High Ace is the new musical project of Alison Ferrier and Jeff Lang.
The talented husband and wife duo will debut their new album Snowcap Menace at a limited series of very special shows, including The Imperial Hotel Eumundi on Saturday 6 August.
Joining them on stage for the album launch will be Amy Valent Curlis on marimba and percussion.
This is an astonishing album of contemporary musical storytelling empowered by a foundation of guitar-led folk and stringed global ethno-influences.
It explores the collective musical powers of Alison and Jeff, also allowing their individual flairs to flourish.
When 2020 and 2021 left many Melbourne musicians playing alone in lockdown, Alison and Jeff soon realised they had another option.
“Wanna make a record?” one of them stammered, and High Ace was born.
High Ace is imbibed with a rare synergy and they quickly discovered a unique and magical song-writing method, deciphering strange incantations played in reverse, and what the unusual, twisting cadences of those vocalisations were telling them.
This radical departure in the song-writing process was prompted when Ali and Jeff’s kids used the reverse function on a family video rendition of Happy Birthday… suddenly one of the most recognisable melodies in the world became strange and otherworldly.
Jeff explains further.
“Oftentimes one of us could hear a sentence implied where the other could not.
“After we’d written down what we each had decoded from the backwards improvised recordings, we’d listen again to see if we could fill in the gaps.
“There’d usually be a kind of thrust to the lyrics that we could follow, even though what we were transcribing wasn’t actually in any real language.”
Expect a considered set of twisted folk and a unique sonic experience – showcasing one of Australia’s finest guitarist-songwriters in Jeff, with fine fiddle, vocals and guitar from Alison.
TICKETS: $30 (+ booking fee) through Oztix. 18+ event. Doors open 7.30pm.
The Imperial Hotel’s free courtesy bus operates Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm, travelling to Eumundi, Belli Park, Cooroy, Doonan, Eerwah Vale, North Arm, and Verrierdale. Phone Aaron on 0478 814 169 on the day to book.
