backseat downunder
EP Review: Wish unveil the jangling, atmospheric instrumental EP ‘Becoming’ and announces launch date.
I always say that the greatest challenge for instrumental music is to convey thoughts and feelings without words, and in the EP ‘Becoming’ by Naarm/Melbourne outfit Wish, they have done just that. A core instrumentation of just guitars , bass and drums delivers something quiet raw and evocative. Wish is essentially the solo work of …
News: Liverpudlian giants China Crisis announces first ever tour of Australia.
Legendary Liverpudlians China Crisis are celebrating 40 years together with an Australian tour in December 2022. China Crisis is a prime example of a band that is able to mix an inherent pop sensibility with intelligent lyrics and a danceable jet propulsion energy. From their very first single, the classic ‘African And White’, this band …
Track: Jet City Sports Club are ‘Feeling It All’: a sprightly, jaunty, bliss bomb slice of pop.
Sydney’s Jet City Sports Club have emanated radiant waves of jangle pop indie joy through their past releases, and in their new single ‘Feeling It All’ they have shrugged off all restraints and unleashed a day-glo bright pop blast that positively shimmers and shakes in the golden sunshine. The high stepping mountain scaling melodies and …
News: Gena Rose Bruce announces new album and unveils the title track ‘Deep Is The Way’, a simmering and beautiful new collaboration with Bill Callahan
The brilliant Gena Rose Bruce has followed up September’s single ‘Foolishly in Love’ with another Bill Callahan (SMOG) collaboration, the beautiful track ‘Deep Is The Way’. This time Callahan not only throws in with songwriting, but he contributes vocals as well. This single is the title track to Bruce’s newly announced album, scheduled for release …
Premiere: We get early access to the brilliant Verticoli’s thunderous new album ‘The Echo’, ahead of Australian tour news.
nipaluna/Hobart’s post punk powerhouse Verticoli have provided Backseat Mafia with an exclusive listen to their new album, ‘The Echo’, and it is a gorgeous, cathartic cataclysm of sound and fury. Verticoli have drip fed us with a few anticipatory singles – ‘Pride And Legacy’ and Sailor’ – over the last year – perfectly restrained and …
Album Review: Troubadour extraordinaire Jo Meares releases the atmospheric classic ‘Dream Hotel’ and announces launch date.
Over the last year, Sydney troubadour extraordinaire Jo Meares has been releasing the most mesmerising and dynamic series of singles with producer Anth Dymke: each one a sparkling enigmatic jewel, interspersed, in the depth of COVID last year, by the release of a french language version of an earlier EP ‘Back To The World‘ (which …
Live: Mel Parsons – The Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, 29.10.22
Award winning whiskey smooth songwriter Mel Parsons has earnt an impressive following since releasing her first album “Over my Shoulder” in 2009. No stranger to touring worldwide over the past 13+ years, this home crowd show at the majestic Isaac Theatre Royal delivered a solid, rousing and well-paced performance with a touch of intimacy, humour …
Album Review: Tasmania/lutruwita’s Slag Queens release sophomore long-player, Favours
nipaluna/Hobart-based post-punk outfit, Slag Queens have released their scorching second album on Rough Skies Records. Mixed in with the distinctive vocals of Lucinda Shannon and the largely powerful and at times, pounding rhythms provided by the bass (Shannon) and drums (Claire Johnston), the addition of relative newcomers, Wesley Miles on synth and Amber Perez-Wright on …
Premiere: The Great Emu War Casualties give us an advance listen to their epically brilliant new EP ‘Quiet Bat People’.
We are over the moon to be able to provide a sneak listen to the new EP ‘Quiet Bat People’ from the rather brilliant The Great Emu War Casualties. This is a very exciting band that innovates incessantly and creates a rare dynamism. Threaded throughout the pacey high stepping beats is a vein of self-deprecating …
BECK announced in third artist unveiling for Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023.
The eight-time Grammy Award winning artist, BECK, has been named as one of the major headliners for Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023. His announcement makes him the 50th artist announced to be playing at Australia’s premier festival. Joining the likes of Elvis Costello, Buddy Guy and Jackson Browne, the brilliant BECK will be gracing the stage …