Photo by Nick McKinlay
Melbourne/Naarm instrumental outfit Surprise Chef have developed a distinctive sound drawing from jazz-funk, psychedelic soul, hip-hop, and vintage film soundtracks. Emerging from the close-knit musical community surrounding College of Knowledge Records, the group balances tightly interlocking rhythms, evocative melodies, and an increasingly sophisticated approach to composition.
Their new album, Frogs in a Pond, arrived October 23 on Concord Jazz. Recorded live to tape over nine days, the record pays tribute to the suspenseful music of 1970s Italian giallo cinema, placing greater emphasis on atmosphere, composition, and the interplay between instruments, all while maintaining the group's unmistakable quest to attain pure groove.
I caught up with guitarist Lachlan Stuckey to discuss the album's origins and compositional palette, his influences and distinctive percussive approach to playing guitar, and the broader Melbourne musical community. We also touched on the band's love of basketball, particularly the Cleveland Cavaliers, ahead of their November 20 appearance at the Grog Shop.
