backseat downunder
Album Review: Brisbane’s dreamy pop exponent Cloud Tangle returns with the gloriously ambient ‘Swells’
Last year’s debut album ‘Kinds of Sadness’ by Brisbane solo artist Cloud Tangle was a sign of something special brewing in the home studios of Amber Ramsay – it was one of our favourite Australian/New Zealand releases for 2020 and indicative of a prodigious talent. Cloud Tangle is back with the album ‘Swells’ – another …
Track: Western Australian psych exponents Pond return with a blistering single ‘Pink Lunettes’ and announce tour news
The history of enigmatic Western Australian band Pond is inextricably linked with fellow mega star exports Tame Impala, with common members revolving in and out of each others bands over time. As a collective, the band has an impressive resume – eight studio albums with the release of their most critically acclaimed album to date, ‘Tasmania’ …
See: Sydney’s The Electorate release dreamy, enigmatic video for ‘Lost At Sea’, off last year’s brilliant debut album
The Electorate‘s brilliant debut album ‘You Don’t Have Time To Stay Lost’ was for me one of the highlights of 2020 (see my review here), and they’ve just released a video for the dynamic penultimate track ‘Lost At Sea’: a driving, thunderous piece of music that ebbs and flows like a spring tide. Indeed the …
Track: Queensland resident LT releases the dreamy pop anthem ‘Hold Ya’ and announces live dates.
Queensland artist LT (formerly Leanne Tennant) has just released an absolutely gorgeous track ‘Hold Ya’ which sparkles with a deep yearning and a celestial, anthemic chorus. LT’s vocals are an absolute delight – with a massive range and an endearing local diction. ‘Hold Ya’ is classic pop – indelible melodies and a dancing, insistent instrumentation …
See: Tyne-James Organ shares an effervescent video for the glorious single ‘Sunday Suit’
I loved Tyne-James Organ‘s single ‘Sunday Suit’ – finding it to have a frenetic racing pace that is energising and buoyant. Organ’s mellifluous tones somehow combine a silk softness with after effects of gargling whiskey and pebbles. It is classic indie pop at its best, and has been further augmented by a brilliant video. Organ throws …
News: Indie royalty Ed Kuepper (Saints, Laughing Clowns) and Jim White (Dirty Three and Xylouris White) announce live shows together
Coinciding with the release by the legendary Ed Kuepper of his forty year career highlights on vinyl (see more here), Kueper has just announced a series of Australia-wide gigs with the equally legendary Jim White, whose drumming in trio Dirty Three is an entire orchestra in itself (see my review of their live performance at …
See: Dominic Breen releases evocative video for the glorious track ‘James Street Tonight’ plus announces live shows
Dominic Breens‘s track ‘James Street Tonight’, released at the beginning of March, was lauded by us for its chiming guitars and melancholia, lifted skywards by Breen’s gorgeous vocals. The song continues to haunt: a beautiful and enigmatic release that is growing in stature through time. Breen has also just announced a series of live gigs …
Album Review: In ‘Today We’re The Greatest’, Sydney’s Middle Kids explore angst and redemption draped in a sparkling, glittering cloak.
There is a beautiful tension the work of Sydney trio Middle Kids. Songs that detail childhood trauma, wayward ways and personal angst are delivered in the most shining and sparkling coat of many colours. Even at their darkest, though, the lyrics can exhibit a wry sense of humour; a sense of resignation and acceptance and …
Track: All India Radio unveils the mesmerising single ‘Deep Blue (ft Sasquin)’ and announces new album ‘Afterworld’
All India Radio‘s Martin Kennedy is the musical genius behind the magnificent Kilbey/Kennedy album ‘Jupiter 13’ reviewed by me last month. Already a strong contender for album of the year from me. While responsible for the shimmering instrumentation behind Steve Kilbey’s evocative vocals in this release, Kennedy’s main day job is in All India Radio …
EP: Lastlings release evocative and dreamy ‘Live Acoustic’ EP
Japanese/Australian brother/sister duo Lastlings have released an absolutely mesmerising live EP, lifting four songs from their ‘First Contact’ album released last year and recording them live. Accompanying videos of the enchanting performances add an indelible lustre. The performance is enthralling – gorgeous reflective and melancholic vocals, keys, crisp acoustic guitars and exquisite melodies. The band …