Sonic Animation

The late '90s saw a revival in the popularity of electronic music Down Under, and one of the groups leading that revival was Sonic Animation. Known for serving up quirky, cutting-edge dance sounds, they have also forged a reputation for being a quality live act, with a predilection for using Muppet-like characters in their shows. Hailing from Melbourne, the culture capital of Australia, the band got going in 1994 and originally consisted of members Adrian Cartwright, Rupert Keiller, and Steve Bertschick. That same year, the guys tried their luck with the 12" Time Is an Illusion, which they funded with their own money. Thanks to the interest stirred by that release, they snared financial backing to get other projects off the ground and began their rise to underground fame. In 1999, just after Bertschick called it a day with the group, they hit a chord with Aussie music fans with the wacky dance single, "Theophilus Thistler." Australia's top youth radio station, Triple J, couldn't get enough of the track. The following year, Sonic Animation served up the album Orchid for the Afterworld. A twin CD set packing alternative as well as mainstream dance sounds, it was both a commercial and critical success. ~ David Peter Wesolowski