ModularPeople - Plug in city

Plug-In City formed in early 2005 as Melbourne's bloody gangland war unfolded. Their upcoming self-titled EP was recorded by Casey Rice in January 2007, at the Calculators studio in Melbourne and in Casey's bedroom.

As the tracks were being put to tape, a heavy black sky hung over the city creating a scorching hothouse beneath. Bushfires were hammering the bounds of town and it hadn�t rained in months - people were losing their shit on crowded trams and in public spaces. In the studio the sequencer had packed it in and the heat had warped the tones of the guitars. Bass player Jez had gone missing, only to resurface three suburbs away, dishevelled and unable to explain what had happened. Even Casey seemed uneasy, and he is from Detroit.

The emerging recordings reflect the forecast of an apocalypse that threatened at the time, as transposed onto a few slamming post -disco tunes. Like an air-raid siren at an ESG gig, the sound is urgent but rhythmic. Guitars clang and writhe with echoes of the Paradise Garage and post-punk while bold vocal hooks fly out as quickly as they crept in. A 4/4 kick and disco high hats keeps the EP constantly punching forward, while old school AKAI sequences whirr and squelch beneath hypnotic bass tracks. Icy detachment squares off with inviting warmth in the Plug-In City sound.

Since forming the band have headlined shows and supported the likes of Gerling, the Juan McLean, Uffie, The Lost Valentinos, The Temper Trap, Van She, Children Collide and many many more.

The 5 track Plug-In City EP is the perfect introduction to one of the next in the firing line of burning future music that is as instant and pop as it is tomorrow and timeless.

Q + A

Hi my name is Joel but you can call me Joelly, Joe, Jerry Rinse, or Fingers.
My band is called Plug In City and we make music.
I live in Northcote and it's cool because if you get up early on a Sunday morning you can pretend you're in a country town going to buy a pie from the general store.
When I was in school I really wanted to invent my own personal work station that was bricked in and connected to others via a waterslide like tray.
My favourite record ever is Closer by Joy Division.
The first show we ever played was The Rob Roy but the most recent one was Ding Dong.
I would like my music to make you wanna move while you're alone.
You wouldn't know it to look at me but I am absolutely crazy about exploding small spit bubbles in even amounts on either side of my mouth. It's the best because I'm addicted to balancing and evening up things.
One day I would really like to destroy the video evidence of myself in an Italian version of the story of Mary and Joseph entitled Maria & Guisseppe.
The most amazing place I've ever been/seen is Yuendumu. Its nuts because the townsfolk taught me more in two weeks than I’ve learnt in a lifetime.
I'll tell you a story about a funny thing that happened to my band. It's more unfortunate than funny... but 2 out of our 5 members are big fatties. There are things the rest of us take for granted that are a daily struggle for them. Such as going to buy meat and milk (that's all they eat!) or playing in front of a big boozed up crowd, so go easy on them yeh?... Although it is hard not to have a bit of a giggle... They're HUGE!!

Hi my name is Josh but you can call me chieftain.
My band is called Plug In City and we make even Stephen Hawkings dance.
I live in Melbourne and it's cool because you can watch 6 bands any night of the week, then top it off with the best souvlaki south of Thermopylae.
When I was in school I really wanted to be a painter.
My favourite record ever is Odelay.
The first show we ever played was at The Rob Roy on a Sunday arvo 2
years ago, but the most recent one was Ding Dong on a Thursday night.
(Some might call that a slow trajectory).
I would like my music to be played at a noughties retro party in 2030.
You wouldn't know it to look at me but I am absolutely crazy about baclava. It's the best because of the unprecedentedly perfect blend of sweet and savoury; when taken with a coffee it'll send a man into a
juju trance.
One day I would really like to play a game of cricket with John Howard. I think he is possibly the only person in the world who could not get me out.
The most amazing place I've ever been/seen is Buenos Aires. Its nuts because of the combination of the sexiest people on earth, the tastiest cows in the galaxy and supa cheap tango lessons.
I'll tell you a story about a funny thing that happened to my band.
We were riding little midget horses on a tour across Mongolia, when we were accosted by a group of angry postmen, alleging that we had stolen their horses. This was strictly true, but horse-theft being a capital offence in Mongolia we denied the charges and fled. We were cast as fugitive outlaws, and decided the only way to get out of the country was to rock our way out. At the Great Wall of China we made out last stand. Chairman Deng Xiaoping was on a diplomatic tour with then British Prime Minister John Major- so we asked him if we could set up on the Wall. He said "I'm hip to that", and started breakdancing.The Mongol hordes attack with all their might. On the left flank our bass player responded with a volley of bottom E notes. They were temporarily halted as they nodded in time, and at this juncture we started the kick drum and some light highhat work. The ground started to rupture as 100,000 Mongolian warriors stomped their feet. The guitars kicked in and they started hugging and amorising. Chinese soldiers jumped the wall like hippy ninjas and a mass orgy of love ensued. All across the world walls started collapsing, first in Korea, then in Northen Ireland and Berlin. Children of the beat populated the earth as the United Nations was bought down, replaced by internet chat forums where peace treaties were signed off on with "PEAS 4EVA - LOL ;)". We were lauded as heroes and returned to our Melbourne dojo, meditating in spiritual silence for the day when we would be called upon again. Some who lurk in the shadows say that day has arrived...

Pictures

plug-incity.com