Margaret Glaspy‘s Emotions and Math album from 2016 was one of my favourite albums of that year. Great guitars, heady melodies and fine songwriting right across it. 2020’s Devotion didn’t quite hit the spot in the same way as her debut but I’m really digging the sound of this new single ‘Act Natural‘. The song is the first single from her forthcoming LP Echo The … Continue reading MARGARET GLASPY LETS THE GUITARS CHIME ON NEW SINGLE
Two of my favourite songs from this part of the world, both possessing a dreamy moodiness and exemplary rhythm sections that underpin the intangible magic that both of them have. They evoke similar feelings when I hear them and interestingly they were recorded less than six months apart in 1982. Martin Phillips wrote ‘Pink Frost’ in Dunedin, Grant McLennan wrote ‘Cattle & Cane’ in Nick … Continue reading The Antipodean Aesthetic of The Chills and The Go-Betweens
Sean McMahon recently released his new album Victoria, a majestic yet understated collection of intimate and poetic songs. At various times across its nine songs you’ll be reminded of the poetic sway and strum of Jeff Tweedy and Wilco, the dreamy and surreal jangly rock of David Kilgour (The Clean) and The Byrds, the loose ramble of The Grateful Dead and the melancholic croon of … Continue reading VIDEO PREMIERE: Sean McMahon – Good Morning Tomorrow
Perth-based New Zealand songwriter Damien Binder has just released his fifth solo album Bright Side. It’s a widescreen indie pop-rock vista populated by sparkling guitar lines, the warm glow of synths and Binder’s astute take on the world around him. Damien first came to fame in the late 80s and through the 90s on the alternative rock scene in Auckland, NZ, as frontman for the … Continue reading Sonic Kicks: Damien Binder
Ahead of their new album All Her Friends (Friday 23 June via Poison City / Merge Records), here’s single number three for strident Naarm/Melbourne post-punk rock trio Cable Ties, who have just been announced as international tour supports for Superchunk and Amyl and the Sniffers. ‘Change’ is relentless, a churning mix of pounding drums and bass, and guitars that careen between the speakers like incessant sirens. Over the top … Continue reading CABLE TIES DIAL UP THE DECIBELS ON BRILLIANT NEW SINGLE ‘CHANGE’
RVG continue their stellar run of new singles as we hurtle towards the release date of their new album Brain Worms (June 2nd). ‘Midnight Sun‘ is a tumbling rush of clanging, chiming distorted guitars with a heady and gloriously anthemic rock chorus. It’s another sonic gem to whet the appetite for what is shaping up to be another superb long player from the band. ‘Midnight … Continue reading RVG RELEASE NEW SINGLE, ALBUM OUT JUNE 2ND
No sooner did punk legends Hard-Ons announce that Tim Rogers (You Am I) was joining the band, they released the excellent LP I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and played a heap of shows. Now 18 months later they back with their second album with Rogers in the fold. Ripper ’23 will be released on June 2nd via Cheersquad Records and today they’ve released … Continue reading HARD-ONS RELEASE BRILLIANTLY DISCONCERTING NEW VIDEO FOR ‘APARTMENT FOR TWO’
PJ Harvey is back with ‘A Child’s Question, August’, taken from the new album I Inside the Old Year Dying, out July 7th on Partisan Records. PJ Harvey’s tenth studio album I Inside the Old Year Dying marks her first release in seven years, following UK #1 album The Hope Six Demolition Project. On this album, which was recorded with long-time creative collaborators John Parish and Flood, PJ … Continue reading PJ HARVEY RELEASES NEW SINGLE AND ANNOUNCES 2023 ALBUM
Newcastle’s Ben Leece is back with a brand new single featuring his band Left Of The Dial and guest vocals by William Crighton, Liz Stringer and Julieanne Crighton. Following his recent Marrow Gold/Skywatching double EP release he’s put a stake in the ground with the visceral polemic sound of ‘Big Black Red‘ (Stanley Records). It’s important nation healing stuff he’s addressing as he sings “The … Continue reading BEN LEECE COMES OUT SWINGING WITH STRIDENT NEW 2023 SINGLE
To celebrate their upcoming opening slot (April 16th @ The Zoo, Meanjiin/Brisbane) on the Australian Mudhoney tour, Gravel Samwidge have released the video clip for the song ‘Long Distance Drive‘, taken from their 2021 album Complaints. The song features Matt Kennedy (Kitchen’s Floor) on guest guitar and nails a coruscating fast/slow dynamic, reminiscent of Girls Against Boys if they were a more irreverent, post-grunge noise … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Gravel Samwidge – Long Distance Drive
Photo credit: Emily Rieman Mudhoney’s new LP Plastic Eternity is out this Friday, April 7th worldwide on Sub Pop. Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion, Mudhoney guitarist Steve Turner’s new book chronicling the birth and evolution of Mudhoney and the Seattle grunge scene, is available for pre-order now and will be out June 13, 2023. Australia Tour 2023 Sun. Apr. 16 – Brisbane, AU – … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Mudhoney like little dogs!
The Gin Palace, who include members of Crow, Glide, The Aerial Maps, Charlie Horse, Copperline, Joeys Coop, Caligula and The Finalists in their ranks, have just released the second single from their forthcoming album The Year Of The Dog. ‘Unsettled‘, written by Peter Fenton (Crow) and Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), is a dialogue with this country’s troubled past, an unflinching, poetic and honest look at a nation’s failings. An essential process required before all … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Gin Palace – Unsettled
Doubtful Sounds 