Backseat Downunder
EP Review: Nick Ward’s deeply personal treatise on identity in ‘Everything I Wish I Told You’ is beautiful, empowering pop.
Sydney’s Nick Ward is only nineteen but the maturity and stature of his new EP, ‘Everything I Wish I Told You’ is phenomenal. In instrumentation, vocals and lyrical themes, this is a fully formed piece of indie pop that sparkles with melody and rhythms. The themes are very personal and born from the strictures of …
Premiere: Damien Binder’s new single ‘Here It Is’ is a shining beacon of soul-stirring, anthemic indie pop.
We are honoured to premiere the new single ‘Here It Is’ from New Zealand-born Western Australian resident Damien Binder which is out on Friday, 5 February 2021. Binder began his musical life in nineties NZ band Second Child before moving west to Australia – Perth to be precise – and releasing, to date, four solo …
Track: Brisbane’s highly talented musician RINSE unleashes dream pop perfection in track ‘Tamarynd (Wherever I am)’
RINSE is the solo work of Joe Agius, a central and compelling figure in the hyperactive and vibrant Brisbane musical scene. A collaborator with Hatchie (a firm Backseat Mafia favourite), Agius has just released the magnificent single ‘Tamarynd (Wherever I am)’ from his forthcoming debut EP, ‘Wherever I Am’ out 5 March 2021. In a …
EP Review: Hope D’s ‘Cash Only’ EP is a gorgeously textured, multi-layered and expressive pop delight.
Brisbane is battling for the title of the most creative indie pop centre of the southern hemisphere at the moment, epitomised by a number of acts like Hatchie and Mallrat featuring highly talented female artists that display a prodigious talent for songwriting. Brisbane’s Hope D is another case for the prosecution. Her new EP ‘Cash …
Track: Cousin Betty pays tribute to the glories of the mixtape in the romping single ‘Tape Hiss’
There is a very specific audience which will recognise the many obscure references to names like Peter Russell Clark, TDK cassette advertisements and Countdown in the new single, ‘Tape Hiss’ from Australian band Cousin Betty. Namely, Australians growing up in the eighties when the music show Countdown ruled the airwaves and provided a musical education …
Track: Buddy Glass paints a poignant tale of family and loss in ‘The Spirit of a Small Town’
In my review of Buddy Glass’s album ‘Wow and Flutter’ last year, I said the album was absolute delight: an immersive journey into the poetic and expressive world of Buddy Glass. Glass has just released a poignant video for the track ‘The Spirit of a Small Town’ – a song dealing with memories of his …
Track: Middle Kids announce release of new album and provide a taster in the brilliant single ‘Questions’
Sydney trio Middle Kids are a band in the ascendant – their debut album ‘Lost Friends’ released in 2018 received universal praise, leading to some notable supports and US tv appearances – check out a stunning live performance of the album here. Ultimately the band moved to Los Angeles where they have worked on their …
Track: The Chills brighten our solar system with new track ‘Monolith’ and announcement of a new album
The sun shines that little brighter and warmer this morning – even here at the southern edge of the world – with news of a new album from New Zealand legends The Chills. Due out on 14 May 2021, ‘Scatterbrain’ is the band’s seventh studio album and will be highly anticipated by those enamoured of …
Track: Barley Passable bottle the essence of a Sydney summer with new single Turnaround
Sydney duo, Barley Passable, have released a veritable slice of summer with their new slinky, sensuous single ‘Turnaround’. It is as if they have bottled the essence of Sydney’s northern beaches – the bleach white beaches, the cloudless blue skies and the driving searing heat, hooning around in panel vans and board shorts eating Chiko …
Track: Brigitte Bardini releases evocative dream pop single ‘Wild Ride’
Hailing from that creative hotspot of Melbourne, Brigitte Bardini has released an enormously impressive dreamy single, ‘Wild Ride’, created almost entirely by herself in the confines of her home studio. Another byproduct of the explosion of creativity inspired by the travails of last year, perhaps, but nonetheless a wholly impressive track filled with sparkle and …