by Chris Familton Julia Holter inhabits a fascinating world as a modern composer. Her music doesn’t sit comfortably in any one genre – indie, electronic, ambient or pop – but rather it straddles multiple styles, drifting between them and merely hinting at the musical references that inform her music. Ekstasis is Ancient Greek for ecstasy and specifically being ‘outside of oneself’ and in the context … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Julia Holter | Ekstasis
by Chris Familton Nick Cave and co aren’t known for sending out their songs for remixes but in light of the band’s recent dissolution this is perhaps a loosening of the reins, an opening of arms to collaboration and reinterpretation of songs from their 2010 swansong LP Grinderman 2. The first thing that catches the eye is the list of other artists that have contributed … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Grinderman | Grinderman 2 RMX
Kirin J. Callinan has a debut album on the way via Terrible Records and Siberia Records but first here is the video for the single W II W – available to pre-order HERE. Check out the video from director Kris Moyes, it is quite brilliant! Tour Dates Thursday 21 June Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane Supported by DCM + Nite Fields + Kangaroo Skull Tickets available from … Continue reading WATCH: Kirin J. Callinan | Way To War
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, Joan As Policewoman, White Lies, Goldheart Assembly and many, many … Continue reading NEWS: Talk Talk tribute album and book due in May
written by Chris Familton Melbourne’s Baptism of Uzi opened the night with their heavily krautrock influenced take on instrumental rock. With busy and propulsive drumming and wonderfully swirling psych synths they took the music into a decidedly human realm rather than the robotic nature of much of the music of that genre. Guitarist Bojan Stojanov kept the sound riding high and melodic with his … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Michael Rother @ OAF, Sydney (17/03/12)
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 of swoon and suffocating catharsis. The reference points of 80s … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Xiu Xiu | Always
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. The full line-up for this year has been announced today … Continue reading NEWS: 2012 Vivid LIVE Festival Program Announced…
written by Chris Familton Dirty Three are a band that sound like they are both falling apart and implicitly intertwined at the same time. Their music can reach peaks of ache and despair and create moments of such tenderness and emotional resonance that it is hard to think of any other group that possesses such abilities. They inhabit a netherworld between jazz, post rock, folk … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Dirty Three | Toward The Low Sun
J Spaceman drops the first track from the new album Sweet Heart Sweet Light that is due out on April 17th. Hey Jane is a sprawling, urgent dispatch of Velvet chug and mantra delivery complete with chaotic mid-song collapse and sunrise re-birth that sounds like prime Spiritualized but with a renewed sense of energy post Jason’s medical issues in recent years. And yep that is … Continue reading LISTEN: to Hey Jane from Spiritualized [NEW]
written by Chris Familton Lawrence English’s music is never merely a collection of musical pieces or songs in the traditional sense. The sound artist sculpts his audio work based on concepts, themes and source material that while it is isn’t essential to be familiar with, greatly enhances the listening experience. The Peregrine is English’s homage to the writing of J.A. Baker and specifically his book … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Lawrence English | The Peregrine
Lee Ranaldo has timed things well with current question mark over the future of Sonic Youth in light of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon’s split. He is set to release a new solo LP on March 20th via Matador who describing it as a “shimmering and melodic tapestry of sounds” and ” a fascinatingly approachable song collection”. The album features production from John Agnello and an impressive line-up … Continue reading NEWS: Lee Ranaldo to release new solo LP…
Tom Waits is normally one to focus more on the music than the video but here he and director Jesse Dyland have gone and done a budget black and white clip for Satisified from the recently released and well received Bad As Me. Continue reading WATCH: Tom Waits | Satisfied
Doubtful Sounds 