Desdemona, the band’s seventh album, features 12 tracks mostly written in 2025-26 and saw the band return to Poons Head Studios to be recorded once again by Rob Grant, who also co-produced the album with Michael.
“One way to look at it is as a continuum – we’re returning to the same studio with the same engineer and I’ve never done that before. In fact, one of the songs on the new album, Blackish Blues, was actually recorded for the last session, and it didn’t go on it. We had to cut it off, and we’ve ended up with the same thing. I’ve got a few extra songs recorded on this session, an eight-minute epic, which we love, but we couldn’t fit it on the album, it’ll probably make it on the next.
“So there is that sense of continuation, but the huge difference is Aaron Powell’s joined the band on second guitar, and that’s what the significant change here is.”
Aaron Powell was in revered Perth jangle pop outfit The Hairs in the early ‘90s and has performed with the likes of Tim Minchin and Ruper Guenther amongst many diverse musical projects.
Across the full album the songs provide testament to Michael’s reflective songwriting spirit be it existentialist moments (Woe Begone, the eight-minute epic, Surfing Never Dies), jealousy in Shakespearean proportions on (title track) Desdemona, or corruption in politics and societal tensions (Crooked Times).
The heavier blues tracks Sweet Calamity and Blackish Blues, roll alongside the country/surf/pop of latest single, Keeping Warm, an ode to wistful uncertainty featuring Hannah Smillie in a warm, wonderful co-lead vocal. Closing the proceedings is the upbeat thrash-punk of Coming Home With Me which balances out the tone of the album and somehow ties it all up rather perfectly.
The QuiXotics are a band dedicated to enthralling song writing, recording and live performance. Impossible to pigeonhole, they deliver a diverse range of dynamic sounds
that traverse terrain from driving Indi rock n roll with catchy pop overtures and bluesy
guitar riffing always complemented by engaging lyrics. After a series of well attended launches in Perth and Fremantle’s best original venues to celebrate their 2025 vinyl
album ‘New World State of Mind,’ The QuiXotics have now been signed to Foghorn
records in Sydney.
Formerly a three piece featuring lead
singer Michael Gabriel on guitar with his son Gabe Francas on drums together with
Hannah Smillie on bass and magical harmonies, The QuiXotics have now added Aaron Powell on second guitar providing another layer to emphasise the guitar driven nature
of The QuiXotic sound full of riffs and surprising melodic invention. Now in a purple
patch of song writing while garnering national Airplay. The Quixotics continue to prolifically flourish with airplay support from RTRFM 92.1, Radio Fremantle, Melbourne’s RRR and community radio through Australia and overseas.
Stream Below
Connect with The Quixotics
