1 9 8 0 s  h i s t o r y

CAREER OF THE SILLY THING: Part 1

[1979] Scattered Order was formed on Boxing Day 1979 by Mitch Jones and Michael Tee in Surry Hills, then an increasingly active scene for bands outside the mainstream.
Mitch (a sound engineer for bands such as X, Thought Criminals, Tactics) linked up with Michael (a musician with a very comprehensive record collection) to pursue common musical tastes and interests in available music technology.
Both were former members of the tortured, peculiar The Barons, whose self titled EP, recorded April 1977-September 1978, was released on the Doublethink label, to outstanding indifference.
Scattered Order initially comprised Michael Tee (guitar), Mitch Jones (guitar) and Simon Vidale of The Numbers (drums). Mitch and Michael set about creating a permanent recording environment for the band and a label to release its product. They called it M Squared, their modest motto: "World Domination".
Mitch and Michael were introduced to Patrick Gibson, whose band The Systematics released the successful Pulp Baby on Doublethink. Patrick possessed a very fine voice, a Roland synth and the ability to turn a Kenwood tapedeck into an entire recording studio, and was quickly subsumed into the M Squared stew. He was the perfect foil to the guitar fascism in Scattered Order.

[1980] At first Scattered Order restricted its activities to the studio, which began to attract like-minded individuals and bands. The label achieved early success, slowing the output of Scattered Order. During 1980 they managed only Bent Up on the M Squared sampler Growing Pains, and Teenage Romance and Violent 4 on the low budget cassette-only sampler More Songs That Will Never be Released.

[1981] In May 1981, M Squared released a 7 inch Scattered Order EP, Screaming Tree. I'm Not Whole followed, on the sampler A Selection, in November 1981. After negotiations with the French label L'Invitation au Suicide, conducted from a phone box in Le Havre, the double 10 inch sampler Entrave et Etouffement was released, containing Scattered Order's Bent Up, Mass Murder and I'm Not Whole. It reportedly sold well, but mysteriously, the phone no longer answered in the Le Havre phone box...
The band now acquired permanent drummer Michael Prowse, who, with D. Craig Robertson had come to M Squared with their musical project, Prod. A significantly different drummer, Michael could produce the effect of an 18-storey drumkit without obvious effort.
M Squared turned to live music promotion to showcase its wares. Scattered Order, hesitant outside the studio, opted at first for an extra guitarist, The Systematics' Michael Filewood, who's electronic classical guitar was maniacal but delicate. Their first show was at Brownies (Paddington Green Hotel). Their infrequent live appearances would later be their triumph.

[1982] In February 1982 M Squared toured 3 states (the Finally, Ultimately Tour). In Brisbane Scattered Order recorded at the eight track Basement Studio. Along with other tracks recorded at M Squared, Prat Culture, (33 1/3 one side, 45 the other), was mixed at M Squared and released in November 1982. The lineup: Jones, Tee, Gibson and Prowse. Michael Tee and Patrick Gibson turned their attention to Ya Ya Choral shortly after.
Following this loss, Scattered Order now gained Shane Fahey, from The Makers of the Dead Travel Fast. Shane brought an impressive and growing knowledge of accoustic theory and sound synthesis, a godlike command of his enviable EMS and Arp synths, and a zen-assisted temperament.

[1983] The next recording, their first 'real' LP was, ironically, the last M Squared release (October 1983). I Feel So Relaxed With You.., (apart from one track recorded in a city warehouse) was recorded and mixed at M Squared, the lineup: Jones, Prowse and Fahey, with some input from R. Scott Holmes and Drusilla Johnson.
Scattered Order now gained critical approval, but began to suffer from the desire of others to categorise the music as difficult, serious or 'arty'. To Australian audiences 'artiness' was the kiss of death, and the band has never successfully broken that prejudice. Sales of I Feel So Relaxed With You were woeful, so Mitch handed out free copies outside the Trade Union Club.
The rhythm section of the band was now at its peak with the addition of D. Craig Robertson, a bass player of unparalleled funky rubberiness. Craig had been honing his skills with the highly underrated Pel Mel, and the Prowse/Robertson combination was a decisive factor in Scattered Order's success. R. Scott Holmes and Drusilla Johnson both joined the band full time shortly after. Scott's immense enthusiasm and willing adaptability were to see him take on, over time, the diverse tasks of backing vocals, guitar, keyboard and percussion. Dru, who initially contributed lyrics, now added keyboards.
Their next action was to make a steamy live recording in a disused chicken shed outside of Newcastle, NSW. This project typifies Scattered Order logic: to approach each project from a new angle; to use whatever equipment presents itself; and to keep overheads as low as possible.

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