Grand Atlantic Launch New Single: ‘Wonderful Tragedy’ @ The Chophouse Fri May 11th May 11, 2007

Grand Atlantic
Launch New Single: ‘Wonderful Tragedy’ @ The Troubadour Thu May 10th

The first single lifted from their debut album: ‘This Is Grand Atlantic’

“Brace yourselves Brisbane, we potentially have new international rock stars on our hands.”
(Time Off – Dec 06)

The release of Grand Atlantic’s debut EP ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ only five short months ago, saw them slip into our national consciousness, and now, with a statement of intent that brooks no argument, their debut album ‘This Is Grand Atlantic’ hit’s shelves around Australia May 26th through Popboomerang / MGM, and their steadily reckoning arrival is officially upon us.

Wonderful Tragedy is the first single to be lifted from the album proper and hits radio this week. Grand Atlantic will be launching Wonderful Tragedy @:

The Troubadour Thu May 10th w Sydney’s Belles Will Ring (Doors 8.30 pm / $10)
The Chophouse in Surfers Paradise Fri May 11th (Doors 8.30 pm / $ tba)

In a gregarious display of goodwill, the band will be handing out free copies of the single to the first 50 people through the door for both shows. Wonderful Tragedy is currently Rave Magazine’s ‘single of the week’:

“Hot on the much admired heels of November’s Smoke & Mirrors EP, Brisbane sudden newcomers Grand Atlantic have surfaced from the studio long enough to release another top quality power pop offering, Wonderful Tragedy. We’re lucky enough in the Great South East (and Probably Just As Lovely North East – a token shout-out to our NSW readers) that it’s not unusual to be happily surprised by a corker local band cropping up. Anyone who regularly gets to smaller gigs knows there is a dearth of young artists anxious to impress. But few of them have made such a quick impact, such a professional and polished one-two as Grand Atlantic, with a sound that could be reliably classified as world-class...”

‘Single Of The Week’ - Rave Magazine: Tue May 1st.

If you cant get along to either of the shows above Grand Atlantic will also be performing @ The Troubadour Sat May 19th for the WWF Finn Brothers Tribute Night (Doors 8.30 pm / $20 on the door)

The Single: Timpani drums, orchestral arrangements and fragile, languid guitar herald a track which has been described as “some escapee from a lost Scott Walker album circa ‘68”. But the thing is; these boys aren’t some sepia-tinged nostalgia act – this is a real, affecting, vulnerable, mournful pop song that sounds utterly modern and unlike anything else around at the moment. Simultaneously dense enough to engulf and sparse enough to ache, Wonderful Tragedy is a masterclass in songwriting and it’s performed to perfection.

The Build Up: Released in November last year, GA’s debut EP ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ received a swarm of praise both here and abroad. The ‘2006 Drum Media Writers Poll’ rightly listed it as one of the top ten EP’s Of The Year and the accolades rolled in (see over for full reviews):

“With what can only be described as an utter tease for the forthcoming longplayer, these local lads deliver the goods, reassuring their position as one of the next great things to come out of Brisbane.” (Time Off – Dec 06)

“This is a band which has assimilated all there is worth knowing in the world of orchestral pop and bends that knowledge to their own will... 4 stars.” (Courier Mail – Nov 06)

2007 hasn’t proven any slower for Grand Atlantic. February saw them selected from over 800 bands nationwide as semi finalists in MTV Australia’s ‘Kickstart’ competition and March saw them handpicked to showcase at Adelaide’s Fuse festival, but it was the ISC that drove home the deal. Run out of Nashville, the ISC (International Songwriting Competition) is widely recognized as the world’s premier songwriting competition; the results for the 2006 competition were announced only a fortnight ago and amongst over 15,000 entries from nearly 90 countries, one Australian band stood out in blazing lights – the only local act to have two songs in the final picks. That band was Grand Atlantic.

Placed 3rd place in the ‘Rock’ category with their track Coolite, Grand Atlantic also received an honorable mention in the ‘Performance’ category for Wonderful Tragedy. Both tracks are lifted from the forthcoming debut album, but it is upon the fragile beauty of Wonderful Tragedy that the spotlight now falls.

The Album: So; ‘This Is Grand Atlantic’ hits shelves around Australia May 26th. The album is being heralded as one of 2007's best pop/rock Australian releases. Conjuring up the wide-ranging sonic textures and songwriting smarts of the Beatles and the Beach Boys but wrapping it all in a beautifully-produced modern sound, this is one that any fan of intelligent, melodic pop rock will need to investigate... this is Grand Atlantic.

Stay tuned; official ‘This Is Grand Atlantic’ national tour dates t.b.a. next week.

A Taste Of Some Grand Atlantic Press:

“ With what can only be described as an utter tease for the forthcoming longplayer, these local lads deliver the goods, reassuring their position as one of the next great things to come out of Brisbane... Overall, a damn fine and incredibly ambitious effort from a band who take the extra step from straight-up rock to produce something familiar yet contemporary and relevant.” (Time Off )

“ Very cool guitar pop from the Brisbane band. Look forward to the Grand Atlantic album early 2007. It could be a big year for them.” (musicaustraliaguide.com)

“meaty rockers are just one part of the story for this Brisbane quartet, who have a debut album set for release in 2007...this is a band which has assimilated all there is worth knowing in the world of orchestral pop and bends that knowledge to their own will... 4 stars. ” (Courier Mail)

“...Here's another clever four-piece out of Brisbane that could go any direction they want on the evidence of this debut EP... Grand Atlantic pull it all off seamlessly.” (Drum Media) - Top 10 EPs of 2006

“ The pop sensibilities of Grand Atlantic are lush and full... Grand Atlantic are ones to watch..” (elevenmagazine.com.au)

“ …Ringing guitars and fuzzed-out, warbling synths create sonic washes that are driven by a solid rhythm section and tight, clear harmonies. It’s a vibrant, exciting sound. This is an exciting band, and they really seem to have mastered the fine art of combining tweaky electronic sounds with straight-ahead rock and roll energy…” Splendid E-zine

“…Maybe it's just the guitars overflowing enough to make the voices become part of the music rather than overwhelming it. The namechecking of Teenage Fanclub is not an unreasonable thing, though this is certainly still pop music, if somewhat bent. Right down to the string section elbowing in just when you didn’t expect it…” Drum Media

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