We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Magiclands LP

by Blackbirds FC

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 AUD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Magiclands LP via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $20 AUD

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Magiclands LP via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $35 AUD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 5 Blackbirds FC releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Magiclands LP, Transport Planes, Island of the Dogs, Field Recordings LP, and Life Sciences EP. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $20.80 AUD or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
Magiclands 03:35
MAGICLANDS (Jeremy Gronow/Cameron Mckenzie) Verse 1 I want to leave tonight I cannot wake tomorrow And step into this worn out charade Hanging with the monkeys on the morning train It isn’t very far Maybe just an hour by car And I can feel it when I close my eyes When I’m at work it never leaves my mind I don’t know another place for us tonight Verse 2 I want to walk the cliffs And look down from the cape Find a little peace here Find a little silence at the end of the day It doesn’t matter how It only matters where you are At Magiclands its breaking left and right The waves are standing on the morning tide And you know everything will be alright Chorus Baby don’t you want to go down, tonight? We’ll take the bridge over the water Western Port nights and Woolamai mornings Baby don’t you want to come down, tonight? To where the waves know they’re part of the ocean Can’t you hear Magiclands calling? Verse 3 Why shouldn’t we want more? How much has the city tried to swallow? The concrete every day I want to let the the wind wrap its arms around me At Magiclands, its breaking left and right The waves are standing on the morning tide And you know everything will be alright Chorus Baby don’t you want to go down, tonight? We’ll take the bridge over the water Western Port nights and Woolamai mornings Baby don’t you want to come down, tonight? To where the waves know they’re part of the ocean Can’t you hear Magiclands calling
2.
ISLAND OF THE DOGS J.Gronow Verse 1 Take down, your fences Call off those, pretenders Are we all, just luminescence? Floating in the wake of our obsessions? Chorus Back on the Island of the dogs, they’re laughing, at the foolish dreams we make Hear them every night, calling, young lovers to the break And I tried, I tried to tell you how the whole damn thing would play Cats eyes and day light shows the way ahead Verse 2 Late night, Skin crawling When you get home this morning? You made plans, I did not Somewhere in the crossfire I forgot Chorus Back on the Island of the dogs, they’re laughing, at the foolish dreams we make Hear them every night, calling, young lovers to the break And I tried, I tried to tell you how the whole damn thing would play Cats eyes and tail lights show the way ahead Bridge At night the island comes alive, black ash garden of delight They all want to make their own way, home Verse 3 Half-light, still water Come to me, take me over Everything that you said Everything is louder than everything else Chorus Back on the Island of the dogs, they’re laughing, at the foolish dreams we make Hear them every night, calling, young lovers to the break And they tried, they tried to tell you It was always gonna be this way Cable ties and dank lies show the way ahead.
3.
TRANSPORT PLANES J.Gronow Verse 1 I can hear the transport planes flying to Tasmania As I lie awake each night Waiting for you baby A truck is changing gear And it shakes the window pane As the people upstairs start making love again Chorus Maybe it’s a dream I’m having Tell me what goes on inside your head I don’t hear a thing, who wants to? Oooh Verse 2 I can hear your voice ringing across a bar Hell, I can hear you baby, but I don’t know where you are I am only waiting for a sign you’ll come again God, I wish the transport planes would carry me away Repeat chorus Bridge In the dark, the sound can travel further And the cold, air, bends the waves back down to earth Are we all, trapped beneath the layers and the cold? Til the sun comes and frees the sound again Verse 3 Sometimes when I dream, I fly above the house And look down at the sleeping world and want to shake it up Hanging here in space, woken by the sound Of one thousand front doors slamming right across the town Repeat Chorus to end
4.
I HEARD YOUR HOUSE BURNT DOWN (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 I heard your house burnt down. While you were sleeping Did you out just in time? What were you thinking? Your records and your books, your memories and pictures You lost your pictures. I heard your house burnt down and you've gone missing

Verse 2 They said you stood out in the street and watched it burning
What shattered in your head? What left you hurting?
What made you walk away and head out into nowhere?
And no-one knows where. As the fire engines came, they saw you go.

