written by Chris Familton J Mascis’ recent solo album Several Shades of Why isn’t his first release under his own name, that honour goes to Martin + Me (1996) – a collection of acoustic Dinosaur Jr songs and covers recorded on tour. In that sense the new album is probably considered Mascis’ first true solo record as it was recorded in a studio with original … Continue reading INTERVIEW: J Mascis
Following their brilliant album West, Wooden Shjips have used the talents of Andrew Weatherall, Sonic Boom and kandodo to remix three tracks for the vinyl/digital only EP Remixes. The Remixes 12″ is limited to 2500 copies, with 500 of them on special color vinyl. All pre-order customers will receive a free instant MP3 download of all the 12″ tracks. All pre-orders will also ship on the … Continue reading NEWS: Wooden Shjips release limited edition remix EP…
A nice random find tonight to soundtrack the electricity in the atmosphere over Sydney. Youri Blow is a French musician who conjures up some dark and raw psych blues from his guitar and ragged voice. he sounds like Tom Waits channeling the devil through multiple strands of indigenous world music. Blow released the LP The Corridor back in 2010. Check out more samples of it … Continue reading DS Recommends: Youri Blow | The Corridor
written by Chris Familton The Bats are about to celebrate 30 years as a band in 2012 and one that can still boast the original line-up. Not many groups can lay claim to that milestone yet the New Zealand quartet have quietly gone about crafting a considerable body of work that has never taken drastic directional changes or seen them seeking to box above their … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Bats | Free All The Monsters
written by Chris Familton Jane’s Addiction cemented their place in music history with their seminal albums Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual, both over 20 years ago. Since then they’ve made a few attempts to reignite the band and re-capture some of that magic with only limited success. 2003’s Strays had moments of brilliance but too often lost focus and cohesion. When they re-connected … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Jane’s Addiction | The Great Escape Artist
written by Chris Familton Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound has unfairly garnered a reputation as an eccentric, quirky individual and musician. Sure he jumps around stylistically, likes obtuse forms and shapes in his music and he can be a prickly interview subject but when you get into the music he is hardly charting new territories. His work with Deerhunter is decidedly indie rock … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Atlas Sound | Parallax
Paul Weller is set to release his 11th solo record on March 26th next year. According to Weller’s website: Sonik Kicks reveals Paul Weller once again shaking up his palate and stirring his influences anew, mixing pop art punch with soulful communication, jazzy explorations into psychedelia and dub with razor-sharp melodies, abstract soundscapes with clear-eyed forest-folk. The first taste of the album is the track Around … Continue reading NEWS: Paul Weller announces details of new album Sonik Kicks…
written by Chris Familton The Drones have been one of Australia’s hardest touring bands over the last decade with frequent trips to Europe where they have garnered a healthy following. Now, as they look toward the writing and recording of their next LP in 2012, they have decided it’s about time to release a visual document of some of their most incendiary performances alongside an … Continue reading DVD REVIEW: The Drones | A Thousand Mistakes
There have been a bunch of new local bands that have appeared on my radar this year, many of them hailing from Melbourne. Dick Diver, The Twerps and Iowa in particular stand out and the latter now have a video to go with their recently released single Complete Control. Continue reading WATCH: Iowa | Complete Control
I came across this full live set from Ride today on You Tube – fantastic stuff from one of the greatest bands. Continue reading WATCH: Ride : live @ Brixton Academy, 1992 (full set)
written by Chris Familton It is somewhat unavoidable when it comes to making comparisons between the new Dick Diver and Twerps albums as both have been released at the same time on Melbourne’s Chapter Music and both share a style that strongly echoes the music being made in New Zealand and particularly Dunedin in the 1980s. Variously the ghost of The Bats, The