Hailing from Melbourne, Ninetynine combine indie rock stylings with tuned percussion and layerings of casio keyboard to create a unique kind of pop music. Variously described as ‘wonderful’ (Melody Maker) and ‘versatile and talented’ (Australian Rolling Stone) the band began as a solo project for Laura MacFarlane (the original drummer for Sleater-Kinney) in 1995. Ninetynine's self titled debut on Patsy and Canada's Endearing Records followed soon after as well as tours of the U.S., New Zealand and Europe.
In 1997 long time collaborator Cameron Potts joined the band just in time to appear on the release of the ‘767’ album on Patsy and Endearing. Further tours of North America and Europe occurred in 1999 and 2000 in which Ninetynine played in such countries as the U.K., Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Canada, U.S., Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland. In 2000 Ninetynine also released their third album ‘180 Degrees’ on Radio One and Patsy to local and overseas acclaim with John Peel going on record as to how wonderful he thought the band to be.
The following year a rejuvenated line up appeared with Amy Clarke and Iain McIntyre coming in to assist on bass, vocals, guitar, keyboard and vibraphone. During this time the band toured Australia, Japan and Europe before releasing 'Anatomy of Distance', a collection of singles and compilation tracks, on Patsy and Radio One.
2002 saw Ninetynine head into a 24 track studio for the first time with Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studios (Magic Dirt, Rowland S. Howard). The result was their stunning album ‘The Process’ released on CD by Trifekta records and vinyl by Cars and Appliances. Rated as “album of the week” by various Melbourne radio stations and publications the album was hailed by Melbourne’s InPress magazine as “Leaving the listener hovering over the repeat button just to relive the infectious moments again and again.”
2003 saw the band tour Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe once more before recording an EP for US label Dark Beloved Cloud. The band’s first four albums were also reissued by Unstable Ape Recordings.
In 2004 and 2005 the band had a compilation of their songs released in Spain on the Strange Ones label. New songs also appeared on the Brisbane Ladyfest CD and German Kultur Shock double album.
In 2006 the band finished recording a new album “Worlds Of Population, Worlds Of Space, Worlds Of Robots” which has just been released in Australia and overseas. Ninetynine launched the album in Melbourne and Sydney in September/ October and embarked on their 7th overseas tour in October 2006, including Finland, Russia, Iceland Spain and the UK. This tour also welcomed new member Meg Butler into the band.
“Their manner, along with their choices of instruments, confidence and the aptitude of all members on all instruments set these guys apart from anything else around at the moment.” InPress live review, 11/9/06
Now in 2007 “Worlds Of Population, Worlds Of Space, Worlds Of Robots” has been reissued through UARs new distributer Remote Control/Inertia, and the band has been playing nationally to promote this. The band will embark on another overseas tour to North America in July and August.