Not Drowning, Waving

Not Drowning, Waving(styled asnot drowning, waving) were a musical group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1983 byDavid Bridieand John Phillips. Their music combined elements ofrock,ambient musicandworld music; their lyrics dealt with characteristically Australian topics: word-pictures of landscapes and people, the seasons, and some political issues – such asIndonesia's invasion ofEast Timor. The group released six studio albums and two soundtracks until disbanding in 1994, they briefly reformed in 2001, 2003 and 2005–2006. From 2005 to 2007, they issued three compilation albums. Not Drowning, Waving won theARIA Award for Best Independent Releaseat theARIA Music Awards of 1992forProof, their soundtrack for the 1991 film of thesame name. In 1991, Bridie and fellow members of Not Drowning, Waving, formed a side-project,My Friend The Chocolate Caketo play moreacoustic-based material.
Not Drowning, Waving were formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1983 byDavid Bridieand John Phillips.Bridie and Phillips are trained in classical music and met when Bridie, on keyboards, was composing a track, "Moving Around" and asked Phillips to provide guitar.Their name is derived fromStevie Smith's poem "Not Waving but Drowning".Rowan McKinnon soon joined on bass guitar and they recorded "Moving Around" with a drum machine.Other atmospheric instrumentals were recorded at theLaTrobe University's music department's studio."Moving Around" was released as their debut single in April 1984 on the Rampant Records label.Tim Cole on vocals and Russel Bradley on drums joined the group.Another Pondwas released in January 1985. In September 1985, the band released a dance single, "Mr Pooh, (Do Be a Don't Be)".
Not Drowning, Waving's second album,The Little Desertwas released in January 1986.Bridie and Phillips also worked on the soundtrack forCanoe Man, a documentary about canoe makers fromManus IslandinPapua New Guinea.Their work resulted in a six-track extended play (EP),The Sing Sing, which was released in June.Other members of Not Drowning, Waving have included Penny Hewson and Andrew Carswell.
In June 1987, the band released their third studio album,Cold and the Cracklewhich was followed in December 1987 with an EP,I Did, recorded with Robby Douglas Turner on vocals.By 1989, Not Drowning, Waving left Rampant Records and signed with Mighty Boy to issue their fourth album,Claimin May.The album was voted 'Best Australian Album' on the AustralianRolling StoneCritics Poll in 1989.In 1989, Bradley, Bridie and Mountfort formed a side project,My Friend The Chocolate Cake, as an acoustic music group after Bridie took a holiday inNew Zealandand wrote a collection of songs that did not fit into the Not Drowning, Waving style.
Later in 1989, the group visited Papua New Guinea playing several concerts and meetingGeorge Telek(Moab Stringband, Painim Wok) with whom they later recorded two tracks for their next album,Tabaranwhich was released late in 1990.Tabaranwas credited to Not Drowning, Waving and the Musicians of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Featuring Telek.Helen Mountfort had joined on cello in 1990, and the group coveredThe Reelstrack "Kitchen Man" for a various artists' album,Used and Recovered By(1990).Not Drowning, Waving recorded the soundtrack for 1991 filmProofwhich was released in April 1992.
In May 1992, they were the support act forDavid Byrneat the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia, playing:Palau,Amidel,The Kiap Song,Crazy Birds,Willow Tree,Terra Nullius,Albert Namatjira,The Migrant, andSing Sing.
At theARIA Music Awards of 1992,Tabaranwas nominated forARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release, whileProofwonARIA Award for Best Independent Release.
In 1993, the group released their sixth studio albumCircus, which was recorded at theRockfield Studiosin Wales and produced byHugh Jones.
In 1994, they were the support act forPeter Gabrielon his first tour of Australia.Late in the year, Bridie and Montfort recorded the soundtrack for the filmHammers Over the Anvil, they used Jen Anderson on violin (ex-The Black Sorrows) and the horn section fromHunters & Collectors. It was released in 1994 asHammersunder the name Not Drowning, Waving.The group disbanded in 1994, while Bridie and Mountfort continued with their offshoot venture, My Friend The Chocolate Cake.
In November 2001, a short reunion of Not Drowning, Waving – consisting of Bradley, Bridie, Mountfort, Phillips and Southall in the line-up – occurred at the Corner Hotel inRichmondfor the book launch ofBlunt: A Biased History of Australian Rock.
In February 2003, they reunited again for The Morning Star Concert for West Papua atthe Melbourne Concert Hall.
Another reunion, for several months, started in March 2005 when the band, together with Telek, performed twice at the 2005WOMADelaidefestival. Several other performances followed – at the 10th Fest'Napuan inPort Vila, Vanuatu; the Corner Hotel; and the Northcote Social Club,Northcote.The band's final show with the full lineup took place at Festival Melbourne 2006 in the Alexandra Gardens, a free concert for Melbourne'sCommonwealth Gamescelebrations on 25 March 2006. During this time they issued two compilation albums,Through the One Last Door – Best Of(2005) andMaps for Sonic Adventurers(2006).A live album of performances from 1986 to 2005 was released asLive (At the Butchers' Picnic)in 2007.
Band members have included:
TheARIA Music Awardsis an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres ofAustralian music. Not Drowning, Waving has won one award from six nominations.