Gerling

Gerling
Early 2000s
Background information
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Electronic, alternative rock
Years active	1993–2007 (on hiatus)
Labels	Trifekta, Reliant, Festival Mushroom
Associated acts	Jep and Dep The E.L.F.
Members	Darren Cross Paul "Presser" Towner Burke Reid
Past members	Brad Herdson Ben Lee

Gerling is an alternative band from Australia. Formed in 1993, the band is based in Sydney and consists of Darren Cross (guitar, vocals), Presser (real name Paul Towner, drums) and Burke Reid (guitar, vocals).

History

The band formed in 1993 with the line-up of Cross (guitar, vocals), Presser (drums) and Brad Herdson (guitar, vocals). With only two guitars and drums, the group initially focussed on creating experimental guitar pop, with its debut release, Sedatives For Dead Radars, being released in 1995 on Steve Pavlovic's Fellaheen label. This was followed by the mini-album, A Day of Research, in 1996.

Early 1997 saw the departure of guitarist Brad Herdson, who would go onto form Sonic Emotion Explosion with Liz Payne from Spdfgh. He was temporarily replaced by Ben Lee for their show at the Sydney Big Day Out, before a permanent replacement came in the way of Canadian Burke Reid.

February 1998 saw the band emerge from the studio with the 7" single "Bachelor Pad" on the Trifekta label. November of that year, saw the release of the album, Children of Telepathic Experiences, on Festival's in-house indie label Reliant - setup by former Au Go Go Records head, Bruce Milne. The album saw the band for the first time incorporate electronica in their music, as well as the emergence of the electronic offshoot of the band, Gerlog.

The following album, When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun, released in 2001 after delays in the light of the 9-11 attacks in the USA that year, saw the band becoming increasingly electronic, and even having success in the dance scene with single "Dust Me Selecta". The 2003 long player, Bad Blood!!!, marked a return to form as guitars returned to the mix, whilst still retaining an electronic edge.

Their latest album, entitled 4, was released on 20 March 2006. The original recording of this album was carried out in the function room of the Annandale Hotel in Sydney, before being re-recorded and mastered in Los Angeles. The album was produced by Ethan Johns, who also worked on Aha Shake Heartbreak with Kings of Leon.Turning the Screws was the iTunes featured download of the week in February 2006.

The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus following an announcement in 2007.^[1]

Post-hiatus

Cross spent a couple of year writing and performing left of centre dance music as The_E.L.F eventually deciding to turn his back on dance music and turn to Folk and Alt-Country traditional song writing structures and stylings,^[2] releasing and touring under his own name receiving glowing reviews from No Depression.^[3] Also at the same time he started Folk Noir duo Jep and Dep,^[4][5] both acts releasing e.p's and albums independently. Jep and Dep's debut album "Word Got Out' receiving 4 out of 5 stars from the Sydney Morning Herald ^[6] and Rolling Stone Magazine.^[7]

In 2012 Cross also launched music and film production company, Bernstein Studios (Sydney) ^[8] and has co-written songs with people such as Jagwar Ma.^[9]

Towner produces visual art under the moniker, "Dead Galaxy",^[10] and Reid has continued a successful career in music production.^[11]

Discography

Albums

Singles

External links

• https://www.facebook.com/Gerling
• http://www.jepanddep.com
• http://www.dcdarrencross.tumblr.com
• http://bernsteinstudios.wordpress.com/

References

• Ian McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2.