Backseat Downunder
Track: Badgers – Why Am I Your Only Friend?
There’s nothing like a good dose of aural medicine to stimulate the system and the new single from Melbourne band Badgers does that and more. ‘Why Am I You Only Friend?’ is a veritable onslaught of jangling guitars, delicious layered harmonies with an epic swagger and joie de vivre bigger than the temporal world. Plowing …
Track: Shiva and the Hazards – Revolution Son
Shiva and the Hazards garnered a lot of attention following their support slot with Ride across Australia recently – performances that were good enough to result in their new single ‘Revolution Son’ being produced and mixed by Ride front man Mark Gardener. It’s clear to see what the fuss is about – both live and …
Premiere: Jo Meares – Reasons
It is with great delight we premiere the amazing new video for artist Jo Meares‘s spectacular new single ‘Reasons’. There is such a haunting quality to both the song and the perfectly matched video that seems to capture the cyclical nature of life – natural processes that are disturbing, intimidating yet so breathtakingly beautiful. Meares …
Album Review: Lisa Caruso release the highly impressive debut album ‘In Feelings’ and shares her favourite music.
The tracks on Lisa Caruso‘s new album ‘In Feelings’ provide a gloriously impassioned tableaux for emotion and pain: honestly expressed and rendered with a theatrical flourish and a hint of troubled glamour. Caruso recorded parts of the album back in 2018 in London with producer Ben Fletcher (Sarah Blasko and Marina and the Diamonds) before …
Premiere: The Double Happiness release single Oysters Can Dream and announce new album and launch gig
Brisbane’s The Double Happiness are premiering their delicious new single ‘Oysters Can Dream’ on Backseat Mafia today, and it is another fine example of the reverb-soaked dreamy soundscapes this band are so excellent at delivering. Twanging, jangling guitars and vocal harmonies evoke sea spray splashes on bright sunny waterfronts and the briny delights of open …
Meet: We chat with Johnny Hunter and find out about wasted youth, putting on a show and the soundtrack of their lives. Plus tour news.
Last month I was highly impressed by the debut EP ‘Early Trauma’ from Sydney band Johnny Hunter – it’s a new new wave for our times. So impressed was I that I had to find out more from the band – about how they got together, their influences, their favourite songs and their striking image. …
Track: Bitter Defeat – The Light That Shines
Bitter Defeat hails from Kirikiriroa/Hamilton in the North Island of New Zealand and their debut single ‘The Light That Shines’ is an effervescent slice of classic New Zealand indie pop mixed with a Buzzcocks swagger and a rousing chorus. Bitter Defeat consists of Rob Shirlow (Guitar, Vocals), Ben Manning(Guitar, Backing vocals), Kathryn Thompson (Drums), Ian …
Track: EWAH and the Vision of Paradise – Vultures
EWAH and the Vision of Paradise have the dubious honour of being the last band to be reviewed live on Backseat Mafia before the global lockdown, so it’s nice to return to the band when things are slowly – ever so slowly – returning to normal. ‘Vultures’ is their new single and it is a …
Premiere: Key Out releases video for haunting single ‘Buildings’ plus list top ten influences
Key Out are a phenomenal Sydney band – I recently rated their brilliant album ‘Anthropomorphia‘ a well deserved nine out of ten. Backseat Mafia is therefore utterly delighted to premiere Key Out’s new double sided single consisting of the opening track from the album, ‘Buildings’ as well as a remix of earlier single ‘Chorus’. ‘Buildings’ …
Backseat Downunder: A Summary of Recent Australian and New Zealand Releases
This is a new section of Backseat Mafia that provides a quick rundown of recent releases from the shores of Australia and New Zealand. Kylie Minogue, the Australian national icon, assumed a mantle of coolness when she collaborated with Manic Street Preachers and Nick Cave and associated with Michael Hutchence from INXS, and it cannot …