Sodastream (band)

Sodastream
Karl Smith (left) and Pete Cohen
Background information
Origin	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genres	Rock, folk rock, pop
Years active	1996 (1996)–2007 (2007), 2013 (2013)–present
Labels	Aquamudvuv, Trifekta, Tugboat, Drive-In, Fortuna Pop!, Hausmusik, Microindie
Associated acts	Lee Memorial, Luluc, Khancoban, Karl Smith, Emma Heeney, Thermos Cardy
Website	sodastream.net.au
Members	Pete Cohen Karl Smith
Past members	Adam Johnson

Sodastream are an Australian folk rock duo consisting of Karl Smith on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; and Pete Cohen on double bass, bass guitar, piano and backing vocals; which formed in 1996 in Perth. They have toured Australia, United States, Europe and Japan and had national rotation on radio network, Triple J. Sodastream issued four studio albums, Looks Like a Russian (22 May 2000), The Hill for Company (3 September 2001), A Minor Revival (4 August 2003) and Reservations (22 May 2006) before disbanding in 2007. In 2011 the pair were both members of Lee Memorial and in 2013 reformed Sodastream.

Sodastream began in Perth in 1996, as a pop music group consisting of Peter Ronald Cohen on double bass, bass guitar, piano and backing vocals; Adam Johnson on drums and percussion; and Karl Stephen Smith (ex-Thermos Cardy) on lead vocals and acoustic guitar. In 1997 they recorded and released their debut extended play, Enjoy, on Aquamudvuv Records. The seven-track EP was produced by Anthony Frisina and Steve Elkin guested on piano for one track. Johnson left after the EP appeared but Cohen and Smith continued as a folk rock duo – without a regular drummer. Sarah Corbett of Come with a Smile described their work as "poignant words, elegant melodies, wavering voices, melancholy tones and understated instrumentation".

In late 1998 the pair relocated to Melbourne, where they recorded and released their second EP, Practical Footwear. This seven-track EP was co-produced by Jason Brown and Sodastream, drums were supplied by Dave Bower. The band signed with a range of independent labels including Australia's Trifekta Records, United Kingdom's Tugboat Records and United States' Drive-In Records. The US version of Practical Footwear was trimmed back to six tracks, which Allmusic's Mike DaRonco described as "dreary but mature folk-pop anthems" with "[n]othing uplifting or outgoing, but Sodastream's acoustic arrangements are pleasantly relaxing".

During March and April 1999 Sodastream undertook their first tour of Europe including shows in Netherlands and England. In October that year they returned to Netherlands to perform at the Crossing Border Festival. On 22 May 2000 Sodastream released their first album, Looks Like a Russian, on Trifekta with Gavin Tempany, Laurie Sinagra and the group co-producing; drums were supplied by Marty Brown (later in Art of Fighting). Corbett at Oz Music Project's website praised Smith's "captivating vocals ... [d]elicate, hushed and high pitched. Shy, sad and lonely" while Cohen provided a "calming atmosphere with spine-chilling strums from his double bass and haunting backing vocals". They toured Europe again and had their first shows in Australia outside Perth or Melbourne. Their material was broadcast by national radio network, Triple J.