Contributed by
Andre Scannell

Roll Away Work

Creator: Nat Carson and Soda
Date: Late 2001

About four years ago I returned from a holiday in Melbourne and I wasn't too happy about being back in Perth, Melbourne was the hip and happening joint, whereas, well Perth just seemed, you know, dull. Still, the Panics were happening, and through going to see them I met a couple of music fans in Soda and Nat, who I hit it off with pretty much straight off the bat.

Somehow they found out it was my birthday (when you're my age it's not something you advertise) and presented me with this mix tape at The Flying Scotsman. To say I was knocked out that a couple of people who'd known me about a fortnight would make me a mix-tape is very much an understatement. They'd made it together, in a bit of a rush, hence the lack of a track listing. However, Nat said I'd probably know most of the songs anyway.

As it opened up with L7's "Andres" (ho ho ho, an edit, followed by Nat and Soda's laughter), and then Elvis Costello's brilliant "No Action", I though Nat was right, there wasn't gonna be anything new here for me. A few songs in I realised how wrong we both were! Yikes, there was a whole world of music I just didn't know. Roll Away Work gave me my first taste of Doves, Belle and Sebastian, Dukes of The Stratosphere, Grandaddy and made me change radio stations from Triple J to RTR FM, so I could hear more of the kind of music that was on this tape.

This tape means a lot to me, not only 'cos it turned me on to a lot of new music, but also because Soda and Nat became good pals of mine, and still are. Also, how can you go past the artwork? I no longer want to leave Perth for Melbourne.