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There’s nothing quite like taking home some fresh vinyl and putting it on the turntable for the first time. It’s a total experience. Each month we pull together a collection of reissues, JB-exclusives, or just straight-up classic long players to add to any burgeoning collection. Words Amy Flower

many would consider one of the best debut albums of all-time in Penny Century , which we’ll get to shortly. But first, this collection of all four albums from the Clouds, some that have been unavailable on vinyl for a quarter of a century or more now, and all presented over ten sides of 180-gram, limited-edition coloured vinyl. Not only is RetroActive a perfect way to immerse yourself in the incredible musical legacy of the Clouds - well, most of it, as there were other EP and B-side tracks - but it’s a brilliant collectible piece in and of itself; just look at that stunning foil slipcase!

THE CLOUDS RETROACTIVE LIMITED VINYL BOX SET

CHART Vinyl

thanks to key pair Jodi Phillis (guitar) and Trish Young (bass) - was the Clouds. They really hit the ground running, too. Within six months of forming, they released their attention-grabbing Cloud Factory EP, and followed it up not long after with the Loot EP, which almost cracked the top 20 thanks to its deliciously snarky lead track Souleater . While building an ever-expanding live following thanks to their deft way with catchy pop hooks, they also prepped what

The early 1990s saw a boom in Aussie guitar bands that fused melody and hooks galore for dreamy pop with lashings of rocking out. At the forefront - and adding gorgeous harmonies to this heady mix

1. ARIANA GRANDE Eternal Sunshine 2. TAYLOR SWIFT 1989 (Taylor's Version) 3. TAYLOR SWIFT Lover 4. TAYLOR SWIFT Midnights 5. AC/DC Back in Black 6. TAYLOR SWIFT Folklore 7. TAYLOR SWIFT Evermore 8. TAYLOR SWIFT Speak Now (Taylor's Version) 9. AC/DC Highway to Hell 10. TAYLOR SWIFT Red (Taylor's Version)

THE CLOUDS PENNY CENTURY (1991) BAM! Six months after the Loot EP, this debut LP arrived. Opening with the cracking, slightly sinister pop explosion of Hieronymus , nailing a favourite track proved difficult for most who instantly fell in love with the album. One day it could be the driving Immorta , another the burst of pure pop that was Show Me , or the chilled Too Cool , or the two-minute slice of longing that was later single Anthem , or… TOP TRACK: Hieronymus

THE CLOUDS OCTOPUS (1992) A year to the month later, Octopus delivered eight tracks that further strengthened the Clouds’ hold on the hearts of fans. Say It proved another formidable slice of power-pop deserving of its single status, while quiet-loud opener See You’re Leaving led us gently into other delights, including the mesmerising, pitchbend laden Maryanne , and the rollicking Loud . As a delicious bonus, this vinyl release has added three killer Penny Century -era bonus tracks, in Lucy’s Eyes , Swim , and Tear Me Apart . TOP TRACK: Say It

THE CLOUDS THUNDERHEAD (1993)

THE CLOUDS FUTURA (1996)

Touring relentlessly, the Clouds still came up with a barrage of top new tunes for this third album. Right from opener Kathy , Thunderhead hinted at a more mature sound, before ripping into the distorted ode to carnal desire Bower of Bliss . Fans of poppier moments weren’t shortchanged, with Alchemy’s Dead another highlight, along with the urgent Baby . This one comes to us spread over four sides, with all 11-minutes plus of The Rocket providing an epic sendoff via a burst of crunchy pop, a stormy outbreak, and a

After a trio of EPs, album number four arrived with an explosion of powerful pop from album opener Here Now and the just as upbeat Down from the Sky . Further sweet pop bursts included the enchanting, more acoustic Never Say Forever , while Colourblind highlighted the band’s adorable harmonies. As a sendoff, Bonjour Tristesse gave us one final taste of the dreamier side of the Clouds. TOP TRACK: Never Say Forever

welcome returning refrain. TOP TRACK: Alchemy’s Dead

FAST FACT: All of the band’s original releases were as “Clouds” – sharing an absence of “the” with Pixies. According to Jodi Phillis, “We wanted to change it to ‘the Clouds’ because we had always preferred that and, finally, we had the chance to change the name once we became self-managed.”

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In 2004, Spiderbait were already stalwarts of the Oz indie scene - we’d thrashed around to 1997 hits Calypso and Buy Me a Pony , bah-bah-bah’d along with 2000’s Glokenpop , and flung our necks every which way for the gems in between. This time 20 years ago, the NSW trio decided to blow our heads clean off with their cover of Black Betty - and the band promptly scored their first ever number one. The track is led by inimitable drummer Kram, who has described the hit as a “fluke” - adding that he wanted to include three drum solos but was outvoted by his bandmates.

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Kram and his drumkit-mobile in the clip for 2004's Black Betty

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14 APRIL 2024

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