Physical Format - Cassettes are still available for purchase via Valley Heat Records

valleyheatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/longevity-i-ep



Ipswich has often been overlooked as a creative melting pot, yet it is here in this unlikely town just west of Brisbane where a strong burst of energy is developing.

Emerging from the DIY Ipswich Underground is Johnny Cyrus and His Band of Ghosts.. The band was born in mid-2016 when fellow Undergrounders introduced Zac Mitchell and Tonestar Le Ru. Both guitarists, Mitchell was keen to start his own project after years of work in other bands, and Le Ru was returning from a decade-long hiatus. Johnny Cyrus premiered as a guitar duo at a Nosferatu film performance in August 2016. By the night’s end Josh Dawson had been enlisted on drums with Nathan Goodger joining on bass at the end of 2017, moving the band into its 2018 phase with a new depth of sound.

The band entered Goodger's studio with the intention of allowing an organic process to flourish with an emphasis on the recording being local and independent. Self-funded, self-recorded and driven by a strong support for promoting a homespun collective, Longevity Iseeks to embody a long-range vision for a multi-series release that encourages a connection to local place and time. There is a strong emphasis on acknowledging Country and listener’s own orientation when the album is played.

The culmination of wide-ranging musical interests between members meets with a like-minded grounding in capturing their own interpretation of a rising Dark Australiana movement. This ranges from effects-drenched sound deconstructions and layered melodic drones to undercurrents of improvised western wanderings. The product has been described as an immersive sound, dousing the listener in withering walls of noise, building to heightened intensity and rousing finales.

Featuring the dual guitar soundscapes of Mitchell’s starkly clean repetitions combined with the richly textured layers of Le Ru, Goodger weaves a melodic bass line that is brought together by the continually rolling drums of Dawson. The outcome is a powerful musical experience that echoes of shoegaze and Sub-Pop heavyweights Earth – Mitchell’s founding inspiration when forming the band.

Partnering with Valley Heat Records for the release, Longevity I will be available as a run of 20 hand-numbered cassettes as well as across all popular digital platforms.