Shock Octopus were an Australian rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia in 2010. The band was composed of Michael Bayliss (lead vocals, piano, keyboards), David Blair (bass, backing vocals), David Sayers (guitar), and Scott Andrews (drums). They were compared to "experimental alt-rock of the 1980s". Shock Octopus helped to progress Perth rock music by combining elements of punk, art rock, psychedelia, and pop with "songs based on environmental issues, climate grief and existential crisis". They have since been described as capturing "a broad sonic spectrum, incorporating moody piano arrangements, jangly percussion and lo-fi sensibilities".
History Bayliss and Blair met as bandmates where they were part of another Perth band called Syrian Rue. With Syrian Rue's disbandment in 2009 the duo adopted the name Counting Backwards, rejoined the Perth music scene, and recruited Sayers to commence demo-recording a series of piano-driven indie-rock songs. With the addition of Andrews, they renamed themselves Shock Octopus and played their first show on 1 January 2010. Their first professional recording, Safe Room, was released as a standalone single in June 2011 to positive reviews. They collaborated with the acclaimed Perth producer Al 'Dr Alien' Smith of Bergerk Studios on their debut EP Self-titled (2012) which blended their art rock sensibilities with influence from artists such as Talking Heads, Porcupine Tree and Kristin Hersh.
Shock Octopus reached their live peak on 14 April 2012 with local Perth radio station RTR-FM publicising the launch of their seminal EP to a full-house at Ya-Ya's in Northbridge, Perth, supported by The Disappointed and Head Full of Steam. Later that year, the formative line-up of Bayliss, Blair, Sayers and Andrews played their final show in Adelaide, South Australia at Higher Ground Inc. on 14 November 2012.
With Sayers and Blair leaving the band to explore other projects (including the Sayers/Andrews stoner-doom project GOAT) the remaining members of Shock Octopus comprised Bayliss and Andrews. Together they recruited session players and forged ahead with the recording and release of the band's first full-length album entitled A Crisis (2014).
Following a successful national tour publicising the album launch, Bayliss and Andrews took a decision to reframe the style and direction of the band with a more contemplative, acoustic guitar and piano-driven sound. This departure from the band's original approach was received warmly by radio, live and online audiences alike culminating in successive EPs; Throughout the Winter (2015) and Roam in Silence (2017).
Blair returned to band activity in 2020 as the band worked to produce the third in a series of EPs. With continued input from session players the band released Enter the Exit (2020) just prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, curtailing live performance and rehearsals. The lead single from the EP was Life on a Pier (2020).
The continued persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic led the band into an indefinite hiatus from live performance but culminated in their second full-length album, a greatest hits collection entitled A Decade into Darkness (2021) which subsequently received a series of positive online reviews in support of the album.
Band members Michael Bayliss – Keyboards, lead vocals David Blair – Bass, guitar, backing vocals David Sayers – Guitar Scott Andrews – Drums, guitar, backing vocals
Other crew Bill Presser – Guitar, production Tamara Catlin – Vocals Mark Allen – Songwriting, production Magda Wozny – Vocals Damien Langley – Drums Benji Miu – Production Simone Bensdorp – Artwork
Discography
Albums TitleAlbum detailsA Crisis! Release date: July 11, 2014 Label: IndependentA Decade into Darkness Release date: May 29, 2021 Label: Independent
Extended plays TitleAlbum detailsSelf-titled Release date: 14 April 2012 Label: IndependentThroughout the Winter Release date: November 7, 2015 Label: IndependentRoam in Silence Release date: June 29, 2017 Label: IndependentEnter the Exit Release date: April 3, 2020 Label: Independent
Singles TitleAlbum detailsSafe Room Release date: June 17, 2011 Label: IndependentSiren Release date: April 15, 2014 Label: IndependentThe Noviciate/In a Box Release date: May 31, 2015 Label: IndependentA Deer! Caught! In The Headlights! Release date: May 28, 2021 Label: Independent
References