Brooklyn favourites The Universal Thump (New York based Greta Gertler -- vocals/piano and Adam D Gold -- drums/vocals) are excited to announce the release of their brand new double album in Sydney this August.
Originally from Sydney and now based in New York, celebrated singer- songwriter Greta Gertler founded the mid -90s chamber pop group, Peccadillo and wrote The Whitlams'hit: "Blow up the Pokies". Greta's original version of "Blow up the Pokies"will appear on The Universal Thump album, entitled "Dwell". The ballad features guest backing vocals from Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses) and Gertler's Peccadillo bandmates Lara Goodridge & Joy Howard, plus an orchestral string arrangement by Adam D Gold.
Accomplished musicians Gertler and Gold have toured the US and Europe extensively, opening for artists such as Joan As Policewoman and Martha Wainwright. They recently produced an acclaimed performance recording of George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass' in New York with their "whale- of - sound" 18 piece band at The Bell House in Brooklyn. The show and recording featured special guest vocalists Missy Higgins, Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Rick Moody ('The Ice Storm').
Their music is a delicious hybrid of pop and symphonic pleasure mixing it up with instumentals featuring strings and electronic magic that twist and snake through a city of clouds as they take you on a journey you won't want to leave. The musical couple live up to their name " The Universal Thump" with song intro's sounding like a modern take on traditional music of the world, Asian flavours in the single " Flora " and operatic Frenchy traditional for the first few bars of "Opening Night". You can't help but need to keep listening, particularly as Gertlers vocal grabs hold of that part of your brain that wants to be soothed and engaged simultaneously.
Australian audiences will be treated to this extraordinary album debut for two release shows only:
Part One: Chapters 1 & 2 Wednesday, August 29 Blue Beat, Double Bay http://www.BlueBeat.com.au
Part Two: Chapters Three & Four Saturday, September 1 Camelot Lounge, Marrickville http://www.CamelotLounge.com
The song "Opening Night" recently featured as song of the day on NPR. Check it out here;
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/02/133433143/the-universal-thump-peculiar-exciting-alchemy
