Richard Watts reviews 'Making Noises' by Euan Mitchell

Making Noises is the second self-published novel from Melbourne author Euan Mitchell, and follows in the footsteps of his best-selling début, Feral Tracks (1998). Like Feral Tracks, Mitchell’s new book is partially inspired by his own life experiences, in particular his time spent playing in pub bands and working at Ausmusic.

On one level a satirical novel about politics and power in the Australian music industry in the 1990s, Making Noises is also an exploration of one man’s struggle to come to terms with his failed dreams. Its protagonist, Marty, is a rock musician on the wrong side of thirty whose greatest success to date has been a live appearance on a children’s television programme. Seeking a fresh start, Marty moves to Sydney, finding employment (a little too easily) at the Oz Rock Foundation. He also begins teaching music skills to young men in custody, in the process meeting up with a talented Aboriginal teenager named Billy Durall. Marty’s complex relationship with Billy and his growing attraction towards Ingrid, a fellow Oz Rock employee, form the two main threads of the developing narrative.