‘Nonagon infinity opens the door!’

Formation of a cross-album concept through motivic interrelation in the music of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Authors

  • Paul Ballam-Cross University of Queensland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/prbt.38104

Keywords:

concept album, motif, intertextuality, garage rock, psychedelic rock, Australian music

Abstract

The re-use of motifs is relatively common as a method of structuring concept albums. These motifs can appear in several different formats, but generally are musical or lyrical references that serve to generate a sense of cohesion across a release. Australian band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have created what is referred to as the ‘Gizzverse‘—a collection of musical, lyrical and extra-musical motifs that are referenced across several releases. Their extensive re-use of motifs, discussed using Gérard Genette’s frameworks for understanding multi-textual references, or transtextuality, creates an interconnected mythology that this article argues ultimately constitutes a kind of uber-concept album.

Author Biography

  • Paul Ballam-Cross, University of Queensland

    Paul Ballam-Cross is a composer and classical guitarist. He has completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance majoring in classical guitar and a Doctor of Philosophy, majoring in Musicology. Paul is a regular reviewer for Limelight Magazine, and is a casual lecturer at the University of Queensland.

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Published

2020-09-22

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Ballam-Cross, P. (2020). ‘Nonagon infinity opens the door!’: Formation of a cross-album concept through motivic interrelation in the music of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Perfect Beat, 20(1), 68–91. https://doi.org/10.1558/prbt.38104