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…
Fancy some furtive art rock? Have a listen to Ghoul’s new track from the forthcoming EP Dunks (Speak n Spell – February). They remind me of a darker Wild Beasts – not afraid to tease and stretch out a great musical idea, playing around with the dynamics and mood… RECOMMENDED! Continue reading VIDEO: Ghoul | Dreambeat
Loves Ugly Children were in hindsight one of the great New Zealand bands of the 90s with a sound that could be searing punk and then switch to something as shimmering and woozy as this track – Bleed… Continue reading VIDEO: Love’s Ugly Children | Bleed
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 First up were Step-Panther, an up and coming Sydney band who just keep getting better. Their songs have shifted from bratty punk origins to now include surf melodies, 60s pop sounds and a Ramones-like approach to telling street stories. Their song Jimmy should be a smash hit and their casual demeanor should gain them a bucket load of fans. Deep … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Girls @ Manning Bar, Sydney 08/12/10
written by Chris Familton In the wake of solo outings by fellow Radioheads Thom and Jonny we are now graced with the intimate musings of drummer Philip Selway. His minimal compositions impress in that they don’t sound like a drummer trying to be a guitarist or an attention seeking singer. Instead he chooses to create moods in stark settings with affairs of the heart and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Philip Selway | Familial
written by Chris Familton Magnetic Heads opened the evening with some wonderfully constructed songs. The influence of Talking Heads hovers over the group at times, not just in aspects of their sound but also in the tone of Des Miller’s voice when he hits the higher notes. When he stays low he has a kindred spirit in Jack Ladder and Bryan Ferry. They’ve developed a … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Belles Will Ring @ Gaelic, 26/11/10
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
On the 21st of December, in what will probably be the last of a number of great reissues in 2010 (Bowie’s Station To Station, Teardrop Explodes Kilimanjaro, Frankie’s Welcome To The Pleasuredome and Iggy & James Williamson’s Kill City) Rhino have seen fit to release the deluxe version of Ride’s classic album Nowhere on its 20th anniversary. Nowhere came at the crossroads of British guitar … Continue reading NEWS: Ride’s Nowhere gets the deluxe treatment…
written by Chris Familton Berlin’s Morr Music label have put together this tribute to music released on the influential Flying Nun label and it is essentially a collection of indie-tronica that seems to pay cautious homage to a certain type of 80s/90s guitar music that was both primitive and creatively forward thinking. These bands certainly nail the melodies but generally fall short of invoking the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Not Given Lightly: A Tribute to the Giant Golden Book of New Zealand’s Alternative Music Scene
Doubtful Sounds 