backseat downunder
Track: The enigmatic Johnny Hunter unveils the dark and sizzling new track ‘The Floor’
Johnny Hunter released one of the most enthralling and fascinating albums of last year with their debut EP ‘Early Trauma’ (see my review here). Theatrical, gothic, effervescent and with just a hint of malevolence, this is a band that slaps on some makeup and puts on a show – visual and aural pummeling that is …
Track: Courtney Barnett takes a gentle, wry look at ‘Rae Street’ and announces third studio album, ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’
Australian indie icon Courtney Barnett has just announced the release of her third studio album ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’ on 12 November 2021 through Marathon Artists and released the first single, ‘Rae Street’. ‘Rae Street’ is a gentle, reflective track with Barnett’s signature wry observations on the vicissitudes of life: immediate real and acute …
Track: Interstellar Tay expresses yearning and loss with the sparkling, effervescent ‘Garden Song’
‘Garden Song’ sets off with such a sparkling and effervescent style with its folk timbre and pop sensibilities that its inspiration – the passing of the fantastically named Interstellar Tay‘s grandfather – is hard to detect. The song is a celebration of a lost loved one: joyous and positive with its sing along choruses and …
Track: New Zealand’s Sulfate release the dark, fuzzy track ‘Crossing’ and announce new album ‘Godzone’ through Flying Nun Records
‘Crossing’, from New Zealand band Sulfate, is a delicious, fuzzy, angst-ridden piece of darkness that buzzes with a satisfying intensity. A metallic syncopated undercurrent is swamped by angular, crunchy guitars and yearning vocals that have echoes of the brittle, observational delivery of the Robert Forster side of The Go-Betweens. The themes match the gothic darkness …
Track: Sydney artist LOVER releases the spacey, dreamy and slightly surreal ‘Palm Reader’
There are layers of lush instrumentation and a dreamy intergalactic aura to the new single from Sydney artist LOVER (the nome de plume of Oliver Kirby. The slightly surreal atmosphere – a dreamy, melodic fugue – is matched by the arresting visuals of the accompanying video. What LOVER does is infect an electronic wash with …
Premiere: Brisbane’s brilliant musical chameleons, Fingerless, reveal sparkling psychedelic new track ‘Leaf of Stone’ and announce launch gig.
Fingerless are consistently proving themselves to be a fascinating bunch: their singles are constantly evolving and changing, and each time they veer in another direction, they prove themselves masterful innovators and extraordinary songwriters. Their new single’ Leaf of Stone’ – which we are very honoured to premiere today – is a psychedelic wig out – …
Track: Sydney’s Down for Tomorrow unveil the anthemic ‘Sentimental’: euphoric dynamism and passion in the one package
Sydney indie punk outfit Down for Tomorrow have released an anthemic rock single ‘Sentimental’. Blessed with celestial choruses and a thundering rock beat, this is an outstanding piece of melodic rock, with a gritty undercurrent and crunchy attack of guitars supporting glorious harmonies and impassioned vocals. The result is something that is quite euphoric. Singer/guitarist …
Album Review: Maple Glider’s ‘To Enjoy is the Only Thing’ is a breathtaking debut filled with an exquisite sense of longing and beauty
Maple Glider – the moniker of Melbourne resident Tori Zietsch – has a voice and delivery that is like someone whispering softly in your ear: it’s close and warm and very personal. There is a delicious immediacy to her music – recalling that Danish concept of Hyyge – a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality …
EP Review: Perth’s Onslow release an operatic, anthemic and dynamic self-titled debut
Rising Perth debutantes Onslow (duo Sean Harmanis and Scott Kay) have a remarkable breadth in their music: songs that range from jingle jangle melodic delicacy to full-throated metal screaming within seconds, and within one song. The result is something that is quite extraordinary: a hard to define genre that has an anthemic infrastructure with thundering …
Track: Dan Baker’s ‘Freeze Dried Coffee’ thrills with a whiskey soaked baritone soaked in excess and regret
North Queenslander Dan Baker‘s vocals in his new track ‘Freeze Dried Coffee’ are soaked in a luxurious late night excess – red light rich, velvet and full of the vicissitudes of life rolled into just over five minutes of pain and delight. The accompanying instrumentation reeks of bar rooms and regret: distant wailing strings, simply …