written by Chris Familton Noisy guitar pop seems to be everywhere at the moment, whether it is stained with garage rock, shoegaze or 90s indie there is a strong melodic vein running through it – more pop and less rock in the traditional posturing sense. Locals Step-Panther have been impressing on the live circuit and now they’ve successfully translated their songs to the recorded form … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Step-Panther | Step-Panther
The Jim Jones Revue were one of the highlights of this year’s Big Day Out (alongside Grinderman) and the good news is they are back to welcome in the new year with some shows. They’ve had a massive year touring their album Burning Your House Down and have recently been in the studio working on the next record as well as recently being nominated for … Continue reading NEWS: The Jim Jones Revue 2012 Australian Tour…
Hallelujah Picassos were one of the most original, visceral and genre mashing bands to come out of Auckland, New Zealand in the early 90s. They combined reggae, lovers rock, punk, dub, hip hop and garage rock with the end result being an overwhelming live experience. Frontman Roland Rorschach, bassist Johnnie Pain, guitarist Peter McLennan and drummer/singer Bobbylon were something of a musical history lesson for young kids growing up … Continue reading NEWS: Hallelujah Picassos release compilation…
Check out the new video for the title track from Those Darlins’ stellar album released earlier this year… Continue reading WATCH: Those Darlins | Screws Get Loose
written by Chris Familton Street Chant finally see the Australian release of their debut album which came out in the homeland of New Zealand a year ago. Not that time dates this kind of music – jangling, propulsive slacker guitar pop – and this trio have talent in spades, captured perfectly on Means by producer/engineer Bob Frisbee. This kind of post punk grunge bears a … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Street Chant | Means
written by Chris Familton San Francisco psych lords Wooden Shjips have had a great run of releases so far with no misfires among the albums, EPs and compilations they have issued since forming back in 2006. West is the band’s fifth album and finds them shifting into a cleaner, more concise musical space. Sure all their trademark signifiers like the droning organ, krautrock drumming, ambivalent … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Wooden Shjips | West
written by Chris Familton Melbourne’s Fabulous Diamonds set the mood of the evening with a set composed around drone and hypnotic repetition. Featuring just drums and keyboards the duo were in no rush to get anywhere in particular with songs that slowly evolved from metronomic drum patterns into gently pulsing waves of analog synths, grinding organ, sparsely decorated with vocals from drummer Nisa Venerosa. When … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Moon Duo @ OAF, Sydney 30/09/11
written by Chris Familton Carrie Brownstein has become something of an indie superstar in recent years with her commentaries on NPR, the TV series Portlandia that she co-wrote and stars in and of course her history in the righteous rock band Sleater Kinney. Now she has re-emerged musically in Wild Flag, a four piece that also includes Mary Timony (ex-Helium), Rebecca Cole and Sleater Kinney … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Wild Flag | Wild Flag
written by Chris Familton Every new release these days seems to get tagged with the ‘much anticipated’ curse yet thankfully there are still albums that rightfully deserve premature praise. In terms of local acts, Royal Headache are long overdue for a full length LP having played around Sydney’s garages, halls, pubs and clubs for the last few years. Anyone who has seen them live can … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Royal Headache | Royal Headache
The Fall continue to surge along with a fairly stable line-up at the moment. The band will release Ersatz G.B via Cherry Red Records on the 14th November. It is already up on their site for pre-order. Tracklisting 1. “Cosmos 7” 2. “Taking Off” 3. “Kennedy” 4. “Mask Search” 5. “Greenway” 6. “Happy Song” 7. “Monocard” 8. “Laptop” 9. “I’ve Seen Them” 10. “Change” Continue reading NEWS: The Fall to release 29th studio album…
Deep Sea Arcade have been slowly building their garage/psych indie sound for a while now and are starting to make some international inroads with positive press in the UK. The lads have an album Outlands in the can which will see the light of day next year via Ivy League Records. Check out the video for their new single Girls and catch them November 11th … Continue reading WATCH: Deep Sea Arcade | Girls [NEW]
Just got back from a screening of this as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind. It was definitely worth seeing it in the cinema to get that ‘in your face’ volume which is kind of essential for music like this. One of things that separates this concert film from others of the band is that it is the only … Continue reading REVIEW: Nirvana | Live At The Paramount
Doubtful Sounds 