Episode 74: Gareth Liddiard – The Drones, Tropical Fuck Storm

Ask anyone, and there's a good chance that many Australian music fans will describe Gareth Liddiard as one of the pillars of this country's music scene.For Liddiard, his musical career began back in the '90s, entering this creative world alongside the formation of The Drones, who are often regarded one of Australia's most revered bands. Alongside numerous albums and myriad live performances, The Drones took home awards like the inaugural Australian Music Prize, while 'Shark Fin Blues' was voted the best Australian song by contemporary songwriters.While The Drones would enter a hiatus of sorts in 2016, Liddiard has kept at it, forming Tropical Fuck Storm the following year. Since then, that's been his main project, though he's also dabbled with Springtime alongside luminaries Chris Abrahams and Jim White.Weird, discordant, and ever-arresting, Tropical Fuck Storm this year released 'Fairyland Codex,' their fourth studio album, and first full-length record since 2021. It's a stellar album, and one they're about to head out on the road to support with an Australian tour.This week, I was lucky enough to speak to Gareth Liddiard once again, funnily enough, just a day after 'Fairyland Codex' nabbed a spot as a finalist for the Australian Music Prize.Anyway, have a listen to Tropical Fuck Storm's 'Fairyland Codex,' buy a ticket to their upcoming tour, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.