Another year done and dusted in the world of music and as always there were some exceptional records released. These lists always do our head in so this time around we’ve shaken things up a bit. Instead of just doing a ranked top 50 list we’ve narrowed down our top ten and then listed the 40 other albums that we highly rate and recommend you … Continue reading FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2018
TOUR DIARY: MARK MOLDRE PROLOGUE Sleepwalker, I feel my way through forest and gorge Fantastically around me a magic circle glows Not caring whether I courted or cursed I follow truly my inner calling – Herman Hesse I’ve never had any delusions of grandeur about my musical place in Australia I’ve struggled to make any kind of mark In my last 3 decades of making … Continue reading TOUR DIARY: Mark Moldre
Out Of Silence was recorded live in-studio via webcast on Facebook and YouTube and will be mixed, mastered and digitally released one week after the recording, on 1 September 2017. “It’s pretty damned exciting. It’s the way I always dreamed of making music.” Each Friday for the last month, Neil Finn has been convening in his Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand with a collection … Continue reading Neil Finn – Out Of Silence album recording/webcast
This week I got to listen to a preview stream and review the new LP Dream River by the always reliable Bill Callahan. The review will be in The Music next week (and online) so I won’t give too much away other than to say it is a wonderful album, a very, very good record and a stylistic change for him in some ways yet … Continue reading EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: September 6th, 2013
by Chris Familton Choosing a name for the collection of songs that you’ve spent hours, days or often years sweating into existence can be a stressful and difficult exercise. There are countless tales of bands leaving it to the last minute with no inkling of what to christen their creative work. There are also many albums where the musician has a theme, concept and a … Continue reading What Should We Call It? (Naming an Album)
We look at six songs that stand out as important moments in modern music, changing the playing field and inspiring legions of other musicians… JEFF BUCKLEY – GRACE (1994) With alternative music (as it was known at the time) in the grip of grunge and hard rock it took a sensitive young man with an angelic voice, good looks and a mesmerizing guitar style to … Continue reading FEATURE: Signposts in Modern Music
2012 felt like somewhat of a mixed bag of musical lollies with our favourites encompassing americana, power pop, 80s synth, indie and many shades of psychedelia. The only thing that tied them all together was the strong streak of melody that each was built on. Even in the case of someone like Neil Young & Crazy Horse it was Young’s incredible weaving of musical notes … Continue reading LIST: DS Top Albums of 2012
In the last five years an increasing number of female artists have been making themselves heard above the generic indie clatter. Many of them have stepped away from the softer folk leanings of artists like Feist and Cat Power and established a stronger, more assertive aural template. In the electronic realm the likes of Austra, Fever Ray and Zola Jesus are creating dark electronic pop … Continue reading FEATURE: Girls Aloud
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Flying Nun, here is a reprint of a piece I wrote about the label last year… written by Chris Familton A record label at the right place at the right time can be integral to a music scene, often gaining revered status further down the track as history settles into place. Sub Pop, Motown and Factory are obvious examples. … Continue reading FEATURE: Life in a Chord | Flying Nun Records
written by Chris Familton “Good question son, it is kind of everything these days but in the good old days it actually meant something tangible”. It always fascinates me how musical genres are constantly invented then warped, diluted and eventually rendered inert as valid descriptions of a style or movement in music. Rock n roll was a clearly defined take on blues and country that … Continue reading FEATURE: Daddy, What is Indie Music?
written by Chris Familton The curse of premature evaluation by the media and self-appointed tastemakers is a curse that has befallen many a band over the years. With instant access to the public via digital means there is almost a battle to see who can spot and announce the next great act the fastest which inevitably results in a flood of false claims. History is … Continue reading FEATURE: First Albums…
Here’s a piece I wrote for an issue of the fantastic print mag One More Robot. Follow the link at the end of this post to download the full article including some great photos by Eimear Forrestal. Unlike many other musical trends and genres, folk music never disappears and new artists are consistently emerging. Chris Familton discusses the history of the genre and why it … Continue reading FEATURE: FOLK MUSIC | ACOUSTIC GOLD
Doubtful Sounds 