The band, originally called Periwinkle, came together in the suburbs in 1997 when 15-year-olds Dave Rennick and Hugh Boyce were joined by Alex Moore and English-born Tim Derricourt. The line-up has occasionally expanded on stage to include keyboardists Mark Bradshaw and later Ned Cooke who is now a permanent member of the band.
The band played at various all ages shows and charity benefits until they reached legal age to play in the licensed venues which are the focus of Sydney's live rock scene. The band members moved to the inner suburbs of Sydney and after various name changes settled on Dappled Cities Fly, chosen because its inappropriateness as a band name made them laugh at the time although the band 'have regretted it ever since'. Their frequent live shows drew a regular following of fans and the band became popular supporting international acts touring eastern Australia.
The band also regularly headline their own shows, very often at the Hopetoun Hotel, with bills showcasing new local groups.
Dappled Cities Fly have enjoyed and helped foster the revival since 2000 of Sydney's live music scene and the opening of several new venues. The band have made several extensive tours of Australia and toured New Zealand in 2004. In 2006 the band performed in London and at various shows in the United States, including SXSW.
Dappled Cities Fly's several early single and EP releases were critically well received and played Australia-wide on various radio stations. Their first album, A Smile, after several years in the making, was released in late 2004 and featured as album of the week on radio stations FBi and Triple J, in most of the Sydney street press and in various other media. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bernard Zuel wrote of A Smile that it "weaves between lo-fi indie rock, oddly bent pop and a kind of big-emotion, big-gesture music that seems refracted through a vaguely hallucinogenic mirror".
Their second album Granddance was recorded at various studios in Los Angeles, California. The album's cover artwork is noteworthy in having the band's name as just "Dappled Cities", minus the word "Fly"; however as Tim Derricourt explained to The Drum Media magazine, this was done mainly for artistic reasons, and does not amount to a formal name change for the band.
The band recorded a cover version of "November Rain" with local Sydney band Red Riders, a song which the two bands played together when they toured in 2007. They have also dropped the "Fly" from their moniker, simply calling themselves "Dappled Cities", though the band remains elusive as to why they have truncated the name.
On February 27th, 2008, a bulletin was posted on the band's myspace announcing that Hugh Boyce had left the band to pursue a career in bio-mechanical engineering. In the following months, the band announced the arrival of their new drummer, Allan Kumpulainen.
Beach Song
Dappled Cities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But more often than not a vague sound emerged from the sea
From a horrible horse sized sea anemone
It said 'I hear you curly voices
Over other annoyances
And you swim out and so far
But you never told me your name'
Carbon's on a healthy tow and moderately sways to and fro
The queue moves slowly but the current plays with its repeated crows
And the order of things is laughably low
But I wade in line
Yes I wade in line
'I hear you curly voices
Over other annoyances
And you swim out and so far
But you never told me your name'
You never told me your name
In Dappled Cities’ "Beach Song," the lyrics reveal a surreal scene that seems to transcend reality. The opening lines, "Carbon's on its naked spree as holidays always should be," sets the stage for a vacation where people shed their inhibitions and embrace their primal nature. However, amidst the carefree atmosphere, there is an unsettling presence lurking in the sea. The lyrics describe a "horse-sized sea anemone" that emits a strange and eerie sound. The creature speaks to the swimmers, asking them for their names, and their lack of response suggests a fear or discomfort with the bizarre encounter.
As the song progresses, the verses shift to the perspective of the singer, who observes an absurd and comical scene of people waiting in a slow-moving line at the beach. The lyrics remark on the irony of how the natural forces of the water play with the beachgoers, while they try to impose a strict sense of order on their vacation. The repeated refrain of "I hear you curly voices, over other annoyances," highlights the futility of trying to impose order on a chaotic and unpredictable environment.
The final line, "You never told me your name," serves as a poignant reminder that even in a crowded and lively vacation destination, there are moments of isolation and a sense of disconnection. The song captures the paradoxical nature of a vacation, which promises escape and liberation from the routine but also exposes one's vulnerability and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Carbon's on its naked spree as holidays always should be
Nature is thriving as it should be during vacations
But more often than not a vague sound emerged from the sea
Despite the beauty of nature, there is often an unsettling feeling
From a horrible horse sized sea anemone
The unsettling feeling is embodied by a monstrous sea creature
It said 'I hear you curly voices
The creature speaks, addressing the humans it sees on the shore
Over other annoyances
The creature hears the humans amongst the other sounds of the ocean
And you swim out and so far
The creature observes the humans swimming far out into the ocean
But you never told me your name'
The creature is curious about the humans but they remain nameless
Carbon's on a healthy tow and moderately sways to and fro
Nature's rhythm continues, moving steadily back and forth
The queue moves slowly but the current plays with its repeated crows
The line of people on the shore moves slowly while the ocean's current is constant and playful
And the order of things is laughably low
The hierarchy of nature is insignificant and somewhat comedic
But I wade in line
The singer waits in the line, surrounded by the beauty and chaos of nature
Yes I wade in line
The artist emphasizes their willingness to experience the world around them, even if it means waiting patiently
You never told me your name
The creature's curiosity about the humans remains unanswered
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.