Dave wrote this publicity blurb for his only solo album (released in 1994 and very hard to get). I wonder what his label at the time, Mushroom, thought about the summation of songs. Not your normal publicity sweetening for our David. I’m pretty sure the publicist’s handbook recommends steering clear of such words as sickening in song descriptions.

Biography in one paragraph:
Born in 1962 Perth, worked as a rat house attendant after leaving school. The Triffids form 1978, play Perth venues. First single 1981. The Triffids leave home Jan 1982 for Sydney, Melbourne. Two singles/EPs on the White Label. First LP Treeless Plain on Hot 1983. Extensive Australian touring. 1984 depart for England. Release Raining Pleasure, Field Of Glass, You Don’t Miss Your Water. 1985 extensive European and Australian touring for the next few years, including Australian Made and a brief American sojourn. Release of Born Sandy Devotional 1986. Sign to Island Records. Calenture in’87, The Black Swan in ’88, Stockholm in ’89.Solo single Willie The Torch with Adam Peters. Tour fatigue sets in, madness ensues. Or rather, ennui. The Triffids wind down, play last shows in Australia late ’89. The Blackeyed Susans form, release several EPs. 1990 David McComb moves solo to London. 1990/1991 spent recording scores of demos, negotiating with lawyers, recod companies and managers. Fun. Play shows in the UK with backing band the Red Ponies. The Message EP recorded with Stephen Street released. 1992 return/relocate to Melbourne. Work with the Blackeyed Susans, release Welcome Stranger EP. Re-sign to Mushroom. Record Love Of Will.

About the album:
Four years in the making, Love Of Will is David McComb’s debut solo LP. McComb spent the ’80s as the lead singer/songwriter of the Triffids, who achieved success overseas (primarily in Europe where they were based in the second half of the decade) releasing seven albums and touring to critical acclaim. Love Of Will marks the next phase of McComb’s career. Putting aside work with his other band The Blackeyed Susans, he picked 13 songs out of a pile of 35 and recorded them in Melbourne with producer Nick Mainsbridge. Eschewing the heavily programmed electronic direction of his two previous solo singles (Willie The Torch and The Message) and the wild excitement of the late period Triffids, the album simply emphasises hte quality of the songs in simple rock, pop, blues and ballad styles. Atmosphere and arrangement suit the demands of each lyric.
The musicians handpicked for this venture were Martyn P Casey (Triffids, Bad Seeds), Peter Luscombe (Black Sorrows, Chris Wilson), Bruce Haymes (Stephen Cummings etc) on bass, drums and piano/organ respectively. Love Of Will’s secret weapon is the infamous Evil Graham Lee (Paradise Vendors, Triffids, Blackeyed Susans) on an array of stringed instruments. Daniel Denholm (programming) and Warren Lee Ellis (violin) added a touch of drama and colour to the proceedings.
Late Feb 1994 will see the release of a single from the LP, Setting You Free and also McComb’s debut Australian tour.

About the songs:
Clear Out My Mind – a tribute to the great Geto Boys song My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me. A tribute to the perseverance of affection under deep paranoia.
Setting You Free – just a pleasant song about emotional S&M and the importance of asserting oneself as the weaker partner in any relationship, thereby gaining the upper hand.
Day Of My Ascension – originally titled Bush Ascension this sort of Jesus complex can only occur within Perth and its environs. A spaghetti western in psychotically hot weather.
Deep In A Dream – a tribute to Chet Baker’s appearance in the film Let’s Get Lost, wherein he lovingly describes the recipe for his favourite drug, a snowball. The song shares its title with an old De Lange/Van Heusen standard sung by Sinatra and Baker himself.
Nothing Good – a very old (1980), very nasty song despite pleasant musical backing. 1993 rewrite involving increasing spite and ill-will tenfold.
The Lord Burns Every Clue – a detective story with no twist and no ending (and no plot and no characters for that matter).
Lifelike – a simple personal love song in the form of a hymn.
Lover Sister#1 – a small oasis of inane good naturedness amongst otherwise harsh surroundings. Its companion piece Lover Sister#2 was unfortunately too vindictive even for inclusion on this album.
Heard You Had A Bed – a sickening excercise in cynical, mercenary opportunism. but there is surely a kinder, gentler heart beating somewhere in there? I doubt it.
Inside Of Me – not, as it might appear, a solipsistic singer/songwriter whine. companion to I Want To Conquer You. Another song about the importance of creating a powerful vacuum of weakness. Hence black holes and the Hoover Corporation.
Leaning – a song about a source of great comfort.
I Want To Conquer You – a love song about Germany’s annexation of Poland, the soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, Hungary etc etc (Kuwait, Bosnia….fill in your own love story).
Pack Up Your Troubles – The Happy Ending. Kindness triumphs over manipulation and duplicity. The essential goodness of the human spirit is reaffirmed.

© David McComb