Category: Album Reviews

Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Post-Punk

ALBUM REVIEW: The Holy Soul – Fortean Times

The Holy Soul have been a constant on the Sydney independent music scene for over a decade with their own releases, countless gigs and collaborations with the likes of Robyn Hitchcock, Damo Suzuki (Can) and David Thomas (Pere Ubu). They should be recognised as heroes of the underground, indeed in many circles they are. This album reinforces and enhances that reputation. The Gareth Liddiard-produced Fortean … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Holy Soul – Fortean Times

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Post-Punk, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Gold Class – It’s You

Only emerging from the Melbourne scene earlier this year, Gold Class’ art is seemingly fully formed; from the artwork to their visual aesthetic and musical take on the brittle and dynamic world of post-punk. To do so in the contemporary climate where the album doesn’t hold the same cultural and economic cache it once did is an admirable approach. There were no early singles showing … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Gold Class – It’s You

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Pop, Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Here We Go Magic – Be Small

On their fourth album Here We Go Magic have lost some of their magic. While 2012’s A Different Ship radiated a rhythmic warmth Be Small feels just that – restrained, inferior and a retreat from the potential the band had to step outside of the shadows of contemporaries such as Radiohead and Grizzly Bear. There’s a late resurrection with the nimble electronic pulse of Tokyo … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Here We Go Magic – Be Small

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Post-Punk, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: You Beauty – Illywhacka

Their debut Jersey Flegg initially received no attention on its release but it quickly built a fanbase around its concept (rugby league) and sonic palette. Illywhacka hits similar territory musically and again they’ve loosely based it around a theme, this time online dating. There are shades of Real Estate, Girls and Mac DeMarco in the trembling and shimmering guitars and the way the bass dances … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: You Beauty – Illywhacka

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Electronica, Reggae / Dub, Stream, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Fat Freddy’s Drop – Bays

It’s only been two years since the release of Blackbird, making this a quick follow-up in the world of Fat Freddy’s Drop. The reassuring thing about the Wellington band is that as their stock has risen they haven’t compromised their musical approach by shortening songs or devolving them to standard structures in the pursuit of hit singles. They continue as they left off on the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Fat Freddy’s Drop – Bays

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Guitar Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Bad Dreems – Dogs At Bay

It’s been a slow-build for the Adelaide quartet since they first emerged with the near perfect jangle pop of single Chills in 2012. After the Badlands EP of the following year it was assumed a debut album was imminent yet what followed was a two year wait punctuated by a slow drip feed of sublime singles. Now the highly anticipated full length has finally arrived … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Bad Dreems – Dogs At Bay

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Post-Punk

ALBUM REVIEW: Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect

It’s hard to imagine why Protomartyr aren’t more popular than they are. They’ve already captured their visceral and dystopian post punk sound across two excellent albums. The Agent Intellect continues that fine form and pushes the dynamic even further into primal rhythms with wire-brush screes of guitar and the distinctive disaffected howl and Mark E Smith-styled rant of frontman Joe Casey. The way they sonically … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop, Psych

ALBUM REVIEW: Dan Kelly – Leisure Panic

Dan Kelly has hit his finest streak of songwriting on his latest solo album. There’s a sense of pop wonderment about these songs as they diversify into all kinds of colourful shapes. Sometimes it’s dripping with sweet soul ‘(Haters’), drifting on a cloud of dream-pop (‘National Park‘) or hitting interstellar overdrive on the epic pulsing krautrock of the opening track. The psychedelic flavour of Kelly’s … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Dan Kelly – Leisure Panic

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Psych, shoegaze

ALBUM REVIEW: Flyying Colours – ROYGBIV

On their new EP Flyying Colours take their sound a step further, refining their songwriting into a near perfect collision of pop melodies and shoegaze textures. The expected touchstones of Ride, MBV and Chapterhouse are all there but they’re filtered through a gauze that is equal parts Smashing Pumpkins and dream pop. The songs are tight and the rhythm section drives the songs along with … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Flyying Colours – ROYGBIV

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Electronica, Indie Rock, Pop

ALBUM REVIEW: Anthonie Tonnon – Successor

New Zealand has always produced a high ratio of literate indie pop music, from the brightest corners of Flying Nun to Lawrence Arabia and The Phoenix Foundation. Anthony Tonnon is another in that lineage and on Successor he weaves fascinating tales of wit and tragedy without, importantly, ending up sounding twee and smug. Characters are established in all manner of situations as he sings their … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Anthonie Tonnon – Successor

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Electronica, Experimental

ALBUM REVIEW: Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals 2015

Fifteen years have passed since David Pearce last released an album as Flying Saucer Attack but really the passing of time has little effect on the experimental guitar soundscapes he creates other than to eschew the vocals and percussion of the band’s early work. Over an hour this collection of instrumental tracks drone, mesmerise and eviscerate with a sonic palette that requires it to be … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals 2015

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Audio Stream, Experimental

ALBUM REVIEW: The Necks – Vertigo

If you’re a fan of The Necks you already know what you’re in for – long improvised instrumental pieces of music that explore drone, repetition and texture. The trio deliver just that but this time the point of difference is the dark, unsettling mood and the subsequent feelings of tension and unease that it conjures up; across the shimmering drone of the first piece and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Necks – Vertigo

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment