It’s been a long time coming…

But finally, the debut album from Tennant Creek band Unbroken Expanse is here!

Jeg Rock was proudly made in Tennant Creek, and produced by one of the Territory’s music legends, Jeff McLaughlin.

Launched in Darwin and Tennant Creek in April, Unbroken Expanse (“UBX”) are just a bit excited about their new CD – and that they are also one of two Northern Territory bands selected to play at this year’s major music event, BASSINTHEGRASS.

UBX will share the bill with some of Australia’s best, including Birds of Tokyo, The Presets, British India, Sneaky Sound System - plus 2011 Battle Of The School Bands winners, Ned & Friends.

But UBX is not a band you could ever accuse of taking themselves too seriously.. As a collective the band possesses a great sense of humour and largesse – a character trait you often find among those living in deep within the Territory’s desert regions..

Music NT recently spoke to UBX front man and guitarist, Wheezy ‘Banger’ Helmond.

Music NT: Who has been involved in making this album with you? As in behind the scenes? And where did you record it?

Wheezy ‘Banger’ Helmond: We did all the recording and mixing with Dr Fluoride (aka Jeff McLaughlin) at his ‘mystical lair’ and at Winanjjikari Music Centre in Tennant Creek.

Then [Darwin engineer and producer] Matthew Cunliffe (Marine Boy) mastered the final mix. Slapped some colour on it and boom!

MuNT: How long has the album taken from start to end?

WH: We recorded it on and off around a year, which was good. It gave us the chance to feel the songs in different ways.

MuNT: What was the experience like making your first album?

WH: So powerful! This last 12 months has just captured the whole spectrum.

And to have all four of us as mates go through it together has brought us tighter together.

MuNT: Can you give us a bit of an insight into UBX’s writing process?

WH: Either Parko, Jimmy or I will bring in a riff or a chord progression and we’ll jam it, lay our weird layers of magic goo on it, and then itch to play it live!!!

MuNT: How would you describe the sound of ‘Jeg Rock’..?

WH: It sounds like the sprinting love child of Papa groove and Mrs Punk!

We recently found out ‘Jeg’ is Norwegian for ‘I’.

MuNT: You seem to have a bit of a following in Tennant Creek – can you tell us about your ‘fans’ – and a typical gig?

WH: We do have a grouse bunch of fans and mates, they’re all genuine, fun people and all ages,

Our gigs are what give us a chance to go wild. Live gigs are what means the most to us.

MuNT: What were your recent gigs like in Darwin?

WH: Intense and at the same time intimate!!! Humpty Doo are a wild lot, which was good to see.

The Darwin Railway Club launch was one of our best experiences ever.

And to share it with Enth Degree and ZEDMAJOR made it all the more crazy!

MUNT: Do you have a big support base in Tennant?

WH: A good chunk of regulars seem to keep coming. The numbers have grown over the last few years for sure.

MUNT: What are your ‘day jobs’?

WH: Tutoring, defending justice, pouring beer and Sport and Recreation. In that order Heeeeeee!

MUNT: Who do you think your CD will appeal to?

WH: Anyone like us.. Hopefully a bunch of Territorians. Triple J would be nice too..

MuNT: What are your ambitions for the CD and the band?

WH: For the record – and our music – to be heard by as many people who want to listen, whether buying, or ripping or coming to a gig. We love expressing ourselves on stage and seeing our crowds reacting to our energy.

Hopefully we will all eventually look like Lemmy from Motorhead.

MuNT: Will you tour?

WH: We’ve been to a lot of places in the Territory and we’ve loved the travelling, It may be a while before we tour extensively, but we want to – so bad!

So far Darwin has been our ‘home away from home’.

MuNT: I interviewed you guys in 2009 – what has changed for you since then?

WH: Hair positioning, Shit-tonnes of gigs and fun living! More experience and drive.

Just learning so much and developing ourselves. We’ve had a big boost in support from so many people!

MuNT: And please finish this sentence: “In five years time UBX will be…”

WH: Fighting off cyborgs for 4th spot on the ARIA charts! Mark my words.

Unbroken Expanse play BASSINTHEGRASS May 21st, 2011 at the Darwin Amphitheatre. Tickets are on sale now.

Visit Unbroken Expanse on Facebook and MySpace.

Jeg Rock is out now – email searching_for_waves@hotmail.com to get a copy.

Read another interview with UBX on the Music NT Forum – and what they had to say in the NT News about being programmed to play at BASS, before the gates open..

Words: Megan Spencer. Thanks to Wheezy Helmond for the interview