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The debut album Gather 'round the Gooseclock by North Shore trio Mali Mali came together over an idyllic two weeks in Cairns last year, with the band’s leader Ben Tolich recording in the home studio of one of his most respected musicians, The Middle East’s Mark Myers. Tolich, who grew up on Auckland’s North Shore now spending more time in Sydney, was still somewhat bemused by the turn of events that lead to his arrival in North Queensland, staying and playing with a band which had helped shape his musical vision. The connection happened when a friend of his passed on a copy of his Brotherly EP to Myers. A month later Myers emailed Tolich out of the blue, full of praise and suggesting the recording. A few months later he was there, laying down an affecting, lush set of lyrical indie rock. But while the session came together quickly, Mali Mali’s path to the their debut was a five year saga, beginning with an epiphany at a music festival.Tolich had been tinkering around with music for