Cheap Fakes
CHEAP FAKES
tʃiːp/ adjective: cheap, unauthentic; comparative adjective: cheaper; superlative adjective: cheapest not real.
A seven headed musical beast of epic proportions.
Brisbane/Gold Coast super band, Cheap Fakes, are the ultimate party band. Mixing up deep bass, Big fat horny horns, smooth melodies with super drums and atmospheric guitars, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
What to expect live: a fresh, powerful sound with layers of syncopated rhythms, intense beats, catchy songs, tasty harmony and powerful horns put together with style. Take a journey with the band through highs and lows, feel the tension and then let it release as the music makes you a slave to the rhythm. These guys can flow like Fat Freddys, are intense like Radiohead, can tear your heart like a break up or punch you in the face like Tyson.
With each members tastes and influences so varied and individual the boys surprisingly bring it all together in a coherent blend of funk, pop, ska, jazz, reggae and rock
Along with an insanely tight live act, Cheap Fakes also have a back catalog of gold. Starting with 2010’s ‘Stones & Sticks’ with it’s schizophrenic mix of pop, reggae, surf hits and moving into 2012’s ‘Hand me downs’ featuring the coastal favourite summer anthems ‘Sand on the beach’ and ‘Sleeping on the floor’. 2015 saw Cheap Fakes explore the possibilities of the big recording studio/big name producer (John Merchant.. Michael Jackson, Bee Gees, Lenny Kravitz) with excellent results and all lead to the 2017 masterpiece ‘Deep Space’ produced by the legend Scotty French at Love Street Studio on the Gold Coast.
“Deep Space demands your attention. Cheap Fakes and their sound sound have always been difficult to articulate specifically, due to the fact that their sound is a fusion of rock and funk with jazz and ska, and Deep Space continues that trend. Effortlessly navigating their way through the aforementioned amalgamation of styles and adding elements of afrobeat and electro-pop, Deep Space truly takes you on a journey. The album opens with the seriously catchy 'Sisters', cleverly setting the scene for the whole album with its classy melodies and sauntering rhythm. 'Dust and Bones' and 'Shibuya' really highlight not only their knack for writing songs that would set any dance floor alight, but also their incredible prowess as musicians. 'No Sense' is an especially unique song and demonstrates the bands ability to play almost any style of music without losing the overall theme and feel of the album. They clearly have a vast array of influences, and they use all of their powers combined to bring us music that is very successfully accessible.
Lead singer Hayden Andrews is in his element in 'I got nothing', the track that most closely resembles a ballad; it's delicate melody handled ever-so gently with his smooth, breathy baritone. 'Asesinato' is related to sisters in the sense of it's charm and swagger and probably came second behind sisters when choosing the opener.
Title track 'Deep Space' is yet another to boast ridiculous danceability and is off set to perfection by the gorgeously mellow 'Mountain'. The album concludes in a similar vein to how it started- with another smooth foot-tapping groover. Except 'Touch and go' offers a really cool twist right at the end... And you'll have to listen to it to find out!
In summary, Deep Space is Cheap Fakes' coming of age. It's a brilliant album that grows on you a little more every time you listen and in a world where lifeless music is becoming more and more popular, it is our duty as good music appreciators to support incredible talents like Cheap Fakes” -Time off Media
“Deep Space is an epic collection of intense, uplifting and diverse music. Intelligent lyrics backed up by insanely good musicians playing great songs.” Blank Gold Coast
“These finely crafted songs weave you through a layered journey into deep space.” ABC Radio Australia
“Queenslands finest showing us all how it’s supposed to be done. Genius.” The AU Review
“Intense, brooding, imaginative. 5 stars.” Beat Magazine