The Native Cats are a duo who have a built up a strong reputation in the indie scene in Australia for their visceral, innovative post punk music and do-it-yourself style through their label Rough Skies. Based in Nipaluna/Hobart, they have just released a double sided 7″ single with the tracks ‘Aces Low’ and ‘Lose Count’ and we are honoured to premiere the video for ‘Aces Low’.
The singles illustrate the vitality and boundless creativity of this band.
‘Aces Low’ has a motorik beat and haunting expressive keys with melancholy vocals over an ambulant bass. It represents a more restrained, reflective side of the band. The melody is indelible and visceral: an unashamed antipodean expression that is redolent of Robert Forster from The Go-Betweens with the same wry exposition.
The video we are premiering today is for this track and directed by Augustine Garcia. The video is a series of raw hand-held camera shots of friends going about their life – joyful engagements, simple vignettes where the mundanity of existence is celebrated, filled as it is with a guileless charm. Inherent in the footage is a sense of poignancy created by the music itself and there is an aching beauty in this simplicity:
Second track on the double single is ‘Lose Count’ which reflects the duo’s more abrasive punk roots with a fuzzy bass and snotty delivery that positively drips with a swaggering attitude, a raised eyebrow and hand-on-hip insolence. The track builds up with computer blips and sonic squiggles in the ether. It’s a raw, visceral and thrilling ride.
The Native Cats are certainly one local species to be preserved and cherished. There is something about their native terrain in their sound: wild, untamed yet ultimately beautiful.
The tracks were recorded by Zac Blain (A.Swayze & the Ghosts, who also drums on the record) at Julian’s home in West Hobart over a weekend in Autumn 2025. The artwork for the record is by New York artist Bachelor Soft, who previously did the design for the “The Way On Is The Way Off” LP & the band’s first ever t-shirt.
Chloe Alison Escott – vocals, electronics, lap steel guitar on “Aces Low”
Julian Teakle – bass, Space Echo piloting on “Lose Count”
featuring Zac Blain on drums
The Native Cats have three upcoming gigs to launch their new 7″:
Dick Diver, The Native Cats & The Green Child at the Thornbury Theatre, Saturday 2nd of August, in Naarm/Melbourne. (sold out)
The Native Cats, the Pits, High Shine and more at the Mount Stuart Primary Winter Arts Festival, Friday 8th of August – free show
The Native Cats 7″ launch with Chamberwoman & Woolworths\\Flushot, Altar Bar, Saturday 16th of August. Tickets: here and details below.
Feature Photograph: Eden Meure
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