Fresh from their sold-out national ‘Evie’ single tour and their stand out Splendour In The Grass appearance, Brisbane’s Last Dinosaurs have just released their second album Wellness and are about to hit the road nationally to tour it with some special all ages shows taking place too.
Last Dinosaur Sean Caskey took us through the albums and artwork that shaped his life and his most memorable moment from recording Wellness with Scott Horscroft.
What is your favourite album of all time?
‘Person Pitch’ by Panda Bear would have to pass as my favourite because I would have listened to it more than two thousand times now. Twice almost every night. This album isn’t at all chillwave but it inspired a lot of chill wave musicians, it really pushes the boundaries of what is sonically ridiculous but still puts you in a place.
What is your favourite album cover artwork/s and why?
Mr. Twin Sister’s self-titled album is my favourite. The vinyl and the vinyl cover are both clear, and hand drawn text across the front saying Mr. Twin Sister. So clean.
What was the first album you bought with your own money?
‘Room On Fire’ by the Strokes when I was in Launceston for cycling nationals, cause mum wouldn’t let me get Is This It cause it looked like soft core porn and I was eleven. But when I was in grade one in Mackay I asked dad to buy me The Beach Boys best of album.
What was playing on your family stereo growing up?
Lots of Jeff Buckley, on the trip to and from school every day for years. I know all his songs very well now. Was interesting music to grow up with. Otherwise Elvis Costello, Pulp Fiction and X-Files soundtracks, a bit of Bjork.
Which album did you play to death as a teenager?
The Strokes – ‘Room On Fire’.
What albums or EPs are you currently listening to?
Jamie XX’s new one I really like. It’s good music to listen to while I build my guitar pedals. But I’ve been listening to lots of electronic music on Soundcloud cause it’s good to listen to and concentrate.
What has been your favourite EP or album release of 2015 so far?
Maybe Tame Impala – ‘Currents’. I love the songs, and I love the production. There is nothing else to say except that’s what perfect sounds like.
What was the last record you purchased and where did you purchase it?
Stone Roses – ‘What The World Is Waiting For’. On vinyl, because I work at Rocking Horse Records in Brisbane and a second-hand one came in so I shotgunned it. But I’m waiting for the Modern Lovers album to come in because they are reprinting it again!
If you could collaborate on an album with any artist living or dead who would it be and why?
Maybe Noah Lennox (Panda Bear), cause I’d love to know what the hell is going on in his head when he makes music.
Where did the title for Wellness come from, and was it the only title you had for the album?
The first title was Floating On The Edge Of A Dream, but that was too lame sounding, they are lyrics from ‘Wellness’ the song but we ended up just saying Wellness. I like the word, clean and short.
What was the inspiration behind the album artwork for Wellness and who designed it?
Dan Koyama the drummer did it, but the idea came from Gerhard Richter’s work that our friend Jasmin Smith suggested. She was really responsible for the art direction and produced artworks for the singles. The combination of paint textures and photography really seemed like the way to go for me, because the music is kind of natural but edited in a way that it is so deliberate and composed. I thought the artwork for the album was kinda like that.
What is your most memorable moment from recording Wellness?
Spending time at The Grove studios was amazingly luxurious. I think maybe sitting in the mixing room and watching Scott Horscroft slowly but meticulously sculpt the tracks was awesome and inspiring. I’ve always admired the guy and to hear/see him do what he does so well was really cool.
Wellness is out now via Dew Process / UMA.
Last Dinosaurs Wellness Album Tour 2015
Fri 25 September
The Triffid U18s Matinee (School Holidays) Brisbane QLD
Fri 25 September
The Triffid 18 + Brisbane QLD
Thu 1 October
The Corner U18s Matinee (School Holidays) Melbourne VIC
Thu 1 Oct
The Corner 18+ (Public Holiday Eve) Melbourne VIC
Fri 2 October
The Gov (Lic All Ages) Adelaide SA
Fri 9 October
The Enmore (Lic All Ages) Sydney NSW
Sat 10 October
ANU 18+ Canberra ACT
Sat 17 October
Rosemount 18+ Perth WA
Sun 18 October
Jimmys Den (U18s Matinee) Perth WA
