Sydney duo Pnau (pronounced Pen-yow) might have been around for years, but it looks like they're finally eyeing some serious success. Although they've played their electronic beats, blips and pings around the world (occasionally to parties attended by everyone from Naomi Campbell to Ricky Martin), their third self-titled record is due to deliver them to heights well beyond the earthly stratosphere. Although former Brisbane school friends Pete Mayes and Nick Littlemore have not-so-quietly been building a loyal fan base since the mid '90s, 'Wild Strawberries' — the first offering from
Pnau — has already grabbed the attention of everyone from acclaimed international mixer DJ Feadz to none other than Sir Elton John.
And while many thought the dance music craze would fizzle and die not long after Pnau won an ARIA Award in 1999 for their debut release
Sambanova, the two have continued to create their own unique brand of every-tempo mixes and perfectly mashed-up beats —
Pnau involved so many keyboards, mini-disc players, pieces of studio and computer equipment and traditional instruments that the band can't even remember them all, not to mention including a children's choir and Luke Steele, frontman of indie alt-rockers The Sleepy Jackson.
As their record company bio says; "We suspect they're starting to take themselves seriously — it's like they don't consider 'ambition' to be a dirty word anymore". Which is just as well, because that ambition is about to see Pnau take off like a rocket … man.
Says who? Sir Elton John is a huge fan, having stumbled upon the duo's music during his recent Australian tour. He invited the band round for tea to his hotel and has since been slinging their latest release to all corners of the globe to show his support.
"I was getting work done on the bench at physio and he was like, 'Hello mate it's Elton, love your album'," Littlemore told Triple J about the phone call he received last month. "We hung out with him and we're going over to London to hang out with him at the end of February."
Lily Allen and the Scissor Sisters have been wooed by Elton's endorsement, and Madonna's people are reportedly sniffing around for possible remixes. Operator Please and Rage Against The Machine were also regulars side-of-stage during the band's Big Day Out appearances this year.
A MySpace fan says: "After the Gold Coast BDO based solely on your performance I booked flights to Melbourne to go see you again. ABSOLUTELY F***ING EPIC. You're now in my top three best live acts of all time!" Matty
You do the maths:
