Founded in 2012, Magnus‘ (brainchild of Arne Heeres) mantra was to bring their urgency, fearlessness in experimentation and healthy disregard for genres to Australian music. Since then they’ve released their critically acclaimed debut album in 2016, cut their teeth on dirty stages across the country and assembled an all star team for their sophomore album titled Detachment (out April 24th) and have just released the title track to cure the isolation blues.
Written about being “Stuck in a place you don’t know how to get out of” the single “Detachment” is a droning, distorted drive through a deserted town with the hood down. Created haphazardly, the groove was recorded by Arne after a Christmas purchase of a Fender Precision bass. Reminiscent of a preacher, Arne’s vocals jut in through the stabbing guitars. The lyrics were adapted from some writings as Arne describes, “I opened my book of poetry & lyrics, remembering a few separate bits I wrote about a guy I knew, about his bleak life, the town way out west where everything has been going nowhere forever, the sadness of observing the amazing skill he had but didn’t know how to motivate himself to do use it to get out, instead opting for a lifeless detachment.”
Five time ARIA award winning producer/engineer Paul McKercher, COG’s Lucius Borich, Bob Clearmountin (Grammy winner, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, The Preatures) and Brian Gardner (Grammy Winner & Queens of The Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf) all worked on Magnus’s new album, which has seen three singles already released “Saints, Sedated”, “Humbugger” and “Forever & Never”.
“The album title works on two different levels; in general my gripe with there being a bigger level of detachment between people as well as between them and their environment. I often long for living in a long gone simpler time with less noise surrounding all of us. Something that doesn’t pretend to be polished. I wanted to reflect that in the music but also in the album art. Both music and album art were recorded on old media; tape and film. On a more personal level, Detachment stands for the breaking away from the influences that shaped me growing up. The people, their expectations of what your life should be, how you should behave to fit in with whatever group you should be part of. I can’t say that I’ve ever felt like I’ve fit in with any one or any group, and also haven’t been very good at hiding that.” – Arne Heeres
Live Magnus, derived from “Magn-hus” and translating as “powerhouse” in Old Norse, are defined by their name. Set up as a powerful four-piece which gives maximum impact and at times space for each instrument to shine separately. As a testament to their intense live performances, a casual open mic at Melbourne’s famous Cherry Bar landed them a residency and nomination for Cherry Bar’s best live band of the year award by invite of none other than owner James Young himself.
The album Detachment is set to be released on April 24th.
