Indie
Track: Michael CG – When Do I Start Smiling
Multi-talented musician, songwriter and producer Michael CG, has been steadily sharing his creative side over the last couple of years both in local groups, notably Oilbirds who’s EP we reviewed here, and also under his own name. His recent single ‘When Do I Start Smiling’ may just be some of his best work yet. It’s …
See: Remo Drive Release Video For Track ‘Easy As That’ As They Release Their New Album
Remo Drive sound larger than ever on their highly anticipated new album, ‘A Portrait of an Ugly Man’, which sees its release on Epitaph Records. With its acrobatic guitar work, deeply self-referential lyrics and off-the-walls energy, the album calls back to the dextrous, eccentric sound that helped the band – brothers Erik (vocals, guitar) and Stephen (bass) Paulson – explode …
Premiere: Omar Addis – Easy
21 year old Cardiff producer / songwriter Omar Addis releases his new single ‘Easy’ on 29th June, and we’re delighted to premiere it right here on Backseat Mafia this morning. Of the track, Omar told us “Easy is a tune that I have been working on for almost two years now. It started off sounding …
Track: Secret Machines – Talos’ Corpse, plus news of return with album ‘Awake in the Brain Chamber’
One of the most exciting bands of the 2000’s for me, Secret Machines, have released a new single ‘Talos’ Corpse’ and announced a new album after a long hiatus. ‘Talos’ Corpse’ indicates a complete return to form – pounding drums and rousing choruses with complexity and vibrancy. Singer Brandon Curtis’s voice is distinctive – deep, …
Track: Bretton Lee John – Rock Show
Straight out of Calgary, Bretton Lee John’s deep sonorous vocals and wry sense of self-deprecatory humour immediately entice: there are elements of Jonathan Richmond, David Berman (Silver Jews) and a low-fi thrum redolent of The Velvet Undergound and Lou Reed. His new single ‘Rock Show’ has a sense of intimacy – personal musings by a …
Album Review: Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink
Kitchen Sink follows up Nadine Shah’s Mercury Prize nominated 2017 album Holiday Destination which received critical acclaim including AIM Awards ‘Independent Album of the Year’, a #7 ‘Album of the Year’ from BBC 6 Music, #5 from The Quietus and more. Shah has always written important songs. With Holiday Destination she sang about the refugee …
TRACK: Martha Hill’s ‘Grilled Cheese’ is proud, anthemic indie
NEWCASTLE guitar-toter Martha Hill has been around on the SoundCloud/Bandcamp scene for a couple of years now, steadily, writing, recording and releasing a clutch of songs for download. She left her rural home north of the border in her teens, travelled, and later settled by the Tyne to make music. She says that she “writes …
TRACK: Bastien Keb’s ‘Rabbit Hole’ has a bone-deep 3am chill
AS renaissance men in the underground music scene go, Bastien Keb has to be near the top of the pole. Reckoning himself to be a guitarist first and foremost, he’s also adept on the trumpet, bass, drums, piano, flute, among other instruments: be they bought, borrowed, donated or found. Wearing another hat as a composer …
Album Review: Key Out – Anthropomorphia
Key Out are proving to be one of the more exciting bands in Sydney – even the world – at the moment and this is never evident than in their new album ‘Anthropomorphia’. It is brimful of shimmering guitars and songs that seems to perfectly reflect the bright blue summer skies of Sydney. Skies that …
Track: Pauline Murray – Secrets And New Solo Album News
Pauline Murray, singer, songwriter and performer with iconic first-wave punks Penetration and 80s pop ensemble the Invisible Girls is set to release her third solo album ‘Elemental’ on 25th September. Along with the news she also shares the track ‘Secrets’ taken from the album. Originally written and recorded on a 4 track Teac tape machine in the late 1980’s, …