Biography
The Aesthetics formed in Dunedin in 1995 when multi-instrumentalist Matt Middleton (aka Crude) teamed up with j-Mz Robinson and photographer Rustle Covini. Originally formed in a purely punk flavor, the band has endured through numerous lineup changes while maintaining their distinctive destructo-rock sound. “The Aesthetics have been rocking since 1995 – of course, we’ve had many line up changes!” Middleton noted, adding that managing the rotating cast was complex, “like Martin Phillipps and The Chills. Or George Henderson and the Puddle…it’s complicated.”
As Middleton himself describes it, The Aesthetics play “trashy but sinister straight ahead post-punk noise rock.” The band drew heavy inspiration from Dunedin’s underground scene: “We were totally inspired by the great Dunedin bands of the 90s – King Loser, Snapper, the 3ds, the Dead C.” Their sound has been characterized as intensely heavy dirty rock fronted by Middleton, who plays guitar, keyboards and saxophone with alarming intensity.
Energetic screaming, rugged rhythms and a sloppy swagger that suits anyone looking for a glaring upheaval of standard musical thoroughfare… equivalent to a hyperactive Daniel Johnston recklessly exorcising himself of inner demons with the help of the finest extra-lo-fi equipment.
Andrew Magilow, Splendid Magazine
After a few successful parties and the odd gig, j-Mz was replaced by Shaun Jury – the line-up that released the debut My Right to Riches LP in 1999 on Ecstatic Peace!. The band opened for Sonic Youth at Auckland Town Hall in late 1998, which led to the overseas release.
Crude’s Matt Middleton has erupted from the shackles of noise to stomp the grounds of sonic punkdom. Following his forefathers in bands like The Pin Group, Henchmen, and La De Da’s, monsieur Middleton has carved a new sound.
Forced Exposure
By 1997 Stefan Neville (Pumice / The Futurians) had replaced Covini on drums, but then left in 1998 – off to Auckland, along with Shaun. Pat Kraus (drums) and Fyfe (bass) made up the numbers for the rest of the band’s career, eventually releasing the Off LP on Mental Telemetry in 2001 before splitting.
The band reformed in 2008, expanding to a four-piece which “delighted some and confounded others.” They opened the 2008 Big Day Out after winning the bNet competition. That same year they released Ugly Ambition, a vinyl-only self-release that Middleton described as having “the raw energy of Off coupled with the crafted songwriting of My Right.” The album was recorded in his garage flat, “engineered fairly crudely, using simple open-source software.”
Ideas are usually very spontaneous. I’ll jot down an idea, a tune, and try my best to hack it up, to treat it with effects, songs are mutilated.
Matt Middleton, Under the Radar
Matt Middleton remains the only original member, currently performing with Malcolm Deans (drums), Jason Barrett (bass/saxophone), and Edie Stevens (bass). “I don’t imagine we’ll be changing this line-up ever again,” Middleton stated in 2009.
Members
- Matthew Middleton (guitar / vocals / keyboard / saxophone, noisepussy, All-Electric, Space Dust, The Aesthetics)
- Stefan Neville (Drums, 5608, Alien Space Wreck, Blowfly Saint, Casagrante Apparatus, Dribbly Cat Attraction, Lost Roman Legions, lowfly Saint, O/PUS, Ohm, Olympus, Pumice, Sundowner, Sunken, Teen X-Ray, Teen-X-Ray, The Aesthetics, The Coolies, The Ideal Gus, The Renderers, Thee Ideal Gus, They Spunks, Vulcan Steel)
- Pat Kraus (drums, Murdering Monsters, Olympus, The Aesthetics, The Futurians)
- J-mz Robinson (bass, Brainlego, MiG-21, Strap Ons, The Aesthetics)
- Lynton Denovan (Drums, Montessouri, Assetstripper, Bearded Iris, CM Ensemble, Matt Alien, Montessori, Montessouri, Satan’s Pitbull, Satanic Rockers, Strap Ons, The Aesthetics, The Incisions, Thee Strapons, Tony Valens and the Incisions))
- Rustle Covini (drums, Beautiful Losers, Oh Mental Hospitals, The Aesthetics)
- Malcolm Deans (drums, The Aesthetics)
- Jason Barrett (bass / saxophone, The Aesthetics)
- Shaun Jury (Bass/Guitar, All-Electric, Cat! Cat! Cat!, Drugs Vs Grandchildren, Levitating Churches, The Aesthetics, The Biff Bangle Experience)
- Edie Stevens (The Aesthetics)
- Jackson Harry (guitar, Civic, Dog Power, The Aesthetics)
- Edwina Stevens (Gestalt Switch, Megafauna, Ray Off, Rory Storm And The Invaders, The Aesthetics)
Discography
- College Rock [Cassette] (1997, Dirtlove Records)
- Doomtown Fuzz [Lathe Cut] (1997, Dirtlove Records)
- I Just Don’t Get It/ Motor Ella [Lathe Cut] (1997, Dirtlove Records)
- My Right To Riches [Vinyl] (1999, Ecstatic Peace!, E#4b)
- Off [CD] (2001, Mental Telemetry, tele003 4.8-3 troposphere)
- Harmony Of The Squares Vol 1 – Kraus Collaborations 2000-2006 [CDr] (2006, Not On Label)
- Ugly Ambition [Vinyl] (2009, Artless Intent, AI006)
- Go To Hell [CDr] (2009, Artless Intent)
- Dusk Husk [Lathe Cut] (2010, Epic Sweep, ES002)
- Live At The Crown [Cassette] (2011, Epic Sweep, ES011)
- Went To A Party [Cassette] (2024, Long Slow Comfortable Screw Against The Wall, LSCS 27)