Single Review: Collarbones – Missing

Collarbones return with their brand new single ‘Missing’. The track is taken from their forthcoming second album, due for release in 2012 on Two Bright Lakes / Remote Control.

Catch Collarbones launch ‘Missing’ at The Gasometer in Melbourne on Saturday 16 June, The Gate at Pablos in Epping (NSW) on Saturday 23 June (all ages), Brass Monkey in Cronulla on Sunday 24 June, Terrace Bar in Newcastle on Thursday 28 June, Alhambra Lounge in Brisbaneon Friday 29 June, and FBi Social in Sydney on Thursday 5 July.

‘Missing’ is a sinister track that aches with desperation. The ghostly drone of synthesisers on the track cushion Marcus Whales’ heartbreaking vocals, sung with refrain and yearning, throughout the track (“I’m missing you … I’ll be so close”). An almost hollow drum machine is scattered throughout the chorus, ticking like a clock, marking time. On a bed of electronic screws and groans, Marcus’ voice rises above to its crescendo (“I’ll be so close I could almost kill you”). Here Collarbones delve into something dark and sinister. Something unresolved. Closeness can be comforting, but it can also be dangerous.

The release of Collarbones’ debut album Iconography in 2011 was a tale of two cities. Adelaide’s Travis Cook and Sydney’s Marcus Whale met on the Internet in 2007. Over the course of several years, and divided by 1150km, they pieced together a sound informed by geographical distance but basking in the warmth of digital proximity: the electronic hum, the LCD glow, the metallic sheen of laptop culture formed the unlikely basis for a sound that embraced its digital origins. This is music made with the Internet as much as music made with drum machines, vocoders and carefully distorted instrumentation.

Since the release of Iconography the duo has spent more time (physically) together than usual, supporting and playing with a slew of international and local outfits. Collarbones explored their sound and the dynamics of physical closeness over the past year, supporting Neon Indian andDaedelus and touring with label mates Oscar + Martin as well as Ghoul, Donny Benet and The Paper Scissors. The duo were handpicked to play Triple J Unearthed’s Parklife slot, the inaugural Sugar Mountain Festival in Melbourne, and FBi’s Sydney Sounds Like, all tightly curated affairs. Their live shows and the release of Iconography has seen them nominated for a Sydney Music, Art & Culture (SMAC) Award as well as an AIR Award (Australian Independent Record Labels Association).

COLLARBONES
‘Missing’ single launch tour

SAT 16 JUNE – THE GASOMETER, MELBOURNE VIC w/ Bon Chat, Bon Rat and Namine
SAT 23 JUNE – THE GATE AT PABLOS, EPPING NSW (ALL AGES) w/ Swimwear and special guests
SUN 24 JUNE – BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA NSW w/ Bon Chat, Bon Rat and Letters to Lions
THURS 28 JUNE – TERRACE BAR, NEWCASTLE NSW w/ Bon Chat, Bon Rat and special guests
FRI 29 JUNE – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE QLD w/ Bon Chat, Bon Rat and special guests
THURS 5 JULY – FBI SOCIAL, SYDNEY NSW w/ Bon Chat, Bon Rat and Mr Maps

Check out Collarbones ‘Missing’ below: