Sydney’s Party Dozen (saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and percussionist Jonathan Boulet) are back with a new album, Crime In Australia – the follow-up to their international breakthrough album, The Real Work (2022). That album included many new developments in the band’s evolution that earned them significant praise – most notably the Nick-Cave-featured “Macca The Mutt”, the surprisingly radio-friendly skronk of “Fruits Of Labour,” and the epic string-drenched beauty of “Risky Behaviour.”

As with its predecessor, Crime In Australia was written, recorded, produced and mixed by the duo themselves in their studio in Marrickville, Sydney.

Across its ten tracks, Crime In Australia showcases a group absolutely unafraid to explore their “many dumb ideas” and as a result going places that are thrilling, visceral, face-melting, surprisingly danceable, and frequently ridiculous (often all at the same time).

The Real Work was Album of the Week in Stereogum, Bandcamp and Brooklyn Vegan amongst others. It was Feature album at 5 Australian community radio stations and received support globally from 6 Music, KEXP and KCRW who filmed a live session in Seattle. Party Dozen toured Europe twice, as well as North America, China and Japan, playing with the likes of The Bad Seeds, Spiritualized, Tropical Fuck Storm and Algiers. They released a 7” on Sub Pop’s Singles Club and signed with the legendary Temporary Residence Ltd. The album was a finalist for the Australian Music Prize and the Sydney Music And Creative Awards Best Album. “Macca The Mutt ft. Nick Cave” was nominated for the Triple J Award for Best Video. Kirsty won the National Live Music Awards Instrumentalist Of The Year. Album track “Earthly Times” was re-recorded with guest vocals from billy woods.

Header image: Roger Deckker