Chimera #9 - an evolutionary oddity that existed from 1996-1997.

The disciplined and creative drummer Dave Hopgood had journeyed through several bands with bassist Adam Ritchie - the black metal band Martire, the progressive-rock band Spine and the Metal-Punk-Hip-Hop-Mish-Mash that was Hobson's Choice. The latter two bands both gigged regularly with guitar groove band Capital F, fronted by bassist Chris Lambert and struck up an instant mutual appreciation.

Chris spoke with Dave looking towards a project that was outside the bounds of typical song structures and largely improvised and asked if he could think of a guitarist who would want to be involved. Straight off Dave suggested Adam.

The very first jam in Chris's then home, a rented garage in the Adelaide Hills transformed into a music room, was ELECTRIC.

The unstructured discordant rhythms that traveled through the room somehow meshed…Dave's controlled freedom, Ritchie's bent melodies and Chris's rhythmic pulsing abandon built into a monstrous presence, one that Chris's neighbors would be forced to endure for the next 12 months.

The band also road tested their nightmarish sound at the few alternative venues who would allow such a strange animal on stage: Madlove Bar, Producers Hotel, Tivoli Hotel, the Uni Bars etc.

The 'songs' are not lacking structure but they are really improvisational frameworks that were belted into shape over time, akin to three blacksmiths crafting a legendary weapon together. They are truly collaborative efforts with all three members throwing themselves into the fray.

The album was recorded in several live sessions at Mixmasters Studio and mixed at Krell Studios with Steve Fieldhouse, Chris's close friend and an accomplished engineer; the same formula used the year prior for Capital F's swan song Mosquito album.

This LP is a legacy of the hundreds of hours of combined creative force that no-one else will ever hear, the forging of strong friendships and the cross-country mountain-bike rides together that allowed their ears to recover.

The music is challenging but always interesting. It is an evolutionary oddity appreciated in the same way as a bizarre rare bird…it's ugly, but beautiful in its uniqueness. Mostly ugly.

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