album review
Album Review: Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets unleash their impossibly beautiful and glittering self-titled debut album.
Jo Meares is a prodigious talent and whatever he turns is mind to, it will be remarkable. His new project, Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets (let’s ignore the possessive comma issue), eschews his ambient and ethereal side for the full blooded rock’n’roll experience. OK, it’s still ethereal, but with a vibrating combustion engine to power the …
Album Review: Wilding scatters a joyous irreverent hue into the universe with his scintillating new album ‘Whatever I Am’
it’s been nearly four years since one of our favourite artists, Naarm/Melbourne’s Wilding, released ‘The Death Of Foley’s Mall’ through the legendary Half A Cow label (see my review here) and a later compilation album ‘Hello….My Name Is Wilding’ (reviewed here). Now, Wilding is back with an album of brand new material in ‘Whatever I Am’ and the …
Album Review: The ‘Heathen Sound’ of Big League is a deliciously fuzzy onslaught filled with melody and chainsaws.
Much loved here at Backseat Mafia, Naarm/Melbourne band Big League began as a series of lounge-room recordings by husband and wife team Travis (guitar, vocals) & Marie Velthoven (bass) before expanding into a full band and an even fuller sound. And the sound is bigger than Ben Hur. Big League have released a new album, ‘Hethen Sound’, and according to …
Album Review: (strangely)(emotional) sees Dave Graney and Clare Moore paint a vivid portrait of life on a whimsical canvas.
Surely the coolest couple in the antipodean music scene, Dave Graney and Clare Moore have today released their new album ‘(strangely)(emotional)’ and it is a journey into the magnificently astute and erudite world of Graney’s fervent imagination. And yet this world is firmly grounded in reality as song titles such as ‘I’m Already Missing The Lockdown’ and …
Album Review: Indie-Rock Artist Leo Unveils Their Introspective and Vulnerable Debut EP, ‘Please Leave Quietly’
From the heart of Naarm/Melbourne’s music scene emerges Leo, a soulful storyteller blending raw emotion with infectious indie-rock melodies. With hits like ‘Doctor‘ and ‘Half Unconscious‘, Leo has already made waves with their unfiltered lyricism and captivating individualism. Now, with the release of their debut EP, ‘Please Leave Quietly‘, Leo invites us into their intimate …
Album Review: Einstürzende Neubauten’s ‘Rampen (apm: Alien Pop Music)’ is an atmospheric, extra-terrestrial sonic masterpiece.
‘Rampen’ (rocket launching pad) is the name for the improvisations that occur during live performances of Einstürzende Neubauten: the springboard for innovation and creativity. It forms the basis for the new album that was born out of temporal necessity and other exigencies when a decision was made by the band about recording again following 2020’s …
Album Review: Sheffield band The Suncharms return with the shimmering, melodic sounds of ‘Things Lost’.
We are a bit late to this one, but then again it did take Sheffield band The Suncharms 32 years to follow up their album released in 1992, so that makes us feel a little better. And the return album, released late last year, is well worth visiting: it is a delightful collection of jangling, …
Album Review: The Church releases the exquisite ‘Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars – another collection of finely honed sonic treasures.
We could seriously dedicate a single writer full time to cover the creative output of Steve Kilbey over a year, and the release of ‘Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars’ with The Church and the imminent release of his project with Martin Kennedy (‘Premonition K’) illustrates my point perfectly. Will no one think of the …
Album Review: Ride’s brilliant ‘Interplay’ reveals a band at the very height of their game.
Ride are releasing their much anticipated album ‘Interplay’ this Friday after teasing us with three astounding singles in the lead up. After a period in the wilderness following 1996’s ‘Tarantula’, ‘Weather Dairies’ in 2017 signaled a welcome return to the fray for the Oxford band and the output ever since has just been getting exponentially …
Album Review: The Jesus and Mary Chain reveal their stunning ‘Glasgow Eyes’ – an intoxicating mix of swagger and attitude with just a hint of reflection.
The Jesus and Mary Chain release ‘Glasgow Eyes’ via Fuzz Club Records on Friday, 22 March 2024 ahead of a propitious year during which the duo – brothers Jim and William Reid – will further mark their 40th year in the industry with an autobiography (published by Orion/White Rabbit) and a major UK and European tour. It’s …