a mongrel musical history...
 

We've been making and recording music for a long while now, since before we first landed in America in 1991. Like ourselves the music changes, evolves, (mutates?) as time rolls on. We're not who we were.

Nor is our music, though threads weave thru ... Suddenly one day you turn around and have quite a colourful history behind you. It's interesting having a soundtrack to go with that history, those
stories ...

The revisiting began early in 2006 (or was it late 2005?) with the process of putting together 'As You Were', the first ever BROTHER compilation. It continues now as Hamish and i choose tracks - many now out of print, others previously unreleased - and remember the music and the times ...
 

remembering the music and times...

The Terrain Around Here is Far Too Dangerous
This album is a record of our first real live theatre show, complete with actors and multimedia. 2 stereo microphones captured the final performance night as it was. An intimate little theatre. A live acoustic performance. Some very special guests.

As You Were
A collection of 20 favourite songs from the first 13 years of BROTHER, voted for by you. We think you chose well. Includes a powerful remix/remake by Dave Dale of the first BROTHER tune ('The Machine', recorded in 1991) to ever use bagpipes.

Pax Romana MMV
We really wanted to capture the feel of how we were playing these songs live. All the basic tracks went down nice and quick, just like we were on stage. Overdubbing was a magic experience with some very talented friends helping us weave a real middle eastern atmosphere through the whole album.

Mongrel Mythology, Vol. 1
This dvd really captures where we were that year. Back on the road with Dalbo again. Playing shows. Doing workshops. Making videos.  Trying to explain what it is we do. Brothers Bob and Sam did an amazing job directing and editing this offering.


Urban Cave
We love the surprising places we go to on this one and that it challenged so many people and their perception of us.

I You You Me (currently out of print)
We really push our own creative envelope with some of these tracks. The band was feeling powerful. It remains a pretty quirky little offering.

This Way Up
Recorded at The Coach House a few weeks into our first few shows after having been off the road for nine months when we'd turned our big van into a rollercoaster in the desert. We definitely caught the high energy bagpipes and rock 'n' roll vibe of the time.

Your Backyard (currently out of print)
Recorded at Colin Hay's studio in Topanga. It felt like a cross between middle earth and the Aussie bush. More than ever before, we were improvising, being in the moment, trusting, and letting go.

Digging Bone (currently out of print)
The live recording of these raw tracks in our rehearsal space was probably the band at its best in terms of capturing live energy in the studio environment. We'd love to strip this album back one day and rebuilt it. There's a log of magic within - unseen.

Exit from Screechville (currently out of print)
We were wanting to be a rock band in the studio, playing our songs. We were widening the groove as it were. "like tribesmen playing rock 'n' roll" is still one of our favorite review quotes from that time.

Black Stone Tramp (currently out of print)
The energy of coming straight off the road and into the studio - a converted garage - and recording it all in a week, really made the album. Some intense moments. But it all paid off.

Pipe Dreams (currently out of print)
The plan was to go into the studio and record in a day what we were playing busking (street performing)... Some tracks were left pretty raw, others we wanted to have some fun with.

Black & White (aka Four Heads) (currently out of print)
I really like a lot of the lyrics from this early period, but the band certainly had not yet begun to develop any kind of original sound.
 

rhubarb records releases...

other credits...

BARAKA - Hamish, Angus and Fergus' bagpipes are heard with Japanese koto drums over gripping footage of the Kuwaiti oil fires

ER 'True Lies', episode 22 (NBC,1995) -
Hamish, Angus, Fergus, and Brett play the part of Dr Morgenstern's nephews serenading the injured doctor in hospital with their pipes and drums

Twilight Zone 'Harsh Mistress' (UPN, 2002) - episode written around BROTHER's song, 'Bitch'

Transcendental Highway - CD by Colin Hay (Men At Work), 1997, bagpipes and vocals on 2 tracks

Miles Away - CD by Sam Morrison (youngest Miles Davis band member), 2005, lead vocals on 2 tracks