The Cannanes are a longstanding Australian indie pop band formed in Sydney in late 1984.

History [link]

The original line-up of the band was Stephen O'Neil (vocals, guitar), Annabel Bleach (vocals), Michelle Cannane (guitar and percussion), Frances Gibson (bass), and David Nichols (drums).^[1] The band released their first single "Life"/"It's Hardly Worth It" in a limited edition of just 12 cassettes in 1985, followed the same year by a cassette album, The Cannanes Come Across with the Goods. The band's first vinyl release was the Bored Angry & Jealous EP in 1986, which was proclaimed 'Single of the Year' by The Legend! writing (typically hyperbolically) in the NME.^[1][2] Bleach left in 1987; Susan Grigg joined briefly on violin, but she and Cannane left soon afterwards ^[2] The band underwent several line-up changes over the years: Randall Lee (of Ashtray Boy) was a member of the group in 1987-88 during which time they recorded their debut album, The African Man's Tomato and two singles, "Cardboard" and "I think the Weather's affected your brain".

The Cannanes released their second album, "A love affair with nature" in 1989, on their own label (or rather on no label at all). They toured the United States for the first time in 1991, recording the Caveat Emptor album to coincide with it, although it was not released until 1993.^[2] Numerous other releases followed; core additional members in the early 1990s included bassist/vocalists Gavin Butler (on the albums Arty Barbecue and Short Poppy Syndrome) and Francesca Bussey (on a self-titled album and a long EP, Tiny Frown). Nichols left in the mid-1990s to form Driving Past with Gig Ryan, Andrew Withycombe and Mia Schoen; his immediate replacement was Ivor Moulds. O'Neil and Gibson remained constant members, returning in early 1998 with the It's a Fine Line Between Pleasure and Pain EP, and an album, Living the Dream, later that year. In the 2000s, the band collaborated with electronica artist Explosion Robinson on the Felicity and Electro 2000 EPs and Trouble Seemed So Far Away album; and also collaborated with Steward (aka Stewart Anderson of Boyracer fame) on the Communicating at an Unknown Rate LP/CD and the Felicity EP.^[1] In 2011 it was announced that the band would release a new album, Howling at all Hours.

Discography [link]

Singles / EPs [link]

• "Life" (1985) Happy Penis (cassette-only)
• The Cannanes Come across With the Goods EP (1985) (cassette-only)
• Bored Angry & Jealous EP (1986) Distant Violins
• No One EP (1987) K
• Happy Swing cassette -only EP (1987) K
• "Cardboard" (1988)
• "I Think the Weather's Affected Your Brain" (1988)
• Stumpvision EP (1992) Ajax
• Frightening Thing EP (1994) K
• Prototype EP (1994) Little Teddy
• Simple Question EP (1996) Ajax
• Price You Pay EP (1996) H (split with Sleepy Township)
• It's a Fine Line Between Pleasure and Pain EP (1998) Harriet
• "Lamington Lane" (1998) Blackbean & Placenta (split with Timonium)
• Australian Tour EP (2000) Blackbean & Placenta
• "Miserable" (2000) 555/Yo-Yo
• Electro 2000 EP (2000)
• Felicity EP (2001) 555 (split with Steward & Explosion Robinson)
• Crank It Up! EP (2001) Blackbean & Placenta
• Grassy Flat EP (2008) Dark Beloved Cloud

Albums [link]

• The African Man's Tomato (1987)
• A Love Affair With Nature (1989) No label (reissued 1990 on Feel Good All Over)
• A Love Affair With Nature (1995) Ajax (CD reissue with additional tracks)
• Caveat Emptor (1993) Feel Good All Over
• Short Poppy Syndrome (1994) Ajax
• Witchetty Pole (1994) Ajax (compilation of first EP and first album)
• The Cannanes (1996) Ajax
• Living the Dream (1998) Chapter
• Arty Barbecue (1998) Ajax
• Tiny Frown (1998) Yo-Yo
• Communicating at an Unknown Rate (2000) 555/Yo-Yo (with Steward)
• Trouble Seemed So Far Away (2002) Slabco (with Explosion Robinson)

References [link]

External links [link]

• Official website
• Cannanes MySpace website
• Sprague, David "Cannanes" at Trouser Press