Bridge I saw you on the news, a shady Facebook picture The newsreader she said the police couldn’t figure Was it you who threw the match, a candle or a heater? They interviewed your mum, she said no-one was sweeter - sweeter than you Verse 3 Did I see you yesterday? At the station in the distance I thought to call your name, I guessed you wouldn’t listen Did you find another life? Like some protected witness, and do you miss it? 
I heard your house burnt down, Yeah, I heard your house burnt down, Well I, heard your house burnt down and you’ve gone missing
5.
THE LIGHT WAS AMBER ALL THE TIME (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 Ah, The blazing sun woke me up again to a room full of cracks and faded paint Summer’s cauldron boiling me away All the days of speed now a slow time fade, radio clocks tick tocking all day The plans we made got quietly cleared away Chorus 1 The Light Was Amber All The Time, Oooh Time Verse 2 I’ve been running for a thousand days with my souls on fire and my spirit aches Want to be close but still so far away With the mountains ahead I left the valley behind, only way up was to crawl til I climbed Reached the top, the mountain rose again. Chorus 2 The Light Was Amber All The Time, Oooh Time Bridge They know what they want and they only want to see The light in their eyes and wings on their heels Like mercury All quicksilver and speed Verse 3 The time is coming and it won’t be long, don’t you want to wake up in the arms of a song Lie in bed and watch the clips on Rage I want, to set, my heart on fire and dance around it in the strange moonlight Offer myself again for sacrifice Chorus 2 The Light Was Amber All The Time, Oooh Time. X 2 Bridge The chimes of truth cannot ring out The bells were all cracked by the hammering doubt No sooner than I'm in, I get shown out I’m starting to see what its all about Chorus 3 The Light Was Amber All The Time, Oooh Time The Light Was Amber All The Time. Oooh Time With the mountains ahead I left the valley behind and the only way up was to crawl til I climbed Time The Light was Amber All The Time. Oooh Time. I want to set my heart on fire and dance around it in the strange moonlight The Light Was Amber All The Time.
6.
RISE UP - LOVE AND INSURRECTION (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 Kill the lights, stay away from windows Strange, strange times, can you hear them singing? Wash your hands, shut your mouth Chorus We can rise up (Though the walls are closing in) We can build our barricades (High, higher) We can rise up (Or we can let the facists win) Have we learnt no history Verse 2 Stay alive, though the mood today is killing Why do we waste our time? When the future’s hidden? I think you love me you’re so cool And if you don’t, I got myself and that will do Chorus We can rise up (Though the walls are closing in) We can build our barricades (High, higher) We can rise up (Or we can let the facists win) Have we learnt no history Bridge Rise Up…. Rise Up…. Rise Up…. Verse 3 Cool change tonight. The winds are shifting It will be alright, maybe, it already is Rivers of honey, milk and wine, Oil the waters, call the time Chorus We can rise up (Though the walls are closing in) We can build our barricades (High, higher) We can rise up (Or we can let the facists win) Have we learnt no history Bridge Rise Up…. Rise Up…. Rise Up….
7.
Angela 03:09
ANGELA (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 Angela, pick up your phone I’m back again, like a restless ghost I took my car, try to clear my head And it drove me here, to your street again Verse 2 Angela, are you coming back? Everything is different now How long til I can face the fact? Let the needle drop to a different track Chorus Once in your life did you want for something Hold on too tight, breaks in your grip Save, Save yourself Save, Save yourself Verse 3 Angela, won’t you take me in? It’s cold tonight, and my jacket’s thin I miss your voice, and I miss your smell And I cannot swim against the swell Chorus Once in your life, did you want for something? Hold on too tight, breaks in your grip Save, Save yourself Save, Save yourself Save, Save yourself
8.
THIS COUNTRY’S A BOMB (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 The sky is all red tonight. And I can’t breathe the air We can’t see, to get out, but we know we can’t stay here This ain’t the way we planned it, if it will be, so it shall be All the tankers and TV crews are heading for the beach Chorus This country’s a bomb, this country’s a bomb, this country’s a bomb. Verse 2 The fire’s a vengeful spirit, burning a thousand miles long All of the planes from California, cannot stop what’s going on Why do we laugh at science, as the hail destroys our homes? When we live in our own wasteland, who’ll be left to get the oke? The wind’s a storm of embers, each ridge is cavalry Chorus This country’s a bomb, this country’s a bomb, this country’s a bomb. Verse 3 I know it doesn’t make a difference, do we think we have a choice We can hear the axe is swinging; must we wait until it cuts? What if the jobs all come to nothing and we cannot feed ourselves? What if the future we were promised, turns out to be a myth? Do we think that we know better? Do we think we can resist? Chorus This country’s a bomb, Day light, we’re trapped down on the camp ground This country’s a bomb, Phones out, and no-one knows what’s going on This country’s a bomb, Red eyes, waiting for the rain This country’s a bomb, This fire, nothing can control it This country’s a bomb, Clear truth but no-one wants to own it This country’s a bomb, Eyes shut and hope it goes away
9.
PLANE TRACKER (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 I’m on the plane tracker, watching you fly At twenty thousand feet, way across the Bite An hour in Perth, then on into the night Its 2am I think the screen has burnt my eyes And I am wondering how you could leave me so alone? The only human in the country’s up and gone Chorus With the waves below you And the land behind And the stars, are falling, Down on me, tonight Verse 2 You’re not the only one travelling tonight A thousand tiny points reflecting in my eyes Some were delayed, some never made the flight And we who lost them are never going to find But we keep searching, and scanning the skies Hope springs eternal, that’s everything tonight Chorus With the waves above them, And the light can’t shine And the stars, are falling, down on me tonight Outro I have been searching For So Long Waiting and searching For So Long Will I be waiting For So Long?
10.
DON’T EVER TURN YOUR BACK UPON THE WAVES (Jeremy Gronow) Verse 1 Hold my hand and listen in I can’t sleep for soul searching As days grow short and time gets thin My memories flicker like old films I remember the way My grandfather always used to say If you go out on the rocks - don’t ever turn your back upon the waves Verse 2 Sarah’s at the kitchen bench Making breakfast for the kids All at once she looked my way And only god knew why she stayed There’s just no way She could afford the price Love wanted her to pay And If you go out on the rocks - Don’t ever turn your back upon the waves Bridge Verse 3 Years ago I was a king My heart was strong and conquering I’d call my subjects round each day To shower me with golden praise But thick turns to thin And your old enemies become news ones again. And the bright lights fade - Don’t ever turn your back upon the waves Though fate will have its way - Don’t ever turn your back upon the waves

