Sodastream (band)

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Sodastream

Karl Smith (left) and Pete Cohen

Background information

Origin Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Genres Rock, folk rock, pop

Years active 1996–2007, 2013–present

Labels Aquamudvuv, Trifekta, Tugboat, Drive-In, Fortuna

Pop!, Hausmusik, Microindie

Associated acts Lee Memorial, Luluc, Khancoban, Karl Smith,

Emma Heeney, Thermos Cardy

Website sodastream.net.au
 Members Pete Cohen

Karl Smith

Past members Adam Johnson

Sodastream are an Australian folk rock duo consisting of Karl Smith on lead vocals and acoustic
guitar; and Pete Cohen on double bass, bass guitar, piano and backing vocals; which formed in
1996 in Perth. They have toured Australia, United States, Europe and Japan and had national
rotation on radio network, Triple J. Sodastream issued four studio albums, Looks Like a Russian (22
May 2000), The Hill for Company (3 September 2001), A Minor Revival (4 August 2003)
and Reservations (22 May 2006) before disbanding in 2007. In 2011 the pair were both members of
Lee Memorial and in 2013 reformed Sodastream.

Contents

 1History
 2Discography
o 2.1Studio albums
o 2.2Live albums
o 2.3Extended plays
o 2.4Singles
 3References
 4External links

History[edit]
Sodastream began in Perth in 1996,[1][2] as a pop music group consisting of Peter Ronald Cohen on
double bass, bass guitar, piano and backing vocals; Adam Johnson on drums and percussion; and
Karl Stephen Smith (ex-Thermos Cardy) on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.[3][4][5] In 1997 they
recorded and released their debut extended play, Enjoy, on Aquamudvuv Records.[6] The seven-
track EP was produced by Anthony Frisina and Steve Elkin guested on piano for one
track.[6] Johnson left after the EP appeared but Cohen and Smith continued as a folk rock duo –
without a regular drummer. Sarah Corbett of Come with a Smiledescribed their work as "poignant
words, elegant melodies, wavering voices, melancholy tones and understated instrumentation".[3]
In late 1998 the pair relocated to Melbourne,[1] where they recorded and released their second
EP, Practical Footwear.[4][7] This seven-track EP was co-produced by Jason Brown and Sodastream,
drums were supplied by Dave Bower.[7] The band signed with a range of independent labels
including Australia's Trifekta Records, United Kingdom's Tugboat Records and United States' Drive-
In Records. The US version of Practical Footwear was trimmed back to six tracks, which Allmusic's
Mike DaRonco described as "dreary but mature folk-pop anthems" with "[n]othing uplifting or
outgoing, but Sodastream's acoustic arrangements are pleasantly relaxing".[8]
During March and April 1999 Sodastream undertook their first tour of Europe including shows
in Netherlands and England.[9][10] In October that year they returned to Netherlands to perform at
the Crossing Border Festival.[10] On 22 May 2000 Sodastream released their first album, Looks Like a
Russian, on Trifekta with Gavin Tempany, Laurie Sinagra and the group co-producing; drums were
supplied by Marty Brown (later in Art of Fighting).[11] Corbett at Oz Music Project's website praised
Smith's "captivating vocals ... [d]elicate, hushed and high pitched. Shy, sad and lonely" while Cohen
provided a "calming atmosphere with spine-chilling strums from his double bass and haunting
backing vocals".[12] They toured Europe again and had their first shows in Australia outside Perth or
Melbourne. Their material was broadcast by national radio network, Triple J.[13]
On 3 September 2001 Sodastream released their second album, The Hill for Company, produced
again by Sinagra, Tempany and the duo; with drums by Brown.[14] Oz Music Project's Victoria
Hannan noted "the aching and longing of a voice can make your heart skip a beat, the way a simple
melody intertwined with the melancholy of a throbbing double bass accompaniment can make you
swoon". Australian music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, explained why The Hill for Company was his
Album of the Week, "Karl Smith and his intimate vocals and acoustic guitar, and Pete Cohen with his
supportive double bass. On record they add gentle colours and guest musicians – viola, trumpet and
trombone, even drums – adding sophistication to what sounds so simple and raw, but without
breaking the mood, or overshadowing the central all-important atmosphere. Slowly as you listen,
entranced by the mood, the songs begin to shine through".[15] The group undertook two more
Australian tours and another tour of Europe.
Further European tours followed in both 2002 and 2003 including a live performance on Italian MTV,
two national tours of Australia and then the band's first tour of Japan. On 4 August 2003 their third
album, A Minor Revival, was issued.[4][16] It was produced by Cohen and Smith with Brown (also on
drums) and James Walker (aka Machine Translations) (also on lead guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
and viola).[17] Johnny Loftus of Allmusic found that the band "continues to fall comfortably in line with
the indie twee establishment, it's also delivered another strong set of songs, this time around
informed with plenty of hope".[18] Liz Giuffre at Oz Music Project professed "[f]eaturing stunning
arrangements of guitar, double bass, viola, trumpet and percussion, [the album] is sweet and
seductive, a disk that swells and falls subtly under the tide of the pale male vocals".[19]
From mid-March to early May 2004 Sodastream undertook their first US tour,[20][21] with further tours
of Europe (in May) and Australia (in August). In October of the following year they released another
EP, Take Me with You When You Go; the seven tracks had been recorded from March to July by
Cohen and Smith.[22] Eliza Sarlos at Mess+Noise enthused "at once calming and intriguing, where
the interplay between acoustic guitar, double bass and voice is immediately affecting ... they've still
got the songs, the killer songs ...[they] have taken more risks, and in terms of expression ...
narratives flourish with a development in both structure and music".[23]
On 22 May 2006 they released their fourth studio album, Reservations, with Cohen and Smith
producing.[24][25] Drowned in Sound's Daniel Ross opined that the group had a "disgustingly brilliant
knack of being able to make one simultaneously envious of their craft and sickened that they don't
do more with it ... although rather obvious in their execution and the buttons they press, [they] can
construct images of the poor, broken sod we probably all are anyway and chillingly shove it in your
face under a blanket of sweetness".[26] The album was supported by another European tour. In
January 2007 the album was one of 25 finalists for the Australian Music Prize.[27]
On 18 February 2007 the band announced their break-up, with their final show at Melbourne's East
Brunswick Club on 2 March.[28] An email from the band's website explained "[o]ur reasons are
complex and many, but above all, it is out of respect to the music that we make that we have
decided not to force a situation that could potentially damage our many happy memories of the
journey thus far".[28] According to Smith "we did Reservations and followed it up with a few big tours
and then kind of fell in a heap, and that was it".[29]
After disbandment Cohen was a member of the bands, Khancoban and then Luluc.[30] From 2008
Smith fronted Lee Memorial, which issued an album, The Lives of Lee Memorial, in September
2009.[30][31] It was recorded over the previous year with Tom Lyngcoln (also in The Nation Blue) on
guitar, Laura Macfarlane on drums and vocals and Matt Bailey (ex-The Paradise Motel, Small Sips)
on bass guitar. Back in 2006, Smith had guested on Small Sips' alternative country music
album, The Morning Ripples.[32] In 2011 Cohen rejoined with Smith in Lee Memorial.[29] In January
2013, Sodastream announced their reformation, including performances in March and a proposed
album of previously unreleased work and new material.[29][33]

Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

 Looks Like a Russian CD (22 May 2000)[34][35][36][37]

 The Hill for Company CD (3 September 2001)[14][15]
 A Minor Revival LP/CD (4 August 2003)[38][39][40][41]
 Reservations LP/CD (22 May 2006)[42]
Live albums[edit]

 Concerto al Barchessone Vecchio 28 04 02 live CD (June 2004)

Extended plays[edit]

 Enjoy CD EP (1997)
 Practical Footwear CD EP (1998)
 In Between Times CD EP (2001)[43]
 Take Me with You When You Go CD EP (3 October 2005)[44][45][46]
Singles[edit]

 "Turnstyle" 7" vinyl EP (1999)

 "Homesleep" Singles Club 6 CD-single (2003)
 "Constant Ships" promo only CD-single (2003)

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Dubecki, Larissa (30 June 2006). "Box Office – Sodastream". The Age. Fairfax Media.
Ballads.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
2. ^ "Pair's Future Looks Shipshape". mX. News Corp Australia. 19 February 2004.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b Corbett, Sarah (Spring 2001). "Interview: Sodastream (Pete Cohen)". Come with a
Smile (7). Retrieved 26 July 2001.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Sodastream". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 20 December
2004. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
5. ^ Dullroy, Joel (13 February 2004). "Want to Meet in America". The Courier-Mail. News Corp
Australia.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b Enjoy (Media notes). Sodastream. Aquamudvuv Records. 1997. amv 010cd.
7. ^ Jump up to:a b Practical Footwear (Media notes). Sodastream. Aquamudvuv Records. 1998.
AMVO17.
8. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "Practical Footwear – Sodastream". Allmusic, (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 25
July 2013.
9. ^ Best, Sophie (7 October 2005). "Minor Third a Major Revelation". The Age. Fairfax Media.
10. ^ Jump up to:a b "Sodastream – In Between Times". Acuarela Discos. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
11. ^ Looks Like a Russian (Media notes). Sodastream. Trifekta Records. 2000. HORSE0062.
12. ^ Corbett, Sarah. "Sodastream: Looks Like a Russian". Oz Music Project. Archived from the
original on 7 August 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
13. ^ Thow, Penny (11 September 2003), "Acoustic revival for duo", Hobart Mercury
14. ^ Jump up to:a b The Hill for Company (Media notes). Sodastream. Trifekta Records. 2000.
HORSE0142.
15. ^ Jump up to:a b Nimmervoll, Ed (15 October 2001). "Sodastream –The Hill for Company". Howlspace.
White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the originalon 15 April 2002. Retrieved 28
July 2013.
16. ^ Sodastream (2003), A Minor Revival, Trifekta Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 28
July2013
17. ^ A Minor Revival (Media notes). Sodastream. Trifekta Records. 2003. HORSE0282.
18. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "Minor Revival – Sodastream". Allmusic, (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 29
July 2013.
19. ^ Giuffre, Liz. "An Interview with Sodastream". Oz Music Project. Archived from the original on 7
August 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
20. ^ Woolfenden, Tricia (8 April 2004), "Conflicted ; Australian duo finds an honorary hometown in Grand
Rapids", The Grand Rapids Press
21. ^ Smith, Karl. "Tour Diary – USA 2004". Sodastream Official Website. Archived from the original on 29
July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
22. ^ Take Me with You When You Go (Media notes). Sodastream. Trifekta Records. 2005. HORSE0512.
23. ^ Sarlos, Eliza (2005). "Sodastream – Take Me with You When You Go". Mess+Noise. Sound
Alliance. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
24. ^ Reservations (Media notes). Sodastream. Trifekta Records. 2005. HORSE0542.
25. ^ Sodastream (2006), Reservations, Trifekta Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 29
July 2013
26. ^ Ross, Daniel (20 October 2006). "Sodastream –Reservations". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 29
July2013.
27. ^ Cashmere, Tim (9 January 2007). "Australian Music Prize Longlist Confirmed". Undercover (Paul
Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman). Archived from the original on 21 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
28. ^ Jump up to:a b Snozrap (20 February 2007). "Sodastream Break Up". FasterLouder. Sound Alliance.
Retrieved 29 July2013.
29. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Sodastream – 'We Really Want to Get Some Things Done'". Mess+Noise. Sound
Alliance. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
30. ^ Jump up to:a b Havercroft, Chris (September 2009). "Lee Memorial Character Study". X-Press
Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
31. ^ "New project for Sodastream member". Eleven Magazine. 22 May 2008. Archived from the
original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
32. ^ Hennings, Emmy (2006). "Small Sips – The Morning Ripples". Mess+Noise. Sound Alliance.
Retrieved 29 July 2013.
33. ^ "News in Brief: Sodastream, The Growl, SLAM Day". Mess+Noise. Sound Alliance. 31 January
2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013.
34. ^ Zuel, Bernard (9 December 2000), "That's All Folk", Sydney Morning Herald
35. ^ Edwards, Mark (25 June 2000), "Sodastream - On record - Pop - Music.", The Sunday Times
36. ^ Shedden, Iain (1 July 2000), "Looks Like a Russianreview", The Australian
37. ^ Stuart, Simon (2 July 2000), "Looks Like a Russianreview", Sunday Herald
38. ^ Carew, Anthony (8 August 2003), "A Minor Revivalreview", The Age
39. ^ Zuel, Bernard (9 August 2003), "Dainty Pleasures", The Sydney Morning Herald
40. ^ McCabe, Kathy (10 August 2003), "A Minor Revivalreview", Sunday Telegraph
41. ^ Mengel, Noel (22 August 2003), "A Minor Revivalreview", The Courier-Mail
42. ^ Best, Sophie (19 May 2006), "Reservations", The Age
43. ^ Sodastream (Musical group) (2001), In between times, Candle Records, retrieved 28 July 2013
44. ^ O'Donohue, Danielle (6 October 2005), "stream of traffic", Herald Sun
45. ^ Zuel, Bernard (11 November 2005), "Take me with you when you go review", The Sydney Morning
Herald
46. ^ Silkstone, Dan (27 October 2005), "Take me with you when you go review", The Age