Sodastream

Sodastream first surfaced in Melbourne, Australia, during the closing years of the 1990s, projecting a gentler and more melancholy echo of Belle & Sebastian. Built around the core partnership of Karl Smith, who handled guitar, piano, harmonica, and lead vocals, alongside Pete Cohen on bass, musical saw, and backing vocals, the project placed recordings with several esteemed imprints such as Tugboat, an affiliate of Rough Trade, and Trifekta. Its initial release was the Enjoy EP in 1997, succeeded the following year by the Practical Footwear EP. The debut album, Looks Like a Russian, appeared in 2000 and coincided with European concert dates. Further activity produced The Hill for Company in 2001, A Minor Revival in 2003, the Take Me with You When You Go EP in 2005, and Reservations in 2006, accompanied by repeated visits to Europe plus the group’s inaugural American tour in 2004. Across these engagements the pair appeared alongside Low, the Mountain Goats, Yo La Tengo, and Lambchop.