Tag: Dez Dare

Dez Dare shares his new single – “Brutalised Robotics.”

Dez Dare launches into 2025 with a new single, “Brutalised Robotics.” On this track, Dez draws parallels with how humanity exploits technology compared to howt hey treat all living beasts… What is consciousness? What is success for an organism?Dominance or longevity? One day all sentients will eventually pry the foot from their neck.

Dez Dare (AKA Darren Smallman of labels God Unknown, BATTLE WORLDWIDE, Low Transit Industries, and bands Thee Vinyl Creatures, The Sound Platform, Warped) grew up in Geelong, Australia, where he became involved in the local punk and rock scene in1990. Sharing stages with the likes of 5678s, Cosmic Psychos, Fugazi, The Dirty Three. and the Hard-ons, before shifting his focus to running record labels. In the 2020s, we see Dez Dare take form in a spare room in Brighton, UK, where Dez starts building his own studio and producing music and videos that have been described as “sounds like MONSTER MAGNET and DEVO caught in a drug bust… highly unique and highly recommended” by MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL [Nick Odorizzi] to The Wire’s Edwin Pouncey “dynamically armed with a ten-pronged set of lyrical barbs and musical hooks that, once heard, sink deep and hold fast” to Crossfire Metal “minimalistic, electronic, psychedelic, hippie poop, that is only bearable with a hell of a lot of acid, angel dust and LSD”. On this single, Dez is joined by Laura Loriga on backing vocals, expanding on the sound of previous records and adding a new dimension to his trademark weird-n-roll.

Keep an eye on dezdare.com for all the release and touring news for 2025.

‘Brutalised Robotics’ is out 24th January 2025 via God Unknown Records. Listen + pre-save the track + watch the video.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dez Dare!]

Review: Dez Dare – A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin.

Australian musician / producer / happy weirdo Dez Dare‘s new album, A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin. sounds as intriguing and quirky as its title.

Opener “Got a Fire in My Socket” is a song about what its like to have a neurodivergent brain in a world that’s constantly clamoring for your attention. Dare mixes solid drum beats with post-punk guitar riffs and weird keyboard bloops. “Matter Vs. Matter” is about hoarding not only physical stuff, but e-clutter and mental trash as well (“10,000 options across 30,000 featured posts.”), and the only way to clear it out is by blasting it with fuzzy guitar power.

“10,000 Monkeys + An Argument with Time” uses sounds from what seem to be 16-bit video games to highlight how time is easily wasted even in a time in history when all this technology is supposed to save us time. “No One Wants to Hear It” is a fun takedown of virtue signaling with crunchy guitars and fight scene drums.

According to Dare’s notes on the album, “Gotta Cold Feeling” is about “That time when someone talked about something so boring, so long, it felt like time had fractured.” Haven’t we all been there at some point? “Entangled Entropy” is Dare apologizing for his sometimes uncontrollable behavior and explaining what it’s like to be autistic (“The wires don’t connect sometimes. Don’t you see? My waves aren’t free.”).

On “Call My City, Don’t Call My Telephone,” Dare pleads with everyone not to waste his time (or anyone else’s). God bless him for calling out time wasters, “shirtless bros,” and “standing in line” with his shredding solo and growling bass. “Josephine Says Explode” has Dare encouraging us to let our emotions out now and then. That stuff will eat you from within if you don’t.

The Osees-like fuzz and funk of “Schrödinger’s Apocalypse” is a fun track about living in a time of uncertainty, and how perhaps ignoring the uncertainty is the best path. “The Elasticity of Knowing” takes down racists and xenophobes by challenging them (and all of us, really) to travel and experience other cultures in order to see and acknowledge that others exist outside our little cocoons.

Finally, on “A Billion Voices Screaming, Hello Void!”, Dare encourages us to embrace the end and not fear death (“When the call comes, fear not for what’s been done, we all return to where we begun…”). The garage rock drums and distorted guitars certainly help give you confidence to step into the void.

This is a fun, wild record that mixes punk lyrics with touches of Zen. Don’t skip it.

Keep your mind open.

[I gotta warm feeling that you’re going to subscribe today.]

[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

Dez Dare shares his new single – “Got a Fire in My Socket.”

UK psych-punk Dez Dare shares the first single and video today from his forthcoming new album A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin worldwide. Watch & share “Got a Fire In My Socket” via YouTube HERE & hear on all DSPs HERE.

Dez Dare kicks off UK tour dates in April, with more to follow in the EU and Australia. Please see current dates below.

A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin. features 11 songs that delve further into the void than previous records, leaving the sardonic frustration behind for sarcastic existentialism, zeroing in on the big philosophical questions, and the pedantic shards of nonsense that make up our existence.

This track is a fuzzed up, bass and synth driven, stomper that tackles the biggest question of all… as the wires fray from the burden of existence + the last sparks shimmer in your consciousness, the void has one simple question… “What tunes do you want playing on the way out?”

The Stooges ‘Real Cool Time’? 

The Triffids ‘A Trick of the Light’?

Judy & the Jerks ‘Good Time’?

Nicki Minaj ‘Red Ruby Da Sleeze’?

Whatever your taste, the small things matter. Make it a strong choice!

The self-produced Australian has spent over 3 decades producing music, releasing and touring bands, and doing live sound for z-grade metal bands. Growing up in the coastal town of Geelong (Djilang) in Australia, he was introduced to the DIY punk and rock scene at 15 and this community and the ideas rooted in the underground music scene have guided his output and ethics throughout his career.

This year Dez will be joining forces with label titans God Unknown (Cassels / Duke Garwood / James Johnston + Steve Gullick / KLÄMP / Oneida / Laura Loriga / Monster Magnet / Wellwater Conspiracy [Soundgarden + Monster Magnet]) and will be producing a deluxe version of the album on blob color vinyl and includes a comic book illustrated by Mike Keane. In true nerd fashion the comic also features Top 10s by Dez, Jason Stoll (God Unknown), Matthew Barnhart (Chicago Mastering Service), Mike Keane, and the album illustrator MALMALL.

A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin. will be released on LP, CD and download on March 1st via God Unknown Records.

DEZ DARE LIVE 2024:

04/12 Coventry, UK – The Tin Music & Arts

04/13 Birmingham, UK – Dark Horse

04/19 Falmouth, UK – Fish Factory Art Space

04/20 Plymouth, UK – Underground

04/25 Portsmouth, UK – The Loft at The Kings

April & May (EU), June & July (AU)

Keep your mind open.

[I dare you to subscribe.]

[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]