Sydney-based muso Maxine Gillon has released a new track, ‘Grief Filled Avenues’ and Backseat Mafia is very pleased to be premiering the accompanying video for the song today.
Apart from her solo offerings, Gillon also plays lead guitar in post-punk band Second Idol who recently released a crowd-funded album and have also supported well-known acts such as Jen Cloher, Baxter Dury (UK) and Wolf & Cub.
Gillon is particularly prolific as a solo artist with a number of previous releases that have garnered widespread critical acclaim.
‘Lips In Front Of Your Teeth’ (EP) 2020
‘The Six Strings of Sappho’ (EP) 2020
‘Sand’ (single) 2021
‘Genuflect’ (single) 2021
Gillon’s EP ‘The Six Strings of Sappho’ featured Lindy Morrison of The Go-Betweens on drums. ‘Genuflect’ received regular rotation on 2ser and Fbiradio, as well as a press feature on US-based website Post-punk.com
Gillon is known for her scorching guitar playing in Second Idol, however ‘Grief Filled Avenues’ finds her in a more reflective space. The song has a melancholic melody and hypnotic beat and some superb, subtle guitar work. The track has elements of the Triffids but also references the work of Rowland S. Howard. Gillon as a solo artist (and with Second Idol,) has matured dramatically over the past year and continues her upward trajectory with ‘Grief Filled Avenues’.
“The song is about how locations hold memories, both blissful and bad. I’ve lived in so many suburbs around Sydney and can feel haunted by the ghosts of past selves, lovers, situations and events passing a loaded locale by chance. The song came about from wanting to make my own version of a song relating to the emotions of cities or locations. ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ by The Pogues or the entire ‘Born Sandy Devotional’ album by The Triffids were key inspirations”. It was also a deliberate step towards more emotive delivery, transparent lyrics and beautiful arrangements, moving away from sonic terror and excess and towards a will to move and relate to people more sincerely.”
Maxine Gillon
‘Grief Filled Avenues’ is accompanied by a video which was directed by Gillon and was inspired by ‘Vagabond’ (1985) by Agnès Varda and the cinematic techniques of Béla Tarr. It was shot by Sydney artist Lucy Howroyd who also did the cover photograph for ‘Grief Filled Avenues’. Watch it below.
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