By all accounts this year’s South X South West festival in Austin, Texas was a variable melting pot of musical talent. Dappled Cities Fly were there and their presence certainly didn’t go unnoticed. Far from being lost amongst the musical madness that reigns supreme at the yearly industry festival, Dappled Cities Fly attracted the attention of LA label Dangerbird Records and, along with two UK bands, Dappled were named Best Names for New Buzz Bands at the festival by Rolling Stone online.

Now, more than two years after the release of their debut album A Smile – and due to relationships born of their SXSW experience - Dappled Cites Fly are preparing to release their sophomore album, Granddance. A record that according to Dappled frontman Dave Rennick reflects the changes that have taken place within the band itself since the release of A Smile.

“We’ve definitely grown up a bit so we’re a bit wiser in our song writing and so on. The songs are more solid as a whole. A Smile was all over the place, jumping back and forth and not really very focused. That came from being young and having three years worth of songs lying around, whereas this one is more consistent.”

Originally the band’s grand plan had been to self-record their second album in Sydney. In fitting with that plan, they’d already laid down all the tracks featured on Granddance last year. Upon hearing the recordings, the band’s new LA label decided it would be beneficial for them to venture to LA for seven weeks of intense recording, and so the Dappled boys (minus new addition and piano player Ned Cooke) found themselves in LA. A scenario that Dave says made the process of recording the album a much more efficient one.

“LA is a city built for making albums, which is handy because if a drum skin breaks you just call and someone is there in like five minutes.”

And although he agreed that seven weeks could be seen to be on the short side of time in which to record an album, Dave also pointed out that because the band was so far from home they essentially spent almost all their waking hours in the studio.

“You have 12 hour days and then you sleep all night. You’re just always in the studio, you never go home, obviously because you are a different city. It was an interesting way to do it, something we have never done before. The intensity of it all was good.”

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Another noteworthy advantage for the band was the input and alternate perspective provided by ex-Grandaddy Jim Fairchild and Dangerbird’s Peter Walker to the production of the album. And as far as having Jacquire King of Kings Of Leon fame mixing the album, Dave looks pretty chuffed when his involvement is mentioned:

“Oh yeah, Jacquire King, he was great! We have all have never had less to complain about mixes than the ones that he did.”

Dave revealed that initially the band were a little worried because the mixes were taking place in King’s home town of Nashville while they themselves were still in LA receiving the mixes via email. Prior experiences with mixes made them a quietly concerned with what the results might be. Not this time though, as Dave cheekily points out, “we tried to find something wrong with them, but it was hard.”

At this point, there isn’t a confirmed release date for Granddance, but if the whispers are true it will be hitting stores some time in November. Prior to that, the band have planned a singles mini-tour that will see Dappled Cities Fly and some as-yet unconfirmed bands visiting venues in the east coast capital cities, “and possibly Adelaide”, says Dave. Or you can catch the band playing the odd gig around Sydney until then. If the rumours are true, expect a set filled with new material, material that by all accounts thus far has been pretty well-received by critics and punters alike.

Story by Anita Stein

Images provided by Speak & Spell