a long player. A kind
of Slowdive-meets-The Underground Lovers-and-everything-good-in-between,
Genshen sound poised for greatness. Get this record. It’s
splendid.” by
KRAM
Courier
Mail
(Pulse pg 3 - Up ‘n’ Coming)
GENSHEN
- You’ve got to love a band with a song called Chermside… So Noel
Mengel checks out Genshen
Like
many a band, Genshen had their beginnings as an acoustic duo, but it
wasn’t long before Quentin Brown and Gillian Bright realised they needed
a broader palette. Says Brown: “We were writing songs that you
could call indie pop even then. Gillian had one of those little
Casio keyboards she could carry around under her arm and I had a dodgy
acoustic. “But really the songs suggested that they needed a band
to play them.’ Enter fellow Brisbane-ites Michael Burnett on drums
and bassist Steven Smith and they were on their way.
The
band’s home recorded promotional CD reveals a broad mix of styles but
they fit in easily alongside expat Queensland acts like Gaslight Radio
and minimum Chips (these days both relocated to Melbourne). Besides,
you’ve got to love a band that can write a song called Chermside.
Best of the batch though is their new single Love is on the Radio, a
gorgeous, droning pop tune that will hopefully be floating through your
speakers any day now. “We’ve always been keen on people with innovative
styles, and bands like Stereolab who have found interesting ways of
using keyboards in their sound,” Brown says.
“It
was great to get that result for Love is on the Radio in a home studio
but we’re looking forward to the next step, working with a producer
who understands what we’re about who can help us get the best out of
our songs.” Genshen launch Love is on the Radio at RIC’s Bar,
Fortitude Valley, on Monday.
by Noel Mengel
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HERE'S
WHAT THE PRESS SAY ABOUT OUR GIGS...
genshen@
the zoo (photo by richard)
OZ MUSIC PROJECT
...
Closing the night in style were Genshen, and whilst I had been looking
forward to seeing all of the bands, I'd been anxiously waiting to see
Genshen for the first time. On occasion, when one has gathered high
expectations of a band based upon their recorded output, the live show
can prove to be a startling disappointment. However,
Genshen proceeded to startle and amaze with their ability to reproduce
their lush atmospheric pop songs with such clarity in a live setting.
Not many bands are able to create the layered pedal and synth driven
sounds like Genshen do in a studio setting, let alone in the notoriously
difficult live setting. On stage with the band was a varied mass of
guitars, keyboards, effects and telephone microphones, which produced
a futuristic yet familiar (think martians meets My Bloody Valentine
meets New Order) sound. by
Andrew Tutts
Check
out Genshen's interview on Triple J...
click
here to stream (requires Real
Player)
HAIKU
REVIEW
Brispop.com Discussion Board
My
dear, dear, Brisbane. Whilst Genshen redefined 'pop', you all slept
at home:/ Nine golden, golden stars. I'd
heard stories about the wonders of the Genshen band wagon, and have
been waiting ever so long to finally jump aboard. But, boy, was it a
joyoius ride. ... Their current single "Love is on the Radio"
paled in insignificance next to their newer tracks. I'm not sure what
the last tune was, but hot damn - it's a corker! New Order crossed with
Flaming Lips, equals my new favorite band. by
Hanns
TSUNAMI
Magazine
Genshen...
are one of the most exciting acts on the Brisbane scene at the moment.
Claiming influences from bands such as Gaslight Radio and Stereloab,
they have developed a distinctive, blissful drone characterised by Quentin
Brown's pillow-soft voice, and Gillian's astronomical keyboards.
Opening
with debut single 'Love Is On The Radio' (surely one of the great indie
releases of this year), this gig marked a first for the band- using
virtual displays during their set. Quentin Brown does remind me of Vincent
from the Underground Lovers in a sense with his vocal technique and
stage presence, yet ultimately his style is his own.
...
They also manage to finish their set in true cathartic, electronically
woozy style. And
despite not playing one of their finer pieces, 'Find A Roost', Genshen
were worth every dripping tune. It seems Gerling now have something
to compete with.
genshen
@ the tivoli, brisbane (photo jo bell)
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