track review
Track: Philip Kane releases the dark, depraved and cathartic single ‘8 Stone, Tall and Handsome (ft Boz Boorer and Fiona Price)’
Philip Kane, formerly of London indie band Avalanche, has an incredible voice soaked in whiskey, pain and depravity. His new single ‘8 Stone, Tall and Handsome’ is an absolutely cathartic and immensely enjoyable indulgence that reeks of late night bars and more than a hint of forbidden pleasures. Indeed, his lyrics match: seedy nights, paid …
Track: Dominic Breen’s honey-gold vocals adorn the beautiful, shimmering track ‘James Street Tonight’
‘James Street Tonight’ by Sydney musician Dominic Breen is an absolutely exquisite delight, draped in chiming guitars and melancholia and lifted skywards by Breen’s gorgeous vocals. This immediately takes its place amongst the great Australian tradition of poetic troubadours stretching back to The Go-Betweens and The Apartments – cloaking lyrical beauty in shimmering melodies. There …
Track: By George unveil the effervescent and infectious single ‘Relax’
By George hail from North Carolina and their new single ‘Relax’ is a delightfully effervescent track – a melody with more hooks than a fishing competition, layered harmonies and buzz-saw guitars. There is a low-fi restrained chaos but with an ultimately a joyful pace as guitar riffs sparkle and shimmer over a Hammond organ sound …
Track: Little Suspicions deliver a breath of fresh air with the assured single ‘Lime’
There is a cool and assured swagger to ‘Lime’, the new track by Little Suspicions, that gives it a bright and fresh vigour. The attendant element of theatricality – crooning vocals, a kind of sixties gloss to the thundering reverb-soaked guitars, sweeping strings and doo-wop backing vocals – gives this track an indelible sheen. Of …
Track: Julia Why? unveils glowing, mesmerizing track ‘Waiting for Time’
‘Waiting For Time’, the new track from Australian artist Julia Why?, positively shimmers out of the speakers with a glowing and mesmerizing sheen. Julia Why? is essentially the songwriting talents of Julia Wylie and the track was written across London, Paris and Athens as COVID19 spread its germy fingers across the globe. Hauntingly melancholic and …
Track: Polish Club unveils poppy new dance floor filler with a dark heart – ‘Stop For A Minute’
Sydney duo Polish Club have released a unabashedly dance floor filler of a single in ‘Stop For A Minute’, one that, despite the apparent gloss, deals with some not so savoury themes. The instrumentation is fast and pacy with an insistent rhythm section, and sustained guitars. The high impact vocals add a funky soul touch. …
Track: Flyying Colours release the shimmering ‘OK’ on the eve of new album ‘Fantasy Country’
Anticipation is building for the new album ‘Fantasy Country’ by Australian shoegaze exponents Flyying Colours, heightened by the release of the track ‘OK’. This shimmering, glowing track offers a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come: ‘OK’ is an absolutely lovely track with its repeating riffs and layered harmonies – mesmerising and hypnotic psychedelia with a …
Track: Marveline returns with ‘Our Parade’ – another smashing power pop track
Last year, Marveline, the solo work of Sydney artist Pete Marley, released the debut album ‘Savoury-toothed Tiger’, premiered on Backseat Mafia. It was a pop powered package of good humour and mountainous melodies that really shone during the midst of the bleak pandemic year. Marveline is back with new material, and what a delight it …
Track: The Bamboos effortlessly reinvent ‘Ride on Time’ with an organic, funky analogue style
I remember feeling deeply uncomfortable in the late eighties when I first heard Black Box’s ‘Ride on Time’. There I was, covered in black and an attitude, wearing Docs and a heavy disdain for anything vaguely resembling commercial radio friendly music when I heard this song. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this …
Track: Brisbane’s highly talented musician RINSE unleashes dream pop perfection in track ‘Tamarynd (Wherever I am)’
RINSE is the solo work of Joe Agius, a central and compelling figure in the hyperactive and vibrant Brisbane musical scene. A collaborator with Hatchie (a firm Backseat Mafia favourite), Agius has just released the magnificent single ‘Tamarynd (Wherever I am)’ from his forthcoming debut EP, ‘Wherever I Am’ out 5 March 2021. In a …