The Clouds

Sydney band the Clouds embodied the archetype of a group on the cusp of widespread recognition. Early recordings that aligned with the alternative-rock surge of the early 1990s never translated into sustained success, owing to mismanagement, ill-advised choices, and repeated misfortune.

Founding vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Jodi Phillis on guitar and Patricia Young on bass began under the name Scudda Hey, later recruiting drummer Stuart Eadie and guitarist Robert Phelan before adopting the Clouds moniker. Their debut performance opened for the Go-Betweens’ final show at the Petersham Inn, an event that felt like an inadvertent transfer of both momentum and adversity.

Opening slots for Falling Joys gradually elevated the Clouds to headliner status, prompting a 1990 signing with the independent Red Eye Records. The EPs Cloud Factory and Loot, along with the full-length Penny Century, earned favorable notices; the latter featured guitarist Dave Easton, who had supplanted Robert Phelan and infused the material with a tougher, more aggressive edge, ultimately achieving gold certification. Drummer Andrew Byrne soon replaced Stuart Eadie following touring tensions.

The 1992 mini-album Octopus appeared despite Red Eye’s preference for delaying until 1993 to expand the track list. Polydor, having absorbed Red Eye, issued Penny Century in England in 1993. With Raphael Whittingham now on drums, the band traveled to London for promotion. Upon submitting demos for a third album, Polydor approved only “Domino” for single release; the Clouds reworked its arrangement in the studio, producing a version whose vocals were slowed to the point of unrecognizability. Thunderhead nevertheless emerged with “Bowers of Bliss” as the chosen single, which underperformed commercially.

While touring Europe and the United States, the group tracked the Beetroot EP in London. Polydor declined to issue Thunderhead in America ahead of the visit, forcing the band to remain in San Francisco to promote the record; Elektra eventually offered a distribution deal contingent on re-recording the single to tone down its explicit content for radio. Just as prospects improved, Warner Bros. merged Elektra with East West, dropping most roster acts including the Clouds.

Easton departed upon the band’s return to Australia. Although the remaining members preferred continuing as a trio, the label insisted on recruiting guitarist Ben Nightingale for the 1996 album Futura. Polydor again rejected the demos and barred “Mid-Winter” from the final track listing; sales once more proved modest. A promotional clip for “Never Say Forever” so displeased the band that they blocked its release, yet its subsequent television appearance prompted their dissolution and a farewell tour in 1997.

Jodi Phillis subsequently formed the Dearhunters while Patricia Young relocated to England. Their 2005 reunion as the Girls from the Clouds yielded the EP Lalalala before the project ended.