Intercooler: laboour of love

Jane Emerick
Like proud parents, the members of alternative band Intercooler are big fans of their latest album, Forever or Whatever.
But unlike some parents, the four boys from Brisbane say listening to their offspring from start to finish is the only way to truly appreciate their creation.
Lead singer and songwriter Phil Ballantyne says the group put a lot of effort into the “diverse” second album.
“We’re always writing songs that are different from the last and we’ve always been big fans of albums that are totally diverse but when you listen to them start to finish they make one point,” Ballantyne says.
“It was the next step in our musical careers to make an album of this depth.
“It’s a very diverse piece. It’s something we’ve always had the desire to make.”
Ballantyne says contemporary technology means many users are listening to music singularly on websites such as Myspace.
But he thinks the Internet listeners are “missing out” on the total experience of an album.
Ballantyne says he and Intercooler members Damon Cox, Darek Mudge and Joel Potter put together a live show with “the same complete feeling”.
“We give the set a lot of thought and try to make it as fulfilling as we can,” he says.
“We’re four boys really into what we do and we believe in what we do. Music is the most important thing in our lives and it shows.
“We want to get out and show people what we have done in the studio. We’re very keen to get out and do the live thing”
Forever or Whatever follows Intercooler’s debut album, Old School Is The New School, released in 2002.
Intercooler plays next Thursday at the National Hotel, supported by Peabody and Mary Trembles.