DESCRIPTION
Emerging from Melbourne’s cinematic-soul scene — home to breakout acts like Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo — The Pro-Teens remain a mysterious and eccentric outlier. Helmed by drummer and percussionist Hudson Whitlock, also a member of the aforementioned groups, The Pro-Teens are an anonymous collective of high-level instrumentalists who record under flamboyant aliases like ‘Dead Honest’ Dean Amazing and Libby Clique-Baite. Their symbolic leader? Keyboardist Snooch Dodd.
Their 2020 album I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly is a mind-warping instrumental journey, blending the soul-funk backbone of sample culture with boom-bap hip-hop energy and vintage cinematic vibes. First released in a limited run on the College Of Knowledge imprint, it quickly became a cult favourite — one of the most celebrated albums of the year at Mr Bongo HQ.
Drawing on the comic book flair of MF DOOM and Kool Keith, the eerie psychedelia of Gravediggaz, and the cinematic feel of Galt MacDermot, Richard Evans, and Marc Moulin, The Pro-Teens whip up a potent, surrealist stew of hip hop-guided funk, vivid instrumentals, and phantasmagoric textures.
True to the DIY ethos of the College Of Knowledge label, the album was recorded live to tape in shared houses and attic studios, capturing the grit and spontaneity of the ensemble's live energy. It’s a heady blend of vintage and futuristic, whimsical and deeply soulful — truly a tripped-out masterpiece that deserves to be heard far beyond the lucky few who snagged the original pressing.
“My Beat Of The Week!” – Huey Morgan, BBC6 Music
TRACKLIST
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I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly – 03:01
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No One Understands Me (I'm OG) – 03:55
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Spray It, Don't Say It – 04:08
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Convo – 02:48
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Peppery Weapons – 03:44
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Snooch Is Too Busy For This Shit – 01:31
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The Pro-Teens Ruined My Life – 02:40
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Ya Gotta Love This City – 02:34
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I Hate Turbulence – 01:41
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Greta Thunburg – 04:17
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Elephant On The Wall – 03:02
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Slow Fast – 03:02