* En anglais uniquement
Melbourne art-punk trio
Ouch My Face arrived on the city's scene offering a distinct alternative to the often more straight-up guitar rock/punk that surrounded them in the late 2000s. From their 2009 self-titled EP to their 2015 debut record, the band eschewed technical ability in favor of a highly original and inventive perspective. Their resultant output recalled, in part,
Deerhoof's experimental noise pop, and added an eccentric twist to
Courtney Barnett's and
Jen Cloher's Milk! Records' roster.
Ouch My Face were founded in 2007 after housemates Ben Wundersitz (drums), Steve Huff (bass), and Celeste Potter (guitar, lead vocals) began playing together. Although Potter couldn't read music, and claimed not to have a very technical method, the band's instinctive approach gave them a strong musical identity. They released their debut self-titled EP in 2009 via Milk! Records, and it demonstrated their penchant for unusual song structures and an abrasive edge. Alongside her role in
Ouch My Face, Potter was also an artist and freelance illustrator and created all the cover art and posters for the band. Steve Huff was eventually replaced on bass by
Regurgitator member Ben Ely, who also collaborated with Potter on an art show, and then later by Liz Thomas. The year 2011 saw the release of the 7" "Build a House" b/w "Eyeball to Eyeball," and the band's debut long-player, Bunyip, followed in 2015. Ten years into the band's existence,
Ouch My Face decided to call it a day in 2017, playing their last-ever show at Milk! Records' Christmas party. ~ Bekki Bemrose