The Stevens

About the album

7" sold out, digital sales only.
Centred around guitarists Alex MacFarlane and Travis MacDonald, scratchy pop foursome the Stevens released a 6 song EP in 2012 that was without doubt the catchiest non-Chapter release of the year. Chapter has now reissued the EP as a handsome 7" vinyl affair. The germ of the Stevens began in 2009 when Alex met Travis at Melbourne’s Laneway Festival. Drawn together by a love for Jay Reatard, they soon discovered they also had a weakness for Flying Nun releases, Yo La Tengo and Wire. Together they started writing songs and soon enlisted the help of old school friends, Tam Matlakowski and Callum Foley.

In 2011 they officially coalesced as a band, playing scratchy, catchy pop, but shaded with complexity. MacFarlane is still in his early 20s, but has been playing in bands for almost a decade, most notably in groups such as Teen Archer, Cut Sick, Breaker Morant and Pets With Pets. Relocated New Zealander MacDonald has a shorter pedigree that takes in post-punk duo A Town In the City. In late 2012, Matlakowski and Foley departed, and were replaced by Gus Lord (Boomgates, Teen Archer) on bass and Matthew Harkin on drums. The new lineup has already supported ragged US punks the Men, and UK icons the Wedding Present and Wire.