Oyster Cuts by Quivers

Oyster Cuts, the Merge debut of Quivers, finds the Melbourne, Australia–based outfit awash in the kind of emotions people tend to fear losing themselves in. Finding love after grief, the outsized guitar pop of Quivers gleams like the surface of an ocean, beneath which lies a reef that is at turns beautiful and painful, its features alien and sharp enough to wound. Propelled by melodies that at times recall Galaxie 500 and The Pretenders, Quivers make music that is tender and tough, compelling the listener to dive in again and again, each song a new angle on all of your feelings.

The losses and loves that have informed Quivers’ music since their inception—the sudden loss of a brother in the cracked optimism of We’ll Go Riding on the Hearses (2018) and the life in and after grief of Golden Doubt (2021)—ripple into Oyster Cuts, which is committed to moving forward while accepting that some feelings, like grief, are a cycle. Crucially, Quivers committed to moving forward with each other. Paring away the choir and strings of its predecessor, Oyster Cuts is a showcase for what’s still possible when four people—Sam Nicholson (guitars), Bella Quinlan (bass), Michael Panton (guitars), and Holly Thomas (drums)—make music together.

Tracklist

1.	Never Be Lonely	3:57

2.	Pink Smoke	4:28

3.	More Lost	3:37

4.	Apparition	3:04

5.	Grief Has Feathers	5:23

6.	Oyster Cuts	4:21

7.	Screensaver	5:06

8.	If Only	3:18

9.	Fake Flowers	2:37

10.	Reckless	6:02

Credits

released August 9, 2024

We want to acknowledge that in recording in “Melbourne, Australia” we were on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Produced, engineered and mixed by Matthew Redlich. Recorded at Woodstock Studios, The Aviary & Matt’s house. Mastered by Josh Bonati.

All songs by Quivers:
Bella Quinlan – sings, bass guitar;
Sam Nicholson – sings, words, guitars, piano, synths;
Michael Panton – sings, guitars, tape loops;
Holly Thomas – sings, drums, percussion.

With Matthew Redlich – synth on track 5.

Album design by Daniel Murphy. Cover sandstone photos by Marisa Somssich. Back owl photo by Kenton Reeder. Studio photos by Mauro Trentin.

Thanks for listening to this record you hold in your hand. Thanks to Mac, Laura, Christina and all at Merge for releasing it into the world. Thanks to our loves Nina, Nikkola, Zoë and Candice. Also our families, our friends, and the help and support of Jo Syme, Shan Logan, A.C./Spunk, Moorea, Fionna Allan, Zan Rowe, Craig Finn, Al Burns, Tim Carroll, Ben Ba Da Bing, Álvaro, Gonzalo, Grapefruit Records, and you.

This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

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