The Dissociatives

Although work on the Dissociatives' self-titled debut didn't commence until 2003, the band's two core members -- Australian producer <a href="spotify:artist:2ZW29i2YE4YDQf6WemPJ4W">Paul Mac</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a> frontman <a href="spotify:artist:52sbFniPptK6lNYHmuoPpz">Daniel Johns</a> -- have worked together since 1997, when <a href="spotify:artist:2ZW29i2YE4YDQf6WemPJ4W">Mac</a> was enlisted to remix a song from <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a>'s Freak Show. A creative friendship formed between the two musicians, and <a href="spotify:artist:2ZW29i2YE4YDQf6WemPJ4W">Mac</a> continued to work with <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a> by contributing keyboards to subsequent albums Neon Ballroom and Diorama. An experimental project titled I Can't Believe It's Not Rock! gave <a href="spotify:artist:52sbFniPptK6lNYHmuoPpz">Johns</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2ZW29i2YE4YDQf6WemPJ4W">Mac</a> the opportunity to collaborate outside of the <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a> moniker, but it wasn't until <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a> embarked on an indefinite hiatus in 2003 that <a href="spotify:artist:52sbFniPptK6lNYHmuoPpz">Johns</a> turned his full attention to the partnership that would soon become the Dissociatives. Embracing a quirky blend of electronics and pop melodies, the duo convened in London to record basic tracks for its self-produced debut before completing the process in Australia. The Dissociatives' eponymous album was released to much anticipation in spring 2004, eventually going gold on the strength of the leadoff single, "Somewhere Down the Barrel." After completing a limited tour, <a href="spotify:artist:52sbFniPptK6lNYHmuoPpz">Johns</a> reconvened with his <a href="spotify:artist:4iudEcmuPlYNdbP3e1bdn1">Silverchair</a> bandmates for the band's fifth release, Young Modern. <a href="spotify:artist:2ZW29i2YE4YDQf6WemPJ4W">Mac</a> temporarily joined the band's lineup as a touring keyboardist, leaving the Dissociatives' fate undecided but nevertheless continuing his musical connection with <a href="spotify:artist:52sbFniPptK6lNYHmuoPpz">Johns</a>. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi