Bassist Nikolai Fraiture has confirmed that the new Strokes record is due out on March 22nd via RCA with the first single to drop in February. Not many other details about the album have been revealed yet and the big question will be whether they can regain some of the magic of their first two albums – hopefully the longer layoff of 5 years has … Continue reading NEWS: The Strokes LP4 out in March…
written by Chris Familton Over 34 years The Fall has experienced countless members, 28 studio albums and a unswerving commitment to caustic repetition and poetic wordplay. Of course the only constant through the whole adventure has been Mark E. Smith who has carved out his own reputation as a stubborn, hilarious, belligerent and intentional aggravator both musically and by personality – but without him The … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Fall @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 07/12/10
written by Chris Familton Evan Dando has always had a strong relationship with Australia, largely forged on the back of his songwriting relationship with Smudge’s Tom Morgan. It was with Morgan that some of Dando’s best work began to emerge in the early 90s and so it was great to see the reactivated Smudge getting The Lemonheads support slot. Smudge ambled on and slotted back … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Lemonheads @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 01/12/10
written by Chris Familton Straight Arrows have been fine tuning their ramshackle sound for a couple of years now and finally have an album to show for it. Their other releases have been 7 inches that have all been snapped up, something that has enhanced their reputation as the next great garage band to slouch forth from the Sydney suburbs. Owen Penglis and the rest … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Straight Arrows | It’s Happening
That’s it then, 2010 done and dusted and although it wasn’t the best year ever for new music there were some damn fine records released. This year we’re seeing an even more eclectic mix of flavours coming through from witch house, minimal electronica, americana, experimental and the all encompassing indie tag. Have a look at what we loved through the year, click on the covers … Continue reading ds…twenty five – our favourite releases of 2010
Cleveland Ohio’s Cloud Nothings are getting all the love at the moment for their carefree jangle guitar pop not disimilar to Beach Fossils… Have a listen, make up your own mind… MP3: Cloud Nothings | Understand At All Continue reading MP3: Cloud Nothings | Understand At All
written by Chris Familton Not by a long stretch was The Lair the optimal venue to see and hear Dead Meadow play their brand of psychedelic stoner rock. Slink up an alleyway to the back door of The Metro, climb some stairs and you find a room that looks and feels like a converted concrete bunker, complete with old furniture, a ‘rock club’ mezzanine and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Dead Meadow @ The Lair, Sydney 16/10/10
written by Chris Familton On the opening track Caseman, Andrew Wilson sings “I’m not giving up on our love” and it sums up the approach Die! Die! Die! have taken on their third album Form. They still sound vibrant with that heady, controlled rush of chaos, tinged with desperation and angst. With the greatness of their second album Promises, Promises the band didn’t receive anywhere … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Die! Die! Die! | Form
DOWNLOAD #6 has hit the interwebs with another blend of Cambodian pop, kiwi dub, San Francisco psych, German analog krautronica and Australia indie melodies… Something for nearly everyone apart from those seeking a metal fix… next time. In 2011 we’ll be expanding the mixtape thang and doing a run of themed ones – genre, random words, years and countries. Continue reading MIXTAPE: Mixed Feelings 06
This was almost a joint headline tour in the context that Ben Kweller had had brought the Delta Spirit boys out from Texas and placed them in a slightly smaller font on the tour poster. Judging by the reaction that they received from the audience they have already developed a devoted following here in Australia. Delta Spirit inhabit a world formed by The Strokes and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Ben Kweller @ The Factory, Sydney 03/10/10
written by Chris Familton Subscribing to the punk aesthetic of anyone can create music, Coolies emerged from South Auckland, New Zealand in the mid to late nineties with a rough and ready sound that combined splatter punk, deconstructed art rock and no-fi hip hop. They played shows, released a 7” and became underground heroes. Master collects a bunch of songs the trio recorded over the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Coolies | Master
written by Chris Familton Two newish Sydney bands were on the bill with Kiwi noise-niks Die! Die! Die!, both of them having risen from bands that bit the dust in the last year. Up first were Myth & Tropics featuring ex The Scare guitarist Liam O’Brien with his new three-piece. Essentially they are mining some of the same territory of his previous … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Die! Die! Die! @ OAF, Sydney 08/10/10
Doubtful Sounds 