The Paradise Motel
| Company type | Independent rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
| Website | www |
The Paradise Motel is an independent rock group originating from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. In 1994, the band moved to Melbourne, where they produced two albums under Mushroom Records: Still Life (1996) and Flight Paths (1998). Following their relocation to the United Kingdom, they issued Reworkings (1999) before disbanding in 2000. The ensemble reunited in 2008 and subsequently released Australian Ghost Story (2010), I Still Hear Your Voice at Night (2011), and Oh Boy (2013).
1994–1998: Origins and initial recordings
The band was established in Hobart, Tasmania, initially comprising Matt Aulich on electric guitar, Matt Bailey handling bass, and Charles Bickford playing acoustic guitar. After performing a single local gig, they shifted base to Melbourne in 1995. Mérida Sussex joined as the lead singer, with Mark "BJ" Austin contributing on the Hammond organ and Tim O'Shannassy on drums. Their debut performance in Melbourne took place at the Carlton Movie House on Valentine's Day 1995, initiating a pattern of selecting unconventional venues for shows. They entered into management with Bruce Milne's company, The Shining Path, and secured a recording contract with Mushroom Records, releasing their first six-track EP, Left Over Life to Kill, in 1996 through Infectious Records.
Reception among critics was mixed regarding the band's intense and atmospheric soundscapes; while some acclaimed them as the most compelling new act of 1996, others considered their style excessively somber. The EP was lauded for its vividness and confidence, achieving the No. 2 position on the Australian Alternative Charts and ranking among the best-selling alternative releases of that year. Their subsequent EP, Some Deaths Take Forever, included remixes, out-takes, and a cover version of The Triffids' "Raining Pleasure"; its limited edition of 2,000 hand-numbered copies sold out rapidly. The artwork for both EPs maintained a cohesive aesthetic reminiscent of Penguin Classics. In September 1996, the band embarked on a national tour supporting Tex Perkins.
In early 1997, The Paradise Motel unveiled their debut full-length album, Still Life, which featured an additional disc of out-takes titled Junk Mail. Preceding this release was the October 1996 single "Bad Light," illustrating their self-described approach of blending "violence and silence." February 1998 saw the release of "Heavy Weather," accompanied by a music video that highlighted a richer sonic palette targeting international audiences. The single "Calling You" was promoted within the UK market, followed by "Derwent River Star" released in Australia in June. They supported Stereolab during their Australian tour in January 1998 and later toured the UK alongside indie bands Grandaddy and Sparklehorse.
1998–2000: UK relocation and dissolution
In September 1998, The Paradise Motel moved to the United Kingdom and launched their sophomore album, Flight Paths, characterized by more layered production. Subsequent singles were released alongside a UK tour that earned accolades from Melody Maker, describing them as "a deliciously unsettling proposition." Mushroom and Infectious Records signed them as the inaugural act for their London division. Following European tours, they supported Mercury Rev during a North American leg that included appearances at the College Music Journal Festival in New York and North by Northwest Festival. In March 1999, they issued a cover of The Cars' 1984 hit "Drive." October brought forth Reworkings, a remix album featuring contributions from artists such as Mogwai, Mark Eitzel, and Echoboy. Lee Ranaldo’s remix titled "Lee's Trees" was released as a single. The group continued performing in the UK alongside acts like The Divine Comedy, Smog, and Drugstore, but no further recordings emerged before their breakup in early 2000.
2000–2008: The interim period
Following the group's breakup, Aulich, Sussex, Austin, and O'Shannassy remained based in the United Kingdom. Aulich became a member of the indie band Drugstore before relocating back to Australia to establish the alternative country ensemble Small Sips alongside Bailey and Karl Smith from Sodastream.[1] Subsequently, Smith and Bailey launched Melbourne’s Lee Memorial in 2009.[2] Sussex released a solo record and later collaborated with guitarist and producer Paul Jones to form Candy.[3] In 2003, Sussex co-founded the Stolen Recordings label together with Jones and Rachael Robb.[4]
Austin pursued a degree in architecture and married Gina Morris, a former NME journalist and ex-member of Stereolab. O'Shannassy completed a PhD focusing on music and literature in London and later taught at various institutions in New York. Bickford spent a year living in Melbourne before returning to London; he married publicist and journalist Lauren Zoric in 2004. He became the keyboardist for Paloma & The Penetrators, fronted by Paloma Faith. In 2005, Bickford co-presented ITV’s prime-time show The Golden Lot alongside Carol Vorderman. By 2007, he and Zoric had resettled in Melbourne.
2008–present: Reunion
In January 2008, The Paradise Motel regrouped, reuniting Aulich, Austin, Bickford, and Sussex with new additions Damien Hill on drums and Esme MacDonald, formerly of Penthouse, on bass. They commenced work on their third studio album, I Still Hear Your Voice at Night, which was postponed until its release on 29 January 2011 following Hill’s tragic suicide in December.[5][6] This record continued to explore motifs of mortality, disappearance, and the Australian landscape.[6] Violinist Campbell Shaw joined the lineup after the album was completed.
The band began recording their fourth album, Australian Ghost Story, in mid-2009 with drummer Andy Hazel (formerly of Tacoma Radar, School of Emotional Engineering, The Ruby Suns). This album focuses on the Azaria Chamberlain disappearance case and was released on 11 June 2010, coinciding with what would have been her 30th birthday.[6] It was met with favorable critical acclaim.[7][8][9]
Their subsequent release, Oh Boy, arrived in September 2013 as the second part of a planned trilogy examining themes of Australian self-reflection and cultural aspirations.[10]
Musical style
The Paradise Motel’s sound typically features a blend of acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, Hammond organ, pedal steel, along with occasional string quartet elements. The band earned a reputation for being "sonically adventurous," often deconstructing and reimagining their own compositions. Their signature style juxtaposes minimalism and melancholy with sudden surges of intensity—capturing what has been described as "the violence and the silence." Their lyrics and vocal delivery frequently delve into somber and macabre subject matter. Songwriting responsibilities primarily rested with Bickford, while Aulich took charge of most string arrangements and instrumental orchestration.
Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Still Life |
|
— |
| Left Over Life to Kill |
|
— |
| Flight Paths |
|
83 |
| Australian Ghost Story |
|
— |
| I Still Hear Your Voice at Night |
|
— |
| Oh Boy |
|
— |
EPs
| Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Left Over Life to Kill |
|
| Some Deaths Take Forever |
|
| Bad Light |
|
| Please Keep Me Safe |
|
| Reworkings |
|
Other appearances
- In 1997, three songs—"Ashes," "German Girl," and "Bad Light"—were featured on the fifth season of the Australian television series Heartbreak High.
- The track "German Girl," along with a rendition of The Cars' "Drive," was included on the soundtrack for the movie He Died with a Felafel in His Hand.
- Tracks by the band have also been part of compilation albums distributed with magazines such as NME, Melody Maker, and Select.
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are held annually to honor outstanding achievement and creativity across all styles within the Australian music industry. The awards were first introduced in 1987.
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Flight Paths | Best Adult Alternative Album | Nominated |
References
General
Specific
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedInertia - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedRemote - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedStolen - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedMusicWeek - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedLevin - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSchaefer - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedPRInfectious3 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedMeagher - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHammond - ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).