Everything That Flies The Flight of the Swann

Rip It Up, Issue 106, 1 May 1986, Page 10

Everything That Flies The Flight of the Swann

The release midway through last year of an arresting little song called ‘Bleeding Hearts’ marked the debut of Auckland band Everything that Flies. In the words of vocalist Dianne Swann the song enjoyed an ‘‘almost cultish” popularity; it got attention for its 60s-style glitz video and completely sold out its pressing, despite failing to chart. Respectable indeed for an independentlyproduced first effort. fEa

Remarkably well-known for what amounts to one song and little else, ETF's low profile is deliberate. The softly-spoken Swann says the band dislikes the hype and are well aware of the traps it can fead to. “Too many bands burst onto the scene and can't follow through past their first success.” The Kiwi music scene being what itis, four of ETF's five members hold down regular jobs, Swann included, which naturally means a major reduction in the amount of live work the band'is prepared to undertake. However, ready for release is a brand new single, ‘As the Sun Goes Down; recorded at Auckland’s Mandrill studios, the first product of the band’s current involvement with Reaction records. “A listen to the finished mix reveals a much more commercial gloss to the new material — no doubt Glyn Tucker

Jr's influence having more than a little bearing on its mainstream sound.

However, Swann denies it is a “radio shot”. But surely airplay is what every under-exposed band with commercial ambitions yearns for? “We didn't sit down and consciously write a single for the radio. We had the song already, and the way it’s turned out is because of the bigger studio and the people involved. ‘Bleeding Hearts' was all done ourselves, production-wise, and we were pleased with it. The new record is pappier, but | still like it.” Feeling comfortable in live situations is a department that Swann says Everything the Flies must develop. “We're inexperienced, but | don't think we're bad. | really like being a front-person, but | find it hard to just get up there and perform.”

Apparently it's not made any easier by the sexist attitudes of some male gig-goers who have difficulty grasping the fact that Swann is there to sing. “l look upon it as a challenge. Some men are sceptical about seeing a woman on stage, but that's their problem. Playing live is my favourite and I've really enjoyed all the playing that we've done.”

A three-week national tour is planned to coincide with the release of ‘As the Sun Goes Down’ (the 12" version will feature a rerelease of ‘Bleeding Hearts' on the flip) and Dianne Swann seems excited at the prospect, despite bemoaning some previous low turnouts. Everything that Flies' first gig was at last years Rock On New Zealand live TV broadcast), since then, response to their live show has been encouraging. “We've been really lucky, had good reactions ... but, uhmm ... the doortakes could have been better!”

Talk of albums, band commitment and loyalty, wanting to act in movies and shifting to Australia give the impression of a young woman who's looking a long way ahead, who knows what she wants and what shed like to be doing — and it ain't computer operating. It's just that low profile that's a bit of a worry.

Brendon Fitzgerald