 The
Malchicks formed in the late Eighties in the Auckland
guitar scene, and rose to prominence with substantial
radio play for an early recording of the song "Vanilla",
which was eventually released on one of the BFM
Freak The Sheep Compilations.
The bands line-up was:
Matthew Dalzell - Guitar / Vocals
Coralie Martin - Bass / Vocals
Simon Matthews - Guitar
Laura - Drums
Laura was replaced by Jason Ennor
before the band started work on their debut EP Lotus recorded at the Lab Studios
in February of 1992,
recorded with the aid of an Arts Council Grant.
The band was originally supposed to release this EP through Flying Nun records, a requirement of the Arts Council Grant system is that you secure release of your planned recordings before you apply for a grant. The Flying Nun deal fell through and the band eventually released the CD EP though Failsafe, the band fronting the production costs from their grant.
The EP was released in November 1992 and was followed by a national tour.
1993 saw instability in the group's line-up, with drummer Ennor choosing to
concentrate on his other band Love Buzz, leaving the Malchicks to perform live
drummer-less.
Songs from this period were pretty impressive and Rob Mayes, attending one
of the gigs encouraged the band to work toward an album of material. The band
persuaded drummer Ennor to return for the sessions after failing to find a
suitable replacement, and recorded 9 songs at the Lab studios in February 1994,
which resulted in the Mercury album. Bassist Coralie Martin left New Zealand
soon after completion of the album to work in Japan, and Dalzell shifted to
Wellington to take up work in the diplomats office, effectively ceasing band
activities. The album was completed at the end of the year and say posthumous
release in early 1995.
The Mercury album really saw the Malchicks grow as songwriters and featured
some finely constructed and recorded songs. The opening track "Head To
Head" surpassed anything on the Lotus EP, and the single "Milestone" provided
a charming uplifting pop feel, courtesy of Coralie Martin's excellent vocals
and harmonies.
The band received a video grant for "Milestone" and the video had
to be made without the whole band in it due to them being spread across the
globe. Coralie Martin shot footage of herself in Japan and this was edited
together with local footage to complete the video.
Due to the lack of the band to promote the album Mercury received a very limited
release and did not get to reach a wider audience as it perhaps deserved. A
bit of a lost classic but a good testament to what the band could have been. Mercury Promo
The eagerly anticipated follow up to their popular Lotus EP, Mercury is the
brand new album containing 10 new songs from Auckland's The Malchicks. Recorded, mixed and mastered at
the Lab studios in Auckland this album sees The
Malchicks focus their songwriting and sound into
a powerful blend of guitars, rhythm, and space. The band have already received
support in the form of NZ On Air video funding
for the first single "Milestone" featuring
the vocal talents of bassist Coralie Martin. The
video will feature footage of the band members
in New Zealand and Japan. Other key tracks are the mind-blowing "Head
To Head", written just before recording started
on Mercury and hence not yet seen live, and the
student radio favourite "Wonders Never Cease" which
has already had chart success from advance copies
of the LP. The band consist of Matt Dalzell
(Vocals, Guitars), Coralie Martin (Vocals, Bass),
Simon Matthews (Guitars), and Jason Ennor (Drums).
Malchicks - Mercury
Contains the tracks "Head To Head", "Milestone", "Albatross", "Eros", "Wonders
Never Cease", "Weatherman", "Stranded In Lost Time", "Haley", "Fade
Again", "Melting Sands". Also Available -
Malchicks - Lotus EP - November 1992's outstanding debut EP featuring the tracks " This
Too Will Pass", "Full Dream Ahead" , "Lotus Eater", "At
The Edge", and "Drive". Reviewer Comments
" 'This Too Will Pass' is an interesting combination of sweet vocals from
Matt Dalzell and Coralie Martin over some very interesting post-indie pop guitar
sounds. Excellent chorus with tasty slide-sounding guitars" - Lindsay Davis
(Presto Magazine) "Auckland's Malchicks have
stuck to their guns, carving out their own niche
in the local scene, being rigorously non-rockist
purveyors of guitar-based rock. Their sound is
composed of duelling guitar textures, low-key vocals,
drifting between Coralie and Matt, and straight
ahead drumming." - Donna Yuzwalk (Rip It Up
magazine). "Lotus is a five song, beautifully
packaged EP that highlights their surging, rhythmic
rock music, but also reveals a budding melodic
strength. .... lush layered songs that are full
of guitar hooks." - Tony Green - (Christchurch
Press). "Auckland band Malchicks
really whack the nail on the head all five times
with their debut - one that combines the sweet,
wistful, male-female frontline of The Bats with
the big, soft-crush guitars of the Jesus And Mary
Chain, and throws in five impressive songs at the
same time. Nice one." - (More magazine)
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