News: Dark Mofo Festival 2018, Hobart – lineup announced
Dark Mofo, the world’s most extraordinary festival, returns to Hobart – the city on the edge of the world – in the middle of the deepest darkest winter from 7 through to 24 June. The Festival is a series of events, concerts, light shows and installations that deliberately encompasses the weird, the controversial, the obscure …
See: Polychrome – Final Kiss Video, plus album and tour news
The silkiest, smoothest hook-laden glory that is ‘Final Kiss’ by Polychrome, reviewed here last month has now been augmented further by the release of a new video: a series of luminous neon lights that evoke the vague eighties feel of this brilliant song. This is, for me, one of the stand out singles of the …
Track: Hatchie – Sugar and Spice, plus announcement of debut EP
While there was much excitement in Australia following the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games last night in Brisbane, Backseat Mafia’s antipodean outpost was more enthralled by the news that Brisbane’s other great product, and one of our favourites, Hatchie, released a new track along with news of her debut EP, both entitled ‘Sugar and …
News: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah release “Some Loud Thunder” 10th Anniversary Reissue with bonus tracks plus tour
Clap Your Hand Say Yeah’s iconic second album “Some Loud Thunder” will be reissued with exclusive bonus tracks on May 25th to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of its original release. ‘Some Loud Thunder’ stood out for its low-fi cool demeanour – reading from the same book as Velvet Underground and Jonathan Richmond with shouty, erudite …
Track: Maff – Melaniña (EP)
My favourite Chilean shoegaze exponents, Maff, today release their epic EP ‘Melaniña’after releasing two brilliant singles ‘Desfile’ and ‘Hawaii’ off the EP earlier this year. The EP opens with ‘Act 2’ with its hallmark driving, sustaining guitars and slow languorous drive in an enigmatic instrumental form. As with any successful instrumental, ‘Act 2’ conveys emotion …
Track: Black Heart Breakers – Melody, plus EP and tour news
Leather jackets and denim, chugging guitars and a whole barrel full of sneering attitude are necessary appendages for any serious rock band that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Add to that a superglue chorus and layered harmonies you get Black Heart Breakers and their rip roaring new single ‘Melody’. ‘Melody’ is a little bit punk …
Track: Tangents – Stents and Arteries (EP)
It’s hard to describe the sound of Sydney-based quintet Tangents – a sort of free form jazz meeting electronica but avoiding any form of excess or preciousness while maintaining a link to acoustic instrumentation and tight song structures. It is hypnotic music with structure and texture enough to please three-minute long indie song lovers with …
See: Didirri – Formaldehyde, plus tour news
Didirri‘s single ‘Formaldehyde’ was reviewed by me last month where I wrote that the song is a slow-burning fuse that lights up with its intelligent thoughtful lyrics. He’s just released a stunning live performance of the song on video before he embarks on a tour around Australia. The video highlights the strength of Didirri’s unadorned …
Track: Michael P. Cullen – Do You Believe
I was hugely impressed by Michael P Cullen‘s album ‘True Believer back in 2014, and it is great to see him back with a new track, ‘Do You Believe’. Cullen, based in Sydney, has one of those enigmatic, baritone voices that recalls Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Tindersticks and The National, and, like those singers and …
Track: Gurrumul – Djolin (Musical Instrument), plus album and film news
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island readers of this post are advised that the following media release and links within contains images and voices of people who have died. The family of Gurrumul have stated: “The family have given permission that following the final funeral ceremony, his name and image may once again be used …