It’s been a while since I had some time to listen carefully some of my 7″s. It’s a bit late and while waiting for the football highlights show, I chose this record that is quite new to my collection. I got it just a couple of days ago thanks to a tip from the wonderful Uwe from Firestation.
This seems to be a very obscure release on the Rampant label of Australia. I’ve already talked to The Odolites who were on this same label run by Bill Tolson. And if I thought The Odolites were not very well known, These Future Kings seem way more difficult to track down. This 7″ is catalogue number Rampant 048 and includes two songs, one on each side. Without a doubt the A side, “Bury My Bones”, is the star. It’s a fantastic jangly track. It starts with some great crystalline guitars, then a pounding bass, and soon we get to a fantastic chorus, and then to some trumpets, and then to the chorus again with some catchy backing vocals. And all along, while the song spins on my turntable, the guitar doesn’t stop jangling! Glorious!
This song was recorded in November 1987 in Melbourne by the band. So who were the band? 5 names appear on the sleeve: Charles Caldas, Mark Freeman, Steven Johansen, Claudia White and Perry White. Researching I went to find that Perry White went solo and participated on a compilation called “Lost Dog’s Show”. I couldn’t find a way to contact any of the band sadly as I would really like to know more about them. The B side is “The Liar’s Been Found” which was recorded a year before, in 1986. It’s a fine track but, to be honest, it can’t fight back the prowess of “Bury My Bones”. This song has the collaboration of Warren Ellis, on violin, who would later be part of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
There’s some more releases by These Future Kings that I still need to track down. Before the 7″ there was a self-titled 12″ mini-album released in 1986. And after “Bury My Bones” the band released the LP “Carnival”. I believe both records came out also on Rampant Records.
Sometimes the releases appear on eBay and I think some Australian second hand stores may have it. So be patient and on the look. And of course, if you know the whereabouts, or any stories or anecdotes about the band, please share! A band like this, who wrote such a top tune as “Bury My Bones”, doesnt’ deserve to be forgotten!
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2 Responses to “:: These Future Kings”
Hello Roque
So glad to find this…
Can you by any chance tell me the name of the tall slender member of These Future Kings-I new him through the late 80s Fitzroy party scene rather than his music specifically-His nick name at the time was ‘Chief’
Much appreciated if you could
Perry White. Maybe you want to read this: http://www.cloudberryrecords.com/blog/?p=179