The Sunday Painters
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in Wollongong, Australia |
| Founder | Peter MacKinnon, Peter Raengel |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Wollongong , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
The Sunday Painters were an avant-pop group originating from Wollongong, Australia, formed in 1979 by Peter MacKinnon (guitar) and Peter Raengel (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards). In 1982, Dennis Kennedy joined as the bass guitarist and transitioned to lead guitar by 1984. The band produced two studio albums: Something to Do (1982) and Fourth Annual Report (1983), before dissolving in 1986. In 2015, the American record label What's Your Rupture? released a compilation titled In My Dreams, which assembled their early EPs along with a live album. Peter Raengel passed away in September 2008.
History
Established in Wollongong in 1979, The Sunday Painters initially featured Bruce Ellis on synthesizers (formerly of Art Throbs), Peter MacKinnon handling guitar duties, Katherine Lorenc providing vocals, flute, and keyboards, and Peter Raengel covering vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards (previously with Winged Death and Art Throbs). Ellis and Raengel had been collaborators since their secondary school years, guiding the band's style as a fusion of "part-pop/rock garage band, part-classical experimentalists," exploring themes such as oppression, alienation, pain, and identity. Both MacKinnon and Raengel were alumni of Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts. Raengel later reflected that their musical journey began with simultaneous learning of instruments and songwriting.
In 1980, the band released two three-track EPs: Alternatives to Perfection in April and Painting by Numbers. A third EP followed in 1981. According to musicologist Ian McFarlane, their sound combined elements of garage rock with early Velvet Underground influences. Their first full-length album, Something to Do (1982), displayed a variety of styles inspired by UK band Wire ("Emotion Sickness") and 1970s krautrock acts Faust and Neu! ("ECT"). That same year Dennis Kennedy joined on bass; by 1984 Ellis and Lorenc had exited the group, Kennedy shifted to lead guitar while Allan Coop took over bass responsibilities and Eddie Zeidan contributed on alto saxophone.
The band's sophomore album, Fourth Annual Report (1983), featured an array of tracks ranging from harsh numbers like "God is My Biro" to haunting pieces such as "Surface Paradise" and expansive soundscapes exemplified by "Through a Shattered Lens." Shortly after this release, MacKinnon departed. Subsequent lineup modifications included bassists Kerrie Erwin and Tony Tziolas as well as drummer Chris Flanagan. The group ceased recording activities before disbanding in 1986. Peter Raengel died in 2008 at the age of 47.
In 2015, the US-based label What's Your Rupture? issued a compilation entitled In My Dreams, which encompassed their early EPs alongside live recordings. Glen Humphries of the Illawarra Mercury attributed the band's limited recognition during their active years to their unconventional blend of electronic noise, rock, dissonant pop, classical influences, punk, and jazz—genres that were considered too experimental for Wollongong’s music scene in the 1980s.
Members
- Bruce Ellis – synthesizers
- Peter MacKinnon – guitar
- Katherine Lorenc – vocals, flute, keyboards
- Peter Raengel – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards (deceased 2008)
- Dennis Kennedy – bass guitar, guitar
- Allan Coop – bass guitar
- Eddie Zeidan – alto saxophone
- Kerrie Erwin – bass guitar
- Tony Tziolas – bass guitar
- Chris Flanagan – drums
Studio Albums
- Something to Do (1982) – Released by Terminal Records
- Fourth Annual Report (1983) – Issued through Terminal Records
Compilation Releases
- In My Dreams (2015) – Distributed by What's Your Rupture?
Live Recordings
- On the Beach (1983)
EPs
- Like a Reptile (1979)
- In My Dreams (1980)
- Alternatives to Perfection (April 1980)
- Painting by Numbers (October 1980)
- Three Kinds of Escapism (1981)
References
External links
- Official Website archived from the original site on 25 June 2013, accessed 12 May 2024.
- Blog entry: https://sundaypaintersamemory.blogspot.com/