MINIMUM CHIPS - MAXIMUM TASTE

by Chris Hollow
(Oz Music News, 25-9-2000)

Minimum Chips. It's a name that comes from either fish 'n' chips or computer jargon - take your pick. The 'Chips' drummer Ian Wadley suggests that listening to a Red Crayola record had an influence on its choice. It is arguably the most controversial non-controversial name in Australian music circles at the moment. It certainly doesn't give any hint on how the band sound, but according to Trifekta Records' boss Tom-Lanarch-Jone, it's getting the band extra attention since the release of their Freckle EP.

"Everyone I've spoken to has commented on the name," says Lanarch-Jones. "Some people love it. Some people hate it. Either way, no one forgets the name so it has worked to my advantage."

Formed in Brisbane in late 1994 Minimum Chips has supported critically acclaimed international acts like Pavement, Tortoise, Stereolab, Smog and Alastair Galbraith. Signed to Modular, the band relocated to Melbourne and last year recorded Freckles. However upon completing the EP they were told Modular wouldn't be releasing it.

"It was pretty frustrating because we'd worked hard to make it sound the best we could make it," Chips' guitarist Julian Patterson says. "We had a finished recording so it was up for grabs for anyone that wanted to put it out. "

"I'd been friends with the band for a while and when I heard that Modular was no longer putting out the record I offered to put it out for them, " explains Lanarch-Jones. "Once the band decided they wanted to release the CD with me, they arranged an agreement with Modular allowing me to put it out."

In recording Freckles, the band's intention was to make full use of the studio. Getting the band's live sound wasn't a pre-requisite.

"The studio is not there to reproduce a live sound," Patterson explains. "We look at the studio as more like an opportunity to construct songs. I mean, usually we're working with pre-existing songs and structures, but to make them sound different to what they would live."

"We're definitely into melodies, making up stange rhythms and orchestrations," Wadley adds, "and trying to stretch our capabilities."

Comparisons between Minimum Chips and Stereolab are unavoidable. Both bands share the same love of electronica, French pop and detached melodies. Indeed, the way Nicole Thibault's vocals are used as a sound rather than as a vehicle for lyrics is very similar to Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab's approach.

"I can see the Stereolab comparison," Lanarch-Jones says. "I'm sure they have been an influence on the band, but there's a lot more going on in Minimum Chips than just an "Australian-Stereolab-Show". I think, more importantly, the Chips share similar influences to Stereolab in their love of 60s French pop."

"We like Stereolab," says Patterson, "but we get a few people coming up to us saying they like how we sound but don't really like Stereolab."

Wadley admits having to talk about the similarities between the two is getting tedious.

"When Stereolab came along, I eventually grew to quite like them, but at first I thought they were just an ok version of what all these other bands were trying to do, including bands I've been in or other bands from Australia or overseas."

Wadley points to New Zealand bands like Snapper and King Loser who he believes have been an influence on Stereolab as much as them.

"It's like a type or genre of music, but because it's not an absolutely huge all pervasive thing, it tends to be associated with the one band. It's just one of those strange things where we're going to compared to Stereolab but not to a whole bunch of these more obscure bands."

Freckles has an epic feel despite clocking in at around 23 minutes. The skewed pop sensibilities mean that organ, synthsizer, trombone and glockenspiel all share as much space as guitar, bass and drums. It's certainly a different sound to Trifekta's other latest successes, Gersey and Sodastream.

"Stylisticall, we don't really fit in with other records on Trifekta," Patterson says.

"I think all the bands on Trifekta sound completely different from eachother," says Lanarch Jones. "There has never been a set sound with the label and I'd like to keep it that way. I think Minimum Chips have more in common with earlier Trifekta acts, like The Avalanches and Gerling. The current roster is more guitar driven, so it's great to swing back to something more electronic."