NEWS: New label, album and single for The Laurels
We’ve been hanging for this one for a while now but finally Sydney’s The Laurels have announced their album will be released via Rice Is Nice Records in the second half of 2012. Featuring Luke O’Farrell (vocals/guitar/loop sampler), Piers Cornelius (vocals/guitar), Conor Hannan (bass) and Kate Wilson (drums) they released to much acclaim the Wandering Star … Read more
NEWS: Talk Talk tribute album and book due in May
UK label Fierce Panda are set to release a double album celebrating the work of UK band Talk Talk this May. The compilation will be comprised of covers by a huge list of artists such as King Creosote, Alan Wilder, Jason Lytle, Zero 7, Crispin Hunt, Linton Kwesi Johnson, White Belt Yellow Tag, Electric Soft Parade, … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Bambino Koresh | Up And Left
written by Chris Familton The pervasive winds of nostalgia are blowing stronger than ever across pop music and electronica yet they haven’t subjected guitar music to quite the same blatant level of shallow regeneration. Indie and rock music is always recycling and self-referencing itself of course but it takes a great band to be able … Read more
LIVE REVIEW: WOODEN SHJIPS @ OAF, SYDNEY (24/03/12)
written by Chris Familton Newcomers DCM (Wolfmother’s Chris Ross and Daniel Stricker of the Midnight Juggernauts) set up their keyboards and effect units on the dancefloor in front of the stage and opened the evening with some glorious kraut-tinged electronica that was the perfect sonic calm before the storm to come. They showed a nice … Read more
INTERVIEW: Tiny Ruins
HUMAN FRAILTY SINCE HER LAST VISIT TO AUSTRALIA TINY RUINS’ HOLLIE FULLBROOK HAS BEEN PONDERING HER NEXT MUSICAL MOVE AND CRASHING SCOOTERS. SHE SHE FILLS CHRIS FAMILTON IN ON ALL THE DETAILS. Imagine traveling to a far flung part of the world like Zanzibar to visit someone close to you and with a head full … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Xiu Xiu | Always
written by Chris Familton Never one to shy from displaying his emotions, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart returns with his eighth LP Always. The album title suitably sums up his continued obsessions with damaged emotions, the human body and oppression. He wraps it all up in what has become a trademark sound of dark electronica full … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Deep Sea Arcade | Outlands
written by Chris Familton Some bands arrive in a blaze of glory and media attention, still young and in their formative stage but with sparks flying and a need to get that initial brace of songs recorded and released. Others take their time to nurture the songs, tease them out and live within them until … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: My Best Fiend | In Ghostlike Fading
written by Chris Familton Warp Records continue their foray into non-electronic acts with this debut release from Brooklyn natives My Best Fiend. In Ghostlike Fading may be made by a bunch of Americans but it has a decidedly English sound and mood. The songs swell and churn, wander and slow-burn with winding narratives that make … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Sinead O’Connor | How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
written by Chris Familton After the recent and strange happenings in the life of Sinead O’Connor (alleged suicide attempts, advertised marriage and subsequent divorce) one could be forgiven for expecting a new album to be a train wreck from an artist on the slide. Remarkably the opposite is true as How About I Be Me … Read more
NEWS: 2012 Vivid LIVE Festival Program Announced…
This year the Sydney Opera House based festival Vivid LIVE has done away with a guest curator, in the past using Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno and others. From 2012 onward the festival will be overseen by the Sydney Opera House’s programming team, led by Head of Contemporary Music, Fergus Linehan as Festival Director. … Read more
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD: Dexys | Nowhere Is Home [New]
Dexys (without the Midnight Runners part of the name) are back with a new record called One Day I’m Going To Soar that will be out April 6th. Check out the first single Nowhere Is Home below, download it and revel in the madcap singing and lyrics of Mr Kevin Rowland. The song is pitched … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Peter Broderick | http://www.itstartshear.com
written by Chris Familton Merging the experimental and avant-garde with more traditional song form is a skill that few musicians manage to pull off successfully. Peter Broderick is one who has proven he can straddle the conceptual fence with his forays into classical composition, soundtracks, traditional folk and contemporary indie guitar-based music. Though he has … Read more
