some rich fucker didn’t decide to throw his cowboys and indians fancy dress party at Sydney’s Fox Studios in the spring of 2001, Sydney four-piece electro-house-funk collective Sneaky Sound System mightn’t be here today. As the story goes… In the midst of a lame entertainment lineup that included bull riding, line dancing and a whip cracking exhibition, MC Double D (Daimon Downey), bored and dressed in bright red chaps with tassels, steals a plastic horse from one of the performers and moonwalks across the dance floor with it between his legs. Another event sabotaged, he then nicks off with Black Angus’ (Angus McDonald) flute and starts playing it. Impressed by his showmanship and dexterity with plastic blow-up toys, Black Angus nicked it back and the two hatched a devious plan. Across town, an old friend of Angus’, Hesse (Damien Hesse), was about to start a regular Sunday night at his bar/restaurant, Joe Diamonds. The idea was simple: both Hesse and Black Angus get behind the decks and let MC Double D do whatever the fuck he wants to do on the mic. Sneaky Sound System was born.
A little while later the threesome moved Sneaky Sundays to Bondi’s Point of View, a tiny subterranean bar with a maximum capacity of 100 people. Playing a splendid mix of 80's boogie, deep disco, electro funk & house scattered with MC Double D’s cheeky rhymes, word spread quickly. Adding a saxophonist (and ladies favourite) to the mix, Tricky Nick (Nick Broadhurst), soon partygoers were lined up all down Bondi’s famous Campbell Parade just to get a taste of Sneaky’s hip shakin’ sun drippin’ party grooves.
Of course, that was the summer of 2001 and Sneaky Sound System have come a long way since then. Their mixed CD Other People’s Music was released through Sony Australia in 2003, a blistering tour of Germany and the UK followed and the boys have played at just about every club on the east coast of Australia: The Basement, Home, Globe, Greenwood, Bourbon, Slip Inn, Prince, Honky Tonks, Family, Berlin Bar and, of course, the new spiritual home of Sneaky Sundays, Hugos Lounge.
Demand for the unique Sneaky Sound System groove (coupled with their undeniable entertainment value) also led to a long list of high profile parties and events. From playing alongside international acts like Masters at Work, Jazzanova, Louie Austen, The Cuban Bros and Norman Jay, to doing opening nights for The Sydney, Adelaide & Melbourne Festivals and performing at massive festivals like Splendour in the Grass, Good Vibrations Festival, Fuzzy presents 360, Livid and Homebake… the list goes on!
After hooking up with recording engineer/producer (and Tom Ford look-alike) Peter Dolso just over a year ago, a slick debut self-titled album has emerged that will do for the local music industry what Paris Hilton did for amateur home videos.
Soaked in sweaty pop-fuelled party-rhymes coupled with thick bass lines, lush melodies and rolling guitar licks, Sneaky Sound System is like beach porn. Think a sun-soaked Grandmaster Flash combined with some roller-boogie; Prince sexed up with some sweaty urban romance; a salt-bitten New Order with funkier riffs.
Reflecting the diverse make-up of the collective and its innovative and constant evolution, Sneaky Sound System’s influences for the album come from as varied sources as Prelude Records, P-Funk, De La Soul, Zap, The Gap Band, The Beatles, Tom Club, Dr. Drew, Steve Wonder, Blondie, Madonna, Topic, Grant Green, Burt Bacharach and more house music producers than you could poke a stick at.
The first single to be released from the album is Hip Hooray, a dirty party funk tune that was recorded at their studio Whack on Warners in Bondi Beach, Sydney, and released on their own label Whack Recordings (MGM). It will have everybody screaming… “Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me”. Well we’re giving it to you now. Enjoy!