Indie pop
Track: Canada’s Joseph of Mercury releases a grief-stricken paean to lost friends in the shimmering track ‘Pretty Blonde Boy’
Gliding over a bubbling, sparkling instrumentation, Joseph of Mercury has a gorgeous vocal style that recalls bands like The Smiths or Gene – a veritable crooner with indelible style. His new single ‘Pretty Blonde Boy’ was born out of grief for the loss of two friends: Two of my oldest, closest & dearest friends, both …
See: Charlie Clark releases a poignant, elegiac tribute to his father in the shimmering track ‘A Bridge To Your Idol’
There is no doubt that Charlie Clark is a prodigious talent – ‘A Bridge To Your Idol’ is his second solo single over the last twelve months and both singles have been majestic pieces of sparkling indie pop, infused with a deeply personal narrative. Indeed, this track is a heartbreaking sequel to his previous release …
See: Teenage Fanclub – ‘The Sun Won’t Shine On Me’: Glaswegians pull back the curtain on their tenth
BELOVED Glasgow band Teenage Fanclub present their tenth album with a new single, “The Sun Won’t Shine On Me” – as Norman Blake said, a rare 3/4 track for the band. This is the third single anticipating the album, after “Home” and “I’m More Inclined”. It follows in the mellower imprint the band has taken …
Playlist: Sarah Records – The Hundred
Here at Backseat Mafia, we’re totally cross genre. It’s how we like it. So you’re just as likely to see Deep House followed by Death Metal followed by neo-jazz or something. BUt we do have our favourites, and over the years, Sarah Records has always found its place on Backseat Mafia. Formed by Clare Wadd …
See: The Apartments release sun-soaked evocative video for the glorious track ‘Where You Used to Be’
The Apartments‘ magnificent album ‘In And Out Of The Light’ was one of the brief rays of light last year – one of my favourite albums of the year – and the track ‘Where You used to be’ is a wistful gem in a basket of many shining jewels. With one of Brisbane’s greatest singer/songwriters, …
Track: Restless Leg releases a glorious indie pop anthem ‘The Wheel It Turns’ filled with sparkle and verve
Sydney indie outfit Restless Leg has just released a sparkling and effervescent new track, ‘The Wheel It Turns’, which draws in an indelible pop heritage from legendary antipodean bands such as The Go-Betweens and The Bats as well as the UK C86 movement. With such an heritage, the song still forges a vibrant new path …
Track: Red Sleeping Beauty unveils the electronic thumper ‘Second Time’ featuring the angelic vocals of Mary Wyer of indie legends Even As We Speak
Swedish trio Red Sleeping Beauty have teamed up with Australian Mary Wyer of indie legends Even As We Speak to create the smashing dance track ‘Second Time’. This track is a perfect marriage of Wyer’s gorgeous velvety vocals filled with an air of wistful melancholy floating above an effervescent, arpeggiated electronic beat with a vibrant …
Track: Brighton’s aptly named Thrillhouse are back with another brilliant track in ‘Where The Roads Don’t Go’
Brighton’s slightly mysterious but highly talented musicians, Thrillhouse, are back with another very finely crafted indie pop offering – ‘Where The Roads Don’t Go’ – that confirms their status as one of the most seriously underappreciated bands around at the moment. Thrillhouse has not easily definable style but it is a style that is unique …
Track: Garsa releases the indie pop gem ‘White Rabbit’ ahead of ‘Unfairity’ EP
We’ve been following Garsa (the solo work of Martin Garside) for a while now on Backseat Mafia, celebrating a string of singles that have displayed a nuanced songwriting craft with low-fi delicate instrumentation and gorgeous melodies. Since we last heard from Garside, he has been signed to Golden Believers Records and has now announced the …
See: Cat and Calmell release evocative video for stripped back version of Dramatic and announce live debut.
With a debut late last year with single ‘Dumbshit’ followed up by ‘Dramatic’, Sydney-based duo Cat and Calmell have been establishing quite a bit of interest in Australia and beyond. On the announcement of their live debut in Sydney, the duo have released a video for the track ‘Dramatic’ – a stunning, shadowy feature that …