by Chris Familton Finally the debut solo album from Sydney’s mercurial Kirin J Callinan sees the light of day. As a member of Mercy Arms and subsequent sonic game changer for Jack Ladder he has become a familiar figure on the local music scene. After the disconcerting music clips that preceded it this felt it was going to be a special album and indeed the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Kirin J Callinan | Embracism
It’s a busy time for Sydney’s Kirin J Callinan as he prepares to release his debut album embark on an American tour supporting Ariel Pink. From the streets of New York he gives Chris Familton an insight into his emergence as a solo artist. Not long into our conversation Kirin J Callinan pauses before painting, with an element of concern in his voice, the picture … Continue reading INTERVIEW: The Antithesis of Escapism – Kirin J Callinan
THE BLACK SEEDS ARE CELEBRATING FIFTEEN YEARS TOGETHER AND ON THE EVE OF ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN VISIT VOCALIST DANIEL WEETMAN SPOKE WITH CHRIS FAMILTON ABOUT THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE BAND. Maintaining and indeed growing an international profile can be a tricky exercise for bands from the Southern Hemisphere. The costs of touring and missed opportunities from not being on the ground in Europe … Continue reading INTERVIEW: The Black Seeds
by Chris Familton Depeche Mode have had a wonderful evolution and trajectory from their early lightweight disposable pop through the departure of Vince Clarke and Martin Gore’s rapid mastery of the fast changing technology in 80s music, to their peak as masters of psycho-sexual electronic pop music that finely balanced raw emotion and a self-constructed paradigm of art pop and futuristic rock n roll. Post … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Depeche Mode | Delta Machine
by Chris Familton PVT have seemingly been a band in transition for their last couple of albums. Primarily that sense of flux has arisen from the necessity of a name change to avoid conflict with another Pivot and also due to the nature of the evolution of their songwriting and the increased focus on the vocals of Richard Pike, one of the defining aspects, for … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: PVT | Homosapien
Sydney’s Kirin J Callinan has announced that his solo LP Embracism will be released on June 28th via Siberia Records / Terrible Records in partnership with XL Recordings. The album was produced by Kim Moyes of The Presets and mixed in the home studio of Christ Taylor (CANT, Grizzly Bear) who runs the Terrible Records label. It also features a rhythm section of Jack Ladder and … Continue reading NEWS: Kirin J Callinan announces solo LP
by Chris Familton Melbourne garage rock renaissance man Mikey Young has his hand in a plethora of projects both as a producer and as guitarist in Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Total Control. Here Ooga Boogas expand on the sound of the last Total Control album by taking a trip into new wave, 70s punk and the type of agitated funk that everyone from Talking … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Ooga Boogas | Ooga Boogas
by Chris Familton John Grant first came to prominence as the singer of The Czars around the turn of the century before returning with his highly regarded solo LP Queen of Denmark in 2010. Fans of that record will find some songs here that fit the same template as his solo debut but they may also be surprised by the heavy streak of retro electronica … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: John Grant | Pale Green Ghosts
Cocorosie have announced their new album Tales of a GrassWidow will be released on May 27th, 2013 (via City Slang) and they’ve also graced us with the first track to come from the record – Gravediggress. This will be the Casady sisters’ fifth album and again features guest vocals from Antony Hegarty. Gravediggress is pure Cocorosie with the two distinct vocal styles playing off one … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Cocorosie | Gravediggress
Forces are a Melbourne duo who have been refining their 80s influenced industrial synth sound, playing a bunch of shows and some sweet international supports such as Zola Jesus in the last year or two. Overland (In My Mind) comes from their debut 12″ EP on Siberia Records and it caused a cavalcade of flashbacks to my 80s youth listening to the likes of Depeche Mode, … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Forces | Overland (In My Mind)
Those stalwarts of electronica, Depeche Mode, are set to release their 13th album and celebrate their 33rd year together. Delta Machine (Columbia) will be out on March 26th, preceeded by the single Heaven which will be premiered on Vevo next February 1st. Heaven will also include remixes by Matthew Dear, Owlle, Steps to Heaven and Blawan. Tracklisting Standard Edition: 1. Welcome To My World 2. Angel 3. Heaven … Continue reading NEWS: Depeche Mode reveal details of new album Delta Machine
This is by no means a snapshot across all forms of electronic music as I have little interest in some strands such as trance, commercial dance music or the mainstream adoption and bastardisation of the name dubstep. I say ‘the name’ as the music itself bears little resemblance to the sounds that were created under that tag through the 00s. My tastes instead drift towards … Continue reading DS Top Electronic Releases of 2012
Doubtful Sounds 