michelej1
04-23-2008, 09:24 PM
Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/the-elf/2008/04/23/1208743016811.html
Darren Cross is a liar. The cheeky chap at the core of Sydney electro-rock terrorists Gerling is now making music under the name the E.L.F. and has recently been enjoying a bit of YouTube notoriety for a video he says he produced on his own for $12.
The clip, for the E.L.F. track Cockroaches, is cheap and cheerful but looks good. What did Cross spend the $12 on?
"A green screen," he says, explaining how such a device is used to let filmmakers shoot their stuff and stick the background in later. "I bought a sheet that was the same colour for $3 ... and then I just bought coffee. That was the $12."
So it cost even less? Cross laughs sheepishly. "Well, $12 sounds a bit funnier than $3.
"I just think it's a really kinda funny, postmodern representation of what people can do at the moment."
If it looks impressive for such a ludicrous budget, it sounds even better. Cockroaches is one of several blissfully breezy slices of sample-heavy dance-pop on the E.L.F.'s debut EP, Stevie Nicks Hearts.
Singer-producer Cross has no explanation for what the project's initials stand for but it's safe to say there's a nod to two long-defunct British acts: '70s prog-rock geeks ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) and rave-pop head cases the KLF.
"I'm still working on it," he says of the name. "I'll just wait until some guy in Sacramento goes, 'Hey, I'm the E.L.F., I'm a rapper, you change your name.' I didn't want to commit to it. There's just so many nice words out there!"
Cross wanted a handle appropriate to him as someone "short and mischievous", and the E.L.F. fits nicely. Or so he thought. "Someone said, 'You look more like a hobbit,' which I was quite offended at."
But he doesn't care what people think of his influences. As his EP title suggests, he likes Fleetwood Mac (Nicks was one of the singers) as well as ELO - an increasingly common phenomenon among top Australian dance artists. Cut Copy cited both bands as influences to Metro a few months back and Midnight Juggernauts are fans, too.
"Yeah, I'm quite aware of that," Cross says. "Juggernauts and Cutters love an [ELO] album called Time, which is one of their more obscure records ... it's more of that really dreamy kind of synth thing. But I really liked ELO's pop songs.
"The whole Fleetwood Mac thing, too - I've been DJing out a lot. You play a Fleetwood Mac song and all the girls always dance. I'm not being sexist or elitist, that's just the plain fact," he says with a laugh. "People who are female love Stevie Nicks and love Fleetwood Mac! I really love it, too."
When an E.L.F. album eventually arrives, it will proudly worship at the altar of pop. But don't hold your breath.
"I'm not rushing it, just seeing what works and what doesn't work. I'm just really tripping out on what makes people happy and dance."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/the-elf/2008/04/23/1208743016811.html
Darren Cross is a liar. The cheeky chap at the core of Sydney electro-rock terrorists Gerling is now making music under the name the E.L.F. and has recently been enjoying a bit of YouTube notoriety for a video he says he produced on his own for $12.
The clip, for the E.L.F. track Cockroaches, is cheap and cheerful but looks good. What did Cross spend the $12 on?
"A green screen," he says, explaining how such a device is used to let filmmakers shoot their stuff and stick the background in later. "I bought a sheet that was the same colour for $3 ... and then I just bought coffee. That was the $12."
So it cost even less? Cross laughs sheepishly. "Well, $12 sounds a bit funnier than $3.
"I just think it's a really kinda funny, postmodern representation of what people can do at the moment."
If it looks impressive for such a ludicrous budget, it sounds even better. Cockroaches is one of several blissfully breezy slices of sample-heavy dance-pop on the E.L.F.'s debut EP, Stevie Nicks Hearts.
Singer-producer Cross has no explanation for what the project's initials stand for but it's safe to say there's a nod to two long-defunct British acts: '70s prog-rock geeks ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) and rave-pop head cases the KLF.
"I'm still working on it," he says of the name. "I'll just wait until some guy in Sacramento goes, 'Hey, I'm the E.L.F., I'm a rapper, you change your name.' I didn't want to commit to it. There's just so many nice words out there!"
Cross wanted a handle appropriate to him as someone "short and mischievous", and the E.L.F. fits nicely. Or so he thought. "Someone said, 'You look more like a hobbit,' which I was quite offended at."
But he doesn't care what people think of his influences. As his EP title suggests, he likes Fleetwood Mac (Nicks was one of the singers) as well as ELO - an increasingly common phenomenon among top Australian dance artists. Cut Copy cited both bands as influences to Metro a few months back and Midnight Juggernauts are fans, too.
"Yeah, I'm quite aware of that," Cross says. "Juggernauts and Cutters love an [ELO] album called Time, which is one of their more obscure records ... it's more of that really dreamy kind of synth thing. But I really liked ELO's pop songs.
"The whole Fleetwood Mac thing, too - I've been DJing out a lot. You play a Fleetwood Mac song and all the girls always dance. I'm not being sexist or elitist, that's just the plain fact," he says with a laugh. "People who are female love Stevie Nicks and love Fleetwood Mac! I really love it, too."
When an E.L.F. album eventually arrives, it will proudly worship at the altar of pop. But don't hold your breath.
"I'm not rushing it, just seeing what works and what doesn't work. I'm just really tripping out on what makes people happy and dance."