NEON GOBLIN MAKE THEIR DEBUT WITH FUZZED-OUT SINGLE, ‘MIDNIGHT SUNDIAL’

After most of a year spent as one of the city’s most talked-about live acts, Melbourne’s fuzzed-out psychedelic supergroup Neon Goblin have unveiled their ferocious debut single, ‘Midnight Sundial’.

Emerging out of their respective places within the Victorian music scene, Neon Goblin’s origins can be traced back to a conversation between guitarist and vocalist Samuel Drew-Rumoro (Pseudo Mind Hive, Hannah Kate) and drummer John Zacharias (Heavy Amber, Zelkova), when they both agreed to breathe life into their long-dormant writings that didn’t fit within their current bands. Soon, they were joined by bassist Eddie Knight (Morniing, The Deadpans) to solidify their acclaimed lineup.

Right from the start, Neon Goblin arrived with a bang, with numerous shows booked before they had even made their live debut. However, the trio quickly made an impact, with their inimitable live show turning heads every time they took to the stage. Eclectic onstage performances, audacious costumes, and an undeniable urge to present one of the most immersive and unforgettable experiences soon resulted in Neon Goblin becoming a must-see attraction on local stages.

Now, Neon Goblin are making their official recorded debut.

Recorded live “on a shoestring budget in a hay bale and mud-wall studio hidden inside a defunct lingerie warehouse in Brunswick East, under the watchful eyes of Julian Angelatos and Brodie Casey”, the track sees the group taking on production duties themselves, though leaning on Knight and Robert P. Downie for mixing and mastering, respectively.

The result is a track that almost effortlessly captures their live sound, pairing vivid lyrics with crushing distorted guitars and vocals that instantly transport the listener back to the hedonistic days of classic ‘70s-era psych-rock, or evoke musical comparisons to fellow supergroups such as the great Cream. Throughout the mesmerising solos, the powerful breakdowns, an immersive flute solo courtesy of Kasinda Faase (Heavy Amber, Zelkova), and spacious production, however, is room to breathe, and room to ruminate upon a lyrical focus which unfurls to paint an intimate portrait of tenderness.

“Though at a glance ‘Midnight Sundial’ appears to wax lyrical about death, destruction, life, time, and death again, it is at its heart a song about friendship,” the group explain. “It is dedicated to those magical quiet nights in spent with those dear to you as the day becomes dark, and the light of day threatens to bring it all to a close.

“It’s about letting go, taking your eyes off the clock, enjoying the precious minutes as the night rolls on, and when the sun finally rises; revelling in the beauty of the hours gone by and not in the dread of the time you’ve lost or the end of a night well lived.”

To celebrate its release, Neon Goblin have also announced a forthcoming single launch which will take place at Thornbury's Cactus Room on Friday, 28th October. Joined by Ivy Streep, BIFF, and Wizard Tricks, the evening serves as not only a launch for the group's new single, but their newly-launched record label, Nibson Mother Records, which had previously existed as an art, zine, and music collective.

In keeping with the group’s enigmatic approach to their craft, ‘Midnight Sundial’ will receive its official release on Friday, 28th October via an exclusive cassette, here, and a private listening coffin at the launch show. A wider release on streaming platforms will follow in coming weeks.

With their debut single now out into the world, Neon Goblin have plenty up their sleeves moving forward. Armed with an enduring desire to bring unforgettable live shows to the masses regularly, the group are also working on another couple of songs which will likely be released in the near future. In the meantime though, ‘Midnight Sundial’ showcases a group who are only just getting started, and invite you to formally get in on the ground floor.

Neon Goblin’s ‘Midnight Sundial’ is officially released Friday, 28th October.

Tyler Jenke, Music Nerd