This is THE WRECKERY album that never was but always should have been! At the crest of the Australian post punk era, Melbourne’s The Wreckery played atmospheric rock with film-noir swagger and renegade attitude, carving a loyal following. Critics quickly positioned them as successors to a darkly exciting avant-garde Melbourne tradition previously marked out by The Birthday Party. 

Early recordings for Rampant Records (1985-87) showcased The Wreckery’s fusion of swamp blues and noir-jazz, delivered with a deadpan, reckless, and romantic cut (check out the ‘Ruling Energy’ video!). Sadly, creative tensions saw the band implode as they were reaching their peak with the Laying Down Law album (Citadel Records, 1988). Yet another great and dangerous rock ‘n’ roll band who became a danger to themselves. 
 
35 years later, the new album ‘Fake is Forever’ delivers on unfulfilled promises, revealing The Wreckery on fire like never before. The DNA is still there – the signature sound of Charles Todd’s baritone sax; the scathing lyrics and vocals of Hugo Race; the distorted angular guitars of Clayton-Jones; the eclecticism of multi-instrumentalist Robin Casinader; Nick Barker and former Plays With Marionettes drummer Frank Trobbiani fuse as the solid engine room of this iconic group. All the original edge with a new maturity and control. 

The songs still emanate from the deep, dark end of the musical gene pool. The sarcastic, provocative lyrics of ‘Smack Me Down’, ‘Get A Name’ and ‘Young People’; the musical fury of ‘Stole it from Alpha Ray’ and ‘Evil Eye’, the romantic melodrama of ‘The Devil in You’ and ‘Whistle Clean’, the deranged rock of ‘Dragonfly’ and ‘Garbage Juice’ – The Wreckery’s range is as vast as it is ferocious. Whereas the band in the 80’s were brash and angry this record finds the band conjuring quiet menace, sensual, intoxicating. 
 
The Wreckery’s new album ‘Fake is Forever’ is released through Golden Robot Records on 3rd November. The band will be touring in late 2023 through 2024. 

Pre-order/pre-save here: https://orcd.co/fake-is-forever

FAKE IS FOREVER 
1 Smack Me Down 
2 The Devil In You 
3 Stole It From Alpha Ray
4 Whistle Clean
5 Get A Name 
6 Evil Eye 
7 Garbage Juice 
8 Dragonfly 
9 Young People 

The Wreckery: 
Hugo Race – vocals, guitars, keys 
Ed Clayton-Jones – guitar, piano, synth, Mellotron, slide guitar, Solina string synth 
Nick Barker – bass guitar and backing vocals 
Charles Todd – the saxophones Robin Casinader – Hammond organ, mellotron, mandolin and violin 
Frank Trobbiani – the drums and percussion 
 
Engineered by Andrew ‘Idge’ Hehir at Soundpark studios, Melbourne Australia, Feb. 2023. Mixed by Hugo Race at Helixed. Mastered by Toto Strapporava at 3Faders Studio, Buenos Aires, Argentina Sleeve art and design by Frank Trobbiani at Hobo Deluxe

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Emerging from the post-punk era of the 1980s, the iconic band THE WRECKERY is making a formidable comeback, poised to rekindle the Australian music scene with their latest single, “Smack Me Down,” hitting the airwaves on September 29th. This track serves as a potent forerunner of their upcoming album, ‘Fake is Forever,’ slated for release via Golden Robot Records on November 3rd. 

Crafted by the songwriting talents of Hugo Race and Alannah Hill, “Smack Me Down” stands as the album’s bold and unapologetic opener, delving into the ironic aftermath of youthful indiscretions. The song is delivered with an explosive energy that epitomizes The Wreckery’s distinctive musical style, marking their return with fervor.

Stream/buy “Smack Me Down” HERE

THE WRECKERY are a Melbourne based formed by Hugo Race and Ed Clayton-Jones on their return home from tenure with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds in Europe and the U.S.A. Robin Casinader joined on drums having played with Hugo and Ed in the art punk outfit Plays with Marionettes. Nick Barker and Charles Todd finished the line up on bass and sax respectively.

THE WRECKERY were a big hit on the live circuit and had a large and loyal following. They were infamous at a time when heroin chic was de rigueur and Burroughs and Bukowski topped our reading lists. THE WRECKERY became the poster boys for the dark side, tapping the seam of the old delta blues and the Flannery O’Connoresque imagery of a toxic, dilapidated world.

Having just completed what would be their last and best album “Laying Down Law”, the wheels fell off and the band split ending several years of staggering wild live shows and amazing songwriting.

Nick Barker went on to a successful solo career, and Race, Clayton-Jones, and Casinader remained active in music with a variety of projects. In 2008, Memorandum Records issued Past Imperfect, a two-CD anthology drawn from the group’s catalog, and The Wreckery reunited to play a handful of shows in support.

https://www.facebook.com/layingdownlaw
https://www.instagram.com/hugoraceofficial/
https://orcd.co/the-wreckery-smack-me-down