The Null Set
The Null Set
Thursday night in Tempe round November 2002 sees unpopular locals THE RADIO SHADOW honing the rudiments of rock posturing before an audience of one in a desolate pub with the air con up too high. Circumstance or true romance, audience member Nick Heath, harbinger and impetus, joined the band later that week and prompted a name change. THE NULL SET promptly retreated to the metaphor-inspiring subterranean surrounds of Toby Baldwin (guitar/ bass/vox) and Kate Wilson (drums)’s house with Nick and Ryan Lagerstrom (guitar/ bass/ vocals) to record the SILVER RING demo EP. On the success of the demo, the band went on to play with groups such as DAPPLED CITIES FLY, NINETY-NINE, THE RED SUN BAND and GROUND COMPONENTS, gaining along the way interest, drinking buddies, and drug connections from many folk in the music industry, before heading to a real studio to commit mini-album RETURN TO HIGHWAY SPEED to the permanent and oh so lurvely posterity of 2″ tape. In February 2004, THE NULL SET lost valuable points in the rock nonchalance and disaffected attitude stakes, not only supporting massively influential band hero MARK GARDENER (UK) of RIDE, but also acting as backing band, playing their take on classic ride numbers to the detriment of the integrity of their underwear. RETURN TO HIGHWAY SPEED was released in June 2004. A packed audience at Sydney’s Hopetoun Hotel witnessed the birthing process. The record attracted excellent reviews, both locally and overseas, and inspired copious reference to the glory days of shoegaze pop and 90s indie noise rock. Instrument swapping and alternate tunings run rife within THE NULL SET. Combining the experimental ethos of bands like SONIC YOUTH and POLVO with the layered aesthetic of RIDE, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, SWERVEDRIVER and SPACEMEN 3, THE NULL SET hope to be damaging your hearing soon in the loveliest possible way.