Track: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays, plus tour news
‘Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays’ is the third track to be released off the forthcoming album by Unknown Mortal Orchestra called ‘Sex & Food’, due out on 6 April. Unknown Mortal Orchestra is the work of artist Ruban Nielsen. It is a funky disco-infused track from the New Zealander who is based in Portland, Oregon: smooth …
See: Sarah Mary Chadwick – Sugar Still Melts in the Rain, plus album news
Sarah Mary Chadwick has one of those voices that are soaked in emotion, balanced on a gritty and whiskey-soaked knife edge yet so sweet and mesmerising: fragile yet ever so strong. In the vein of Patty Smith or P.J. Harvey, her songs are poetic and personal. ‘Sugar Still Melts in the Rain’ is the title …
Track: Low Cut Connie – Beverley and album and tour news
I confess I am new to Low Cut Connie but their new single, ‘Beverly’ is fantastic. It’s a slice Americana with a rolling, rumbling piano and an Elton John quality about the vocals and melody (the good version of Elton John) with just a touch of alt.western sleazy rock n roll. In fact apparently Elton …
Track: Scratch – Soak/Newer Things
Bridging the gap between Perth (Australia) and New York (USA) is no mean feat, but due to the wonders of modern recording technology it has been artfully done by duo Scratch. They have just released two songs that have been written and recorded across the great divide. ‘Soak’ – the standout track – manages to …
Track: Amusement Parks On Fire – All The New Ends (EP)
Amusement Parks on Fire began as the solo project of teenager Michael Feerick in 2004, who wrote and recorded nine songs on a small budget. A couple of well-received albums with a full band followed, culminating in a hiatus in 2013 before the band returned with a single, ‘Our Goal to Realise’, in late 2017. …
Track: Chakra Efendi – Waste of Space
At the age of 18, Brisbane-based artist Chakra Efendi had already attracted considerable interest on his SoundCloud page for his series of self-produced homegrown demos. These demos clearly indicated a talent for low-fi, enigmatic and deeply personal songs as well as a bright future ahead for Efendi. ‘Waste of Space’ represents his first official release …
Album Review: Wylderness – Wylderness
Today sees the release of the debut self-titled by Welsh band, Wylderness. Riding the new wave of shoegaze (see what I did there?), there is no doubting the debt to Ride, but this is no carbon copy or pale pastiche. Veering away from dream pop tendencies, ‘Wylderness’ represents a more muscular guitar-driven variety, not afraid …
Track: Jack Spider – Animal Cafe EP
Associated with many excellent Brisbane bands such as Blonde Tongues and Babaganouj (all covered by Backseat Mafia in the past), guitarist Jack Gleeson has just released an awesome EP, ‘Animal Cafe’, under the name Jack Spider. There is a messy, shambolic and wild nature to the five songs, culminating in the epic ‘Cupid Sound’. I …
Album Review: Lowtide – Southern Mind
I don’t know whether Melbourne is becoming the shoegaze/dream pop capital of the Southern Hemisphere, but the release last month of Lowtide‘s sophomore album, ‘Southern Mind’ would be compelling evidence. Some of the best music is being produced in the southern capital and Lowtide are leading the pack. ‘Southern Mind’ is a stellar collection of …
Album Review: Flowertruck – Mostly Sunny
In terms of a forecast, the title to the debut album by Sydney’s Flowertruck, ‘Mostly Sunny’ is overly pessimistic. There are no clouds on this horizon. And yet in terms of temperament – and to torturously extend the metaphor – it perfectly captures the tone of this stunning album. Bright, bouncy tunes with a hint …