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Releases

CHRISTIANA Fatigue Kills (2002)

Recorded and Mastered by Andrew McAllister

CHRISTIANA Hydrofield of Myth (2000)

Engineered by Tom Heron, Mixed by Jeff McMurrich

Personnel

Dave Rodgers (vocals, guitars)
Jonny Dovercourt (vocals, bass)
Andrew McAllister (vocals, guitar)
Paul Boddum (vocals, drums)

MP3's

CHRISTIANA Fatigue Kills (2002)

Yellow Room (Rodgers)

About

Christiana (formerly known as Neck) have been confounding expectations, breaking hearts and making records since their formation in 1993. Never easily pigeon-holed, they have been dismissed as too poppy by the hardcore punk contingent, too noisy and angry by the fans of twee-pop, and far too linguistic to be appreciated by all aficionados of math-rock. They formed in Toronto, joined by a love of classic late ‘70s/early ‘80s post-punk and classic 60s pop, and as a showcase for a very methodical yet emotive form of songwriting.


1997: Alastair leaves NECK. Andrew McAllister, who had been playing with Kingston, Ontario bands Wholesome and the Black Mission Figs in the intervening years, replaces him the next day. Andrew keeps the spirit of Alastair’s songwriting alive, with its emphasis on eccentric rhythms and dissonant, unusual chord structures. Neck begins recording Uncrated Distant Star, which is in part an attempt by the band to leave lo-fi recording situations behind.

1998: Uncrated is released by Teenage USA, to critical acclaim and American college radio interest.

1999: Hydrofield of Myth is recorded in three days. Mixing takes much, much longer.

2000: The band changes its name to Christiana, and releases Hydrofield on their own High School Champion Recordings (who have since released great discs by Folk Festival Massacre, Kid Sniper and The Co-operators). This record was the apparent opposite of All September Long, due to its focus, clarity and commitment to pop song form. Audiences were left bewildered and stunned by its brevity, and critics praised it for its catchiness and imagination, but made mention of the fact that the songs sound “as if they had undergone some kind of horrible trauma.” At year’s end, former Secret Agent and current Kid Sniper leader Jonathan Bunce joins on bass and Andrew switches to guitar. The songwriting takes on a looser, less neurotic tone.

2001: Christiana make their first junket to the United States, touring through New York and Massachusetts. They have the dubious honour of opening for a Limp Bizkit cover band at one point, but they take it all in stride. The recording of Fatigue Kills begins with Christiana’s determination to do it all by themselves and take a leisurely approach to the recording process.

2002: After many months of deliberation and second-guessing, Fatigue Kills is released — recorded, mixed and mastered entirely within Andrew’s computer. The new songs have some breathing room, hovering around the three-minute mark as opposed to the 90-second outbursts of previous releases. On top of a solid post-punk foundation, Christiana allude to the prog-rock, dub and dream-pop influences that the members hold so dear. A greater concern for variety is evident as the tracks veer between the narcosis of “Diamonds” to the Beach Boys-esque “Yellow Room” to the all-out extrovert-rock power of “I Cannot Share Your Point of View” and “Magpie Eye”. Jonathan also contributes his first songs to the Christiana canon with “League Of Nations” and “Elaborate Excuses.” With Fatigue Kills, the instrumental prowess and confidence hinted with earlier releases has bore fruit and taken it swimming.
What’s next for Christiana? Further pushing of the musical envelope, further education and an appearance at a place near you
— Rod Gerivads