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Moler, previously called Snuff, are an Australian power pop band which formed in 1993 as a three-piece with founding mainstays Helen Cattanach on bass guitar and lead vocals and Julien Poulson on lead guitar. They had a changing line-up of drummers and sometimes worked as a four-piece with a keyboardist. Their sole studio album, Golden Duck, was released in October 1997 via Infectious/Mushroom with Lindsay Gravina producing. They also issued eight extended plays (EPs) before they disbanded in 2001.
Moler | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Snuff |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1993–2001, 2018–present |
| Labels | Infectious/Mushroom/Sony |
| Spinoff of |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, Golden Duck was nominated for the Best Rock Album. In November they opened the Mushroom 25 Live concert. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[they] built-up a buzz around the [local] independent scene with [their] mix of noisy guitar fuzz, hard-driving beats, strident pop melodies and Cattanach's alternately sweet'n'purring and aggressive vocals."[1] Moler reformed in 2018, released another EP and performed periodically thereafter.
1993-1995: Snuff
Moler were formed as an indie guitar pop trio, Snuff, in Melbourne in 1993 by Helen Cattanach on bass guitar and lead vocals, David Peacock on drums and Julien Poulson on lead guitar.[1] Cattanach (ex-T-Bones) and Poulson (ex-Snappers) had been members of the Stiff Kittens, which gigged in Melbourne before relocating to Hong Kong where the pair formed Kick House.[1] The pair reformed the Stiff Kittens in London in 1992 with Rob "Viva" Lastdrager on drums and vocals (ex-Snappers, T-Bones) and Richard Webb on lead vocals and guitar (ex-Strange Fruit, T-Bones).[1] That group issued an extended play, As You Walk, via London-based label, Psychic Records.[1] The members returned to Australia. In 1994, Snuff released a five-track EP, Driven,[1] via Fat Buddha Records with Lindsay Gravina producing.
1995-2001: Moler
Early in 1996, Snuff changed their name to Moler, with the same line-up and were signed to Infectious/Mushroom.[1] Moler's next EP with five tracks, On Special, was released in June 1996, Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, found "The lead-off track, 'Shopping Trolley', displayed plenty of appeal."[1] Another five-track EP, Coaster, followed in September.[1] The group toured with fellow local bands, Snout and Magic Dirt, and supported gigs by international artists, Weezer, Everclear, Ash and Garageland.[1] Early in 1997 Peacock was replaced on drums by Steve Boyle.[1] Over their history they had a succession of drummers.[2][3]
Their fourth EP, Infatuation, with four tracks was issued in May 1997.[1] Its title track was placed on high rotation by national youth radio station, Triple J.[1] Marta of Tharunka observed, "Boyle has added a funkier beat to [their] already catchy suburban sound, completing the Australian pop-punk trio with flawless precision."[4] Moler followed with their debut album, Golden Duck in October via Infectious/Mushroom/Sony with Gravina producing.[1][5][6] Music journalist Jeff Jenkins rated it as "very good" and explained, "[it's] a mass of contradictions: part power-pop, part dreamy and moody. Part slacker, part ambition."[6]
After the album appeared, Boyle was replaced by Neil Lynch on drums and they added Matt Heydon (ex-Nick Barker and the Reptiles) on keyboards.[1] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, Golden Duck was nominated for the Best Rock Album.[7][8] In November they opened the Mushroom 25 Live concert.[9] They found a new drummer in early 2000, with Mike Glenn (ex-Hoss) joining, in time for a tour of the United States in March.[1] In 2001 the group released their eighth EP, Red & White Stripes, before disbanding in that year.
2001–2018: Afterwards
The Stiff Kittens issued a compilation album, Greatest Trips, in 2007 via Killer Music with Cattanah and Poulson joined by various line-ups, Greg Baxter on bass guitar and vocals; Lastdrager on drums and vocals; James McHugh on bass guitar and vocals; and Webb on vocals and guitar.[10]
2018-present: Reformation
Moler reformed for a show on 23 November 2018 at The Curtin Hotel, Carlton, Melbourne to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their formation.[11][12] Cattanach and Poulson were joined by Boyle and Peacock, who took turns drumming.[11] They released a digital three-track EP, Work in October 2019. Moler continue to perform periodically.
Albums
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Driven (by Snuff) |
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| On Special | |
| Coaster |
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| Infatuation |
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| Invite Me To Your Party |
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| Red Light Disco | |
| Delicious |
|
| Red & White Stripes |
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| Work |
|
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Golden Duck | Best Rock Album | Nominated | [23] |
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