Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda

Harvey Sutherland’s latest 12” marks the inaugural release for Clarity Recordings, an imprint established by Sutherland for modern Australian records.

The first new music from the Melbourne producer since last year’s cuts for MCDE, the double A-side Priestess / Bravado features his live trio Bermuda at full tilt, with an ensemble of hand clapping friends. Self-described “lounge room disco burners”, the record summons the groove experiments of Patrick Adams, Bill Laswell and Arthur Russell, while retaining Harvey’s soulful tones and club-ready arrangements.

Priestess evolves slowly, a nine-minute mind dance that ultimately reaches a celestial state. Sutherland’s piano lines bounce off drummer Graeme Pogson’s unwavering four-on-the-floor, while one-man string section Tamil Rogeon travels skyward. Live standout Bravado is played with determined precision, locking into a tough backbeat that only breaks once Sutherland’s warbling lead solo approaches its resonant peak.

• 1 Priestess
• 2 Bravado