RELEASED 2013
LABEL Mali Mali
The debut album “Gather 'round the Gooseclock” by North Shore trio Mali Mali came together over an idyllic two weeks in Cairns last year, with the band’s leader Ben Tolich recording in the home studio of one of his most respected musicians, The Middle East’s Mark Myers. Tolich, who grew up on Auckland’s North Shore, was still somewhat bemused by the turn of events that lead to his arrival in North Queensland, staying and playing with a band which had helped shape his musical vision.
The connection happened when a friend of his passed on a copy of his Brotherly EP to Myers. A month later Myers emailed Tolich out of the blue, full of praise and suggesting the recording. A few months later he was there, laying down an affecting, lush set of lyrical indie rock.
Prior to this landmark event in Mali Mali’s history Ben and the band have been intrinsically linked with the Auckland folk and indie scene collaborating in a live format with Great North, Lydia Cole and Farah Loux at esteemed venues like the Wine Cellar and the Kings Arms. Also during this time Tolich was recruited to play keyboard in the then-unknown Avalanche City, who promptly shot into the stratosphere when the single ‘Love Love Love’ commenced a long run atop the New Zealand charts. Suddenly Tolich’s part-time gig was taking him around the country, and overseas on multiple Australian tours, culminating in a long stint in the US. And while Avalanche City’s sound and approach was quite different to his own, the experience was invaluable in showing Tolich the mechanics of the music industry from the inside, and the steps required to achieve that level of success.
With this experience under his belt… and a slew of content ready to be immortalized via recording Mali Mali can now share the culmination of these years of effort via their stunning debut album “Gather 'round the Gooseclock”
Track Listing:
DISC 1:
Pages
Song for the Sun
All the Shy will Congregate
Bury
Magnetic North
Let Me Be On My Side
Good Arvo
Peace in My Chest
Swims Alone
