Deniz Tek Homepage Discography: Deniz Tek Group

The band had intended to do a full length album with 2 weeks being booked in Trafalgar Studios, recently renamed Electric Avenue. Red Eye then cut the project down to one week making an album impossible. The second week was used instead for the remix of Birdman's Living Eyes.

Heavy Air is an apt description of the atmosphere in the studio. Kent was barely speaking to the others and only intermittently present. He contributed occasional guitar fills and solos only. Although some of his contributions were brilliant, the overall effect on the band's work was negative. The mix also suffered from Deniz' concurrent Radio Birdman workload.

The title of this EP was originally meant to be 444 - The Number of the Beat but due to a mistake by Red Eye's artwork department it was incorrectly named 4-4 The Number of the Beat. Deniz, being back home in Montana, had been unable to scrutinise the final proof.

Other Release:

Track Listing:

The Musicians:

Deniz Tek - Guitar & Vocals / Kent Steedman - Guitar / Jim Dickson - Bass & Harmonies / Nik Rieth - Drums
Chris Masuak - Acoustic on track 1 / Pip Hoyle - Keyboard on tracks 1, 2, 3 / Rob Younger - Vocals on track 4

Technical Details:

Produced by Deniz Tek / Engineered by Phil Punch / Recorded at Electric Avenue, Sydney

Of Interest:

Hondo's Dog, the opening track, is the instrumental. Chris Masuak, who happened by the studio, played the acoustic guitar riffs. Pip Hoyle, a frequent flyer with Deniz at the time, contributed organ sounds. Kent played the single note guitar fills.

Mesozoic Cave is a fast rocker with breakneck drumming from Nik and some inspired free jamming during Deniz' solo after the second verse.

My Wall heavily features the keyboards of Pip with Deniz playing the solo.

Not Right came about because the band wanted to contribute a track to a Stooges tribute compilation I Wanna Be A Stooges initiated by French label Revenge. Deniz called Rob Younger, who, once assured of cab fare, came to the studio and sang the vocal. Deniz and Kent alternated guitar solos.

Seven tracks were recorded during the session with the three not on the final EP being Heavy Air, Workingman's Shoes, and Shellback. The first two later surfaced on the EP Bad Road.