This is the first solo project for Step-Panther main man Steve Bourke and it finds him shelving the noise and sci-fi surf rock of that band for a gentler, pastoral approach. The nervous energy and frantic flailing has dissipated into six lazily strummed and finger-picked songs that bring to mind Kurt Vile and Christopher Owens. There is still a stoned vibe to Bourke as the … Continue reading REVIEW: S M Jenkins – Out There In The Zone EP
Taken from their new LP I Hear You, out on Sub Pop, here’s Arbor Labor Union‘s clip for the single Volume Peaks. Tough, gritty, rolling guitar dirges that dig in and stretch out. They’re a mangled mess of post punk, post rock, indie rock and freewheeling’ jam band psych grooves. Dig it. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Arbor Labor Union – Volume Peaks
Sydney folk-noir duo Jep and Dep have released their first new music since their stunning 2014 LP Word Got Out. Honeymoon is a cover of the Lana Del Rey song which the pair have transformed into an epic and stirring track, overflowing with swooning heartache and lush drama. The echoes of Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins and Julee Cruise are hanging in the air as the … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Jep and Dep – Honeymoon (Lana Del Rey cover)
The Maladies are back! Well, they’ve been back gigging for the last year or so but this is the first new release since the Sydney group’s fine debut album With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down came out in 2009. With a new album on the horizon, Something About Your Girlfriend previews their new sound – updating and expanding their swampy gothic blues … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Maladies – Something About Your Girlfriend
This is the last in a trilogy of albums that Jurado has released with producer/collaborator Richard Swift and it’s as immersive, wide ranging and often fantastical as its predecessors. Swift again brings a lushness of production to Jurado’s folk songs. He adds the drama, the texture and the light psychedelia that washes over the 17 songs. The album completes the tale of an individual who … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Damien Jurado – Visions Of Us On The Land
Brisbane trio The Goon Sax are about to release their debut LP via Chapter Music in a couple of weeks. Here’s the title track Up To Anything, a song that hits the right spots for us – a bass line reminiscent of The Bats, the delightfully doleful vocal style of Louis Forster and brisk, economical and snappy drums. It’s a melancholic pop song par excellence. The band … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Goon Sax – Up To Anything
Holy Fuck have been away for a while but in 2016 they are set to return with a new album called Congrats and ‘Tom Tom’, the first single to emerge from it. The band have said that the new record is influenced by Suicide, Silver Apples, Can, Mission of Burma, The Monks and Sun Ra. Congrats is out May 27th on Innovative Leisure via Inertia Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Holy Fuck – Tom Tom
Tindersticks have traveled their own considered career trajectory with intermittent suspensions of activity and then a return to active duty, always with the same ear for detail in their nuanced and ornate, soulful baroque pop music.The Waiting Room is yet another excellent entry to their discography. It’s measured and draws on found sounds, field recordings, guest vocalists, jazz, post-rock, pastoral psychedelia and just the right … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Tindersticks – The Waiting Room
The Drones are about to unleash their new album Feelin Kinda Free on March 18th and ahead of that they’ve just released the video clip for their new 6 minute single ‘To Think That I Once Loved You’, an epic woozy ballad with dissonance emotionally scattered across it. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Drones – To Think That I Once Loved You
For total indulgence and unabated dance floor pleasure you can’t go past this compilation of French soul, pop, funk and disco tracks from 1975-1984. Selected by Charles Maurice, the album was released last year on the Favorite label. Hit the Bandcamp link below to stream and/or buy the album on 2LP, CD and digital formats. In their words: Helped by a close connoisseur friend, DJ … Continue reading French Disco Boogie Sounds (1975-1984)
The last time I saw Dan Kelly live was a few years ago at the ATP festival in Melbourne and he impressed with his full band hitting all kinds of indie rock, Krautrock and psychedelic angles. Kelly’s new album Leisure Panic is coming out via ABC Music on October 9th and this is the first single ‘Never Stop The Rot’. A freewheeling Pavement-esque slice of … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Dan Kelly – Never Stop The Rot
Here’s the first taste of Kurt Vile’s new album b’lieve i’m goin down, due out September 25th. Pretty Pimpin takes a nice upbeat rhythm and peppers it with Beck-styled vocals and an almost country finger picked guitar melody. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin
Doubtful Sounds 