about

"Melbourne's Blackbirds FC create beautifully layered lush sonic journeys that make you nostalgic for some of the great Australian bands of yesteryear. The Church springs to mind, but it's also for fans of The Chills, REM, and Prefab Sprout, for starters”. The AU Review

With a new single and a head full of steam, Blackbirds FC are launching their second album, Magiclands, on 24 November at George Lane.

Featuring members of The Hollowmen, Helvelln, the Vanda's, and Flicker, Blackbirds FC play their own brand of new wave, country rock inspired by The Go-Betweens, REM, Wilco, and, oh yeah, The Church.

With a couple of singles, Transport Planes and Island of the Dogs, under their belts in 2021, the band are raring to release new material and play their first show at St Kilda's regal George Lane band room.

Recorded over 18 months in 2021-22, the Magiclands album sees the Blackbirds find their way back to the artists that first inspired them, connecting the band at a deeper level and bringing a new authenticity to their sound.

"There is an unmistakable antipodean blood flowing through the veins of Island of the Dogs – drawing in the wide-sweeping landscapes created by The Triffids and The Go-Betweens, the sparkle and energy of The Church and the themes and storytelling of Paul Kelly.” Backseat Mafia

"Transport Planes is a song of liminal states, which drifts like a daydream transporting you back to the days of 1980s FM radio, a chorus that will stick in your brain for days, perfectly placed backing vocals, references to truckers and Tasmania, and transport planes, all driven stick-shift by guitar tones so bright and sunny you need 15+ fluoro zinc to protect you.” The Guardian: Australia's best new music for January

credits

released November 18, 2022

Blackbirds FC are:
Jeff Baker - Guitar
Phil Campbell: Drums, percussion.
Julien Chick: Bass.
Jeremy Gronow: Vocals, guitar, keyboards, string arrangements.
Gina Hearnden: Vocals, guitar.
Bec Long: Cello.
with
Cameron Mckenzie: Guitar, keyboards, vocals and banjo.

Produced by Cameron Mckenzie.
Recorded and mixed at Station Place Studios, Glenhuntly January 2021 - June 2022.
Mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios, Nashville August 2022.

Cover design by Phil Campbell.
Painting by Lin Tobias

Recorded in the country of the Boon wurrung (Bunurong) people of the Eastern Kulin Nation. Blackbirds FC pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging, recognise their continued connection to the land and waters of this place and, acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Blackbirds FC Melbourne, Australia

BLACKBIRDS FC

Featuring members of The Hollowmen, Helvelln, and the Vanda’s Blackbirds FC play their own brand of alt. country rock inspired by the Go-Betweens, The Church and Wilco. 

Formed in 2017, the band released the EP Life Sciences in 2018 and their debut album Field Recordings in 2019.

The band are delighted to be releasing their second album Magiclands in November 2022.
... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Blackbirds FC

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Blackbirds FC recommends:

If you like Blackbirds FC, you may also like: