Not from There
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 in London, England |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Key people | Anthony Hills (bass), Simon Lambert (drums), Heinz Riegler (lead guitar, vocals) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Not from There was an Australian indie rock trio established in 1991 in London, England, consisting of Anthony Hills on bass, Simon Lambert on drums, and Heinz Riegler handling lead guitar and vocals. The band moved to Brisbane in 1992. Their 1998 track "Sich Öffnen" earned a spot on radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 list. Their first full-length album, Sand on Seven (released September 1998), secured the Best Alternative Release at the 1999 ARIA Music Awards. Their musical style was characterized by heavy bass grooves, distorted guitar riffs, and occasional incorporation of dub effects or sampling.
1991–1997: Formation and early years
Formed in 1991 by Austrian-born guitarist and vocalist Heinz Riegler, Not from There came together when Riegler met Australian expatriates Simon Lambert (drums) and Anthony Hills (bass) in London. Initially performing under the name the Rubber Dolls, they recorded tracks and performed live shows around London, debuting live at the Mean Fiddler venue in February 1991.
The band’s name was inspired by their immigrant identities and experiences with deportation. They released four EPs during this period; early works included the six-track CD Conned (1991) and the eight-track cassette Wooden Polished Floors (1992), both issued through Trinity Records in the UK. After Hills and Lambert faced deportation from the UK, followed by Riegler, the trio relocated to Brisbane.
In September 1994, they put out a seven-track CD titled Valid to 06/95 via the independent Malignant Records label. Although Riegler was deported to Austria in 1995, he managed to return by 1996. The group then released a self-titled five-track EP, Not from There, in October 1997 through Infectious Records. This recording took place at Brisbane’s Sunshine Studios with producer Magoo—known for his work with Regurgitator, Automatic, and Custard)—and was distributed by Mushroom Records.
1998–1999: Release of Sand on Seven
In May 1998, Not from There issued their three-track single "What Is Better?" on Infectious/Mushroom. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane described it as “jarring rock featuring heavy guitar layers and industrial-strength samples.” Their next single, "Sich Öffnen" (translated as "Open Yourself"), came out in August with lyrics predominantly sung in Riegler’s native Austrian German. This track received considerable airplay on indie stations and national broadcaster Triple J, earning a place on the Triple J Hottest 100 chart for 1998. Releases under Infectious Records were later distributed by Sony.
Their debut album Sand on Seven, produced by Magoo and launched in September, garnered positive critical reviews alongside moderate commercial performance. Tom Schulte of AllMusic gave it three out of five stars, noting the band’s emphasis on rhythm and subtle melodic elements. Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust awarded the album an A grade, commending its innovative and noisy rock style.
At the 1999 ARIA Awards, Sand on Seven received the accolade for Best Adult Alternative Album. The band also earned nominations for Breakthrough Artist – Album and Breakthrough Artist – Single categories, while producer Magoo was nominated for Producer of the Year due to his contributions to the album. A follow-up single titled "Juanita's Cocktail Party" was released in January 1999 accompanied by a music video but did not achieve the same level of chart success as previous releases.
2000–2001: Latvian Lovers
For the Australian movie Sample People (May 2000), Not from There produced a rendition of Supernaut's "I Like It Both Ways", characterized as a "moody reinterpretation" of the 1976 glam rock classic. Their sophomore album, Latvian Lovers, was released on 12 September 2000 through Festival Mushroom Records, with production by Magoo. This record embraced a stronger disco and funk influence, incorporating electronic sounds to create a more accessible style, though it did not achieve the same critical recognition as their first album. Adam Gould of Woroni observed the band's transition from heavy distortion toward the use of sequencers and synthesizers, while still preserving their distinctive essence.
Peter Peterson from Mediasearch remarked on the album's "wistful, nearly desperate atmosphere" infused with European stylistic elements. Additionally, music critic Ed Nimmervoll selected it as Album of the Week in February 2001, commending its fusion of pop rhythms, playful irreverence, a balance between rock and dance genres, and a focus on technology-driven production.
The album’s lead single, "Frisco Disco" (January 2001), achieved modest commercial success but was featured on the soundtrack for the Australian television series The Secret Life of Us. Nick Coppack of Oz Music Project likened its energetic electro beats and falsetto vocals to those of The Bee Gees.
Not from There dissolved in 2001. Reflecting in 2017, Riegler acknowledged that much of the band's original camaraderie had diminished during their final years together.
2002–present: Post-split
Following the breakup, Heinz Riegler engaged in multiple musical ventures, including collaborations with Lawrence English and Tam Patton within the experimental ambient/noise ensemble I/O3, releasing two projects under English’s Room 40 label. Simon Lambert became a member of the Japanese band Zoobombs, participating in tours and recordings from 2003 through 2004.
In July 2008, Riegler was named among the finalists for the Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship, an award established by the Queensland Government to honor the legacy of The Go-Betweens co-founder.
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sand on Seven |
|
| Latvian Lovers |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Conned |
|
| Polished Wooden Floors |
|
| Valid to 06/95 |
|
| Not from There |
|
Charting singles
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Frisco Disco" | 2000 | 89 | Latvian Lovers |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have been held annually to honor outstanding achievements and creativity within the Australian music industry.
! |- |rowspan="4"|1999 | "Sich Offnen" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | |rowspan="4"| |- |rowspan="2"| Sand on Seven | Breakthrough Artist - Album | |- | Best Adult Alternative Album | |- | Magoo for Sand on Seven | Producer of the Year | |-