Boorloo/Perth-based indie-folk band Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks have just unveiled their alt-country debut album, ‘the nighttime, the wind, the crocodile’ – produced by lead vocalist Jack Davies and Broderick Madden Scott.
‘the nighttime, the wind, the crocodile’ is an inviting 11-track amalgamation of nostalgia, mellifluous vocal layers and vintage-filtered instruments. Creating an artful balance between tradition and modern folk, the collection gracefully blankets each track in a sepia-toned haze, seamlessly intertwining threads of the past with the present.
Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks talk about the inspiration behind ‘the nighttime, the wind, the crocodile’: “‘the nighttime, the wind, the crocodile’ is set in a nighttime scene. A crocodile descends from the sky like an apocalyptic cartoon, hungry for guts. The listener sits below, hands over their ears and their eyes closed. The trees sways, the moon watches. I think the idea of the album is to open your eyes in that scene and witness the crocodile. To remember that morning is around the corner, and darkness around the next. To attempt to keep looking long enough to see the colours shift, the crocodile disappear, reappear; and find beauty in the never-ending psychedelic whirl of fears and changes that we are plunged into as thinking, feeling human beings.”
Focus track My Hard Times and The Colours opens the record, resonating with sentiment and vivid imagery, adorned with introspective reflections and compelling storytelling. Singles Clothes Peg and This Highway Is Stained follow, with acoustic strumming and gentle instrumentation providing a kaleidoscope of sonic hues.
Marking the centre of the compilation, Orange Peel weaves rapid guitar arpeggios and lush strings, incorporating lyrical palettes of memory and ambience. In contrast, You’ve Got The Fear introduces a rich rhythm arrangement, laying the foundation for whispered vocal tales that ebb and flow.
Everybody’s Looking and Thinking About The Blues further amplify the sonic diversity with retro-infused guitar and strings, evoking a sense of old-timey musicality that crescendos to a captivating climax before Pleased To Meet You follows, providing an intimate sense of comfort.
Closing the release, You Deserve To Be Loved and Little Dog stand as poignant echoes to the project, painting amber hues that leave a lingering resonance of heartfelt emotion and reflective grace.
Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks were selected as triple j Unearthed‘s Feature Artist, as well as their music video for the single Half Frozen Beer being featured as rage‘s ‘Wild One‘. The band has also won the WAM Award for ‘Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Act’ for four consecutive years since 2020. Their previous releases have garnered widespread recognition on Spotify, Apple Music, triple j and triple j Unearthed, along with support in the blogosphere from NME, Pilerats, The AU Review, LivewireAU, MILKY and numerous Australian community radio stations.
JACK DAVIES AND THE BUSH CHOOKS
‘THE NIGHTTIME, THE WIND, THE CROCODILE’ ALBUM TOUR
Tickets available HERE
TUE 6 FEB | KING STREET, MULUBINBA / NEWCASTLE NSW*
WED 7 FEB | LA LA LA’S, DHARAWAL / WOLLONGONG NSW*
THU 8 FEB | THE GREAT CLUB, EORA / SYDNEY NSW
FRI 9 FEB | THE BRIGHTSIDE, MEANJIN / BRISBANE QLD
SAT 10 FEB | HOWLER, NAARM / MELBOURNE VIC
SUN 11 FEB | LION ARTS FACTORY, TARNDANYA / ADELAIDE SA
SAT 24 FEB | THE RIVER, WOODITCHUP / MARGARET RIVER WA*
FRI 1 MAR – SUN 3 MAR | NANNUP MUSIC FESTIVAL, NANNUP WA
Solo shows*
With thanks to Good Intent
