THE AVALANCHES – Frontier Psychiatrist (2000)

The Avalanches are an Australian electronic music group formed in Melbourne in 1997. They have released three studio albums Since I Left You (2000), Wildflower (2016), and We Will Always Love You (2020), and perform live and recorded DJ sets. The group currently consists of Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi. The band is an exponent of the plunderphonics genre, and their first album, Since I Left You, has been recognised by many critics as the most important example of the genre.

From mid-1998, the Avalanches had been recording their debut album, initially under the working title Pablo’s Cruise. In February 2000 they finished mixing it at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne. Its initial launch date in 2000 was delayed due to the need for sample clearances and overseas interest. By July, with the album, now titled Since I Left You, overdue, Chater’s Gimix cassette was made available. This mixtape blended previews of forthcoming album tracks with some band favourites. The first Australian single from the album, “Frontier Psychiatrist”, was issued in August, which peaked in the top 50 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It reached No. 6 in Triple J’s 2000 Hottest 100 countdown, the world’s largest annual radio music poll. In October the band undertook their first Australian headline tour, appearing in all capital cities. All dates were completely sold out. Seltmann broke his leg in Brisbane in an on-stage collision with bassist and singer Di Blasi.