The Clouds (Australian band)

The Clouds (also called just Clouds) are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis (guitar and vocals) and Patricia "Trish" Young (bass and vocals). The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists. The Clouds' music is distinguished by rapid and unusual chord changes, creative bass guitar, and Phillis and Young's vocal harmonies. They released 4 albums and numerous EPs and singles before breaking up in 1997. They reformed in 2011.

The Clouds
The Clouds performing at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne in 2014
Background information
Also known asClouds
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresIndie rock
Years active1989–1997
2011–present
LabelsRed Eye Records
Elektra Records (USA)
Associated actsThe Girls From The Clouds, The Dearhunters, Roger Loves Betty
Websitewww.thecloudsofficial.com
MembersJodi Phillis (guitar, vocals)
Trish Young (bass, vocals)
David Easton (guitar)
Raphael Whittingham (drums)
Past membersRobert Phelan (guitar)
Stuart Eadie (drums)
Andrew Byrnes (drums)
Ben Nightingale (guitar)

History

1989-1993: Penny Century, Octopus & Thunderhead

The Clouds were one of Australia's most promising acts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with other up-and-comers like Ratcat, Falling Joys, Tall Tales and True and The Hummingbirds.

The Clouds secured a recording contract with Red Eye Records in 1990 and began recording their debut EP in May which was released in October, titled Cloud Factory. The following April they released the EP Loot, featuring the song "Soul Eater" was released. Loot peaked at number 22 on the ARIA chart.[1]

In mid 1991, recording for the Penny Century album. The album was released in October 1991, and peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Chart.[1] It spawned the singles "Hieronymous" and "Anthem".

In September 1992, the band released "Say It", the lead single from their second studio album Octopus which was released in October 1992. Octopus peaked at number 24 on the ARIA charts.[1]

In June 1993 recording began on the third album, Thunderhead. The lead single "Bower of Bliss" was released in August. Thunderhead was released in October, and peaked at 30 on the ARIA chart.[1] The second single, "Alchemy's Dead" was released in December.

1994-1999: Futura and break up

In 1994 Clouds took a six-month tour to Europe and the United States, securing an American record deal with Elektra Records. Whilst in London the EP Beetroot was recorded. It was released in Australia in October 1994 which peaked at umber 65 on the ARIA chart.

Following the signing with Elektra Records Thunderhead was released in the United States in March 1995 along with numerous promotional singles. However, shortly after these releases The Clouds were dumped by Elektra. Despite this setback, recording of new songs continued and two single were released in 1995 "Aquamarine" and "Panel Van" in August and November 1995, respectively.

In May 1996, Red Eye Records released a re-released Penny Century which include a limited edition bonus CD of early songs called Pre-Raphaelite. This helped the album to reach gold accreditation in Australia (35,000 copies sold).

In November 1996, the band released their fourth studio album Futura which peaked at 50 on the ARIA chart.[1] The band eventually disbanded in 1997.

In 1999, the compilation album Favourites was released.

2000-present: reformation

Although Phillis was living in a small town in Tasmania and Young was living in London, the two occasionally reunited over the years to perform a few shows. Phillis went on to form The Dearhunters and Roger Loves Betty, and also records and performs as a solo artist.

In late 2005, Phillis and Young resurfaced under the name The Girls from the Clouds, releasing a 5-track EP titled Lalalala. In April 2007, however, the duo announced they had disbanded again.[2]

On 14 June 2011, it was announced that The Clouds would reunite to tour with Jesus Jones and The Wonder Stuff in August 2011.[3] In late 2011 and early 2012, the band toured Australia in The Clouds Reunion Tour.[4]

In January 2017, The Clouds announced the release of a new song, "Mabel's Bookshop" from an EP Zaffre to be released in February, their first new music in 20 years.[5]

They also announced they would be touring at the 2017 The Day on the Green with Blondie and Cyndi Lauper.

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[1]
Penny Century
  • Released: October 1991
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (511398-2)
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
 23
Octopus
  • Released: October 1992
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (517089-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 24
Thunderhead
  • Released: October 1993
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (521148-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 30
Futura
  • Released: November 1996
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (527983-2)
  • Formats: CD
 50

Compilation albums
List of compilation albums, with selected detials
Title Album details
Collage
  • Released: 1996 (US Only)
  • Label: Altered Records (ALT 3114-2)
  • Formats: CD
  • Notes: Compilation of album and EP tracks and demos recorded between 1991 and 1995.
Favourites
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Universal (547911-2)
  • Formats: 2x CD

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Extended play details Peak chart positions
AUS
[1]
Cloud Factory
  • Released: October 1990
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (877772-2)
  • Formats: CD, 2x7" LP, Cassette
 -
Loot
  • Released: April 1991
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (879855-2)
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
 22
Beetroot
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Red Eye Records, Polydor (853997-2)
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
 65
Zaffre
  • Released: February 2017[6]
  • Label: The Clouds
  • Formats: DD, streaming
 -

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[1]
"Hieronymus"/"Lucy's Eyes" 1991 45 Penny Century
"Anthem" 1992 47
"Say It" 56 Octopus
"Bower of Bliss" 1993 69 Thunderhead
"Alchemy's Dead" -
"Aquamarine" 1995 72 non album singles
"Panel Van" -
"Here Now"/"Down from the Sky" 1996 - Futura
"Never Say Forever" 1997 -
"Mabel's Bookshop"[5] 2017 - Zaffre
"Beautiful Nothingness"[7] - non album single
"Check Us Out"[8] 2019 - non album single

Members
  • Jodi Phillis – guitar, vocals (1989–1997, 2005–2006,[lower-alpha 1] 2011–present)
  • Trish Young – bass, vocals (1989–1997, 2005–2006,[lower-alpha 1] 2011–present)
  • Robert Phelan – guitar (1989–1990)
  • Stuart Eadie – drums (1989–1991)
  • Dave Easton – guitar (1990–1996, 2011–present)
  • Andrew Byrne – drums (1992)
  • Raphael Whittingham – drums (1993–1997, 2011–present)
  • Ben Nightingale – guitar (1996–1997)

Timeline

Notes
  1. As The Girls From The Clouds
gollark: I am *checking*.
gollark: Hmm, that *does* sound like something it might have.
gollark: I was also thinking of adding checksums, but that MAY be pointless.
gollark: I'll just not do that.
gollark: Hmm, fair point, you would benefit from a next header thing more but I can't actually do that.

References
  1. Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  2. "The Girls From The Clouds News". The Girls from the Clouds. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  3. "Jesus Jones the Wonder Stuff and The Clouds Tour". Faster Louder. June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. "The Clouds Announce Reunion Tour". The AU Review. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. "The Clouds Release a New Song After 20 Years". The Dwarf. January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. "Zaffre (EP)". Apple Music. February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. "Beautiful Nothingness - single". Apple Music. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. "Check Us Out - single". Apple Music. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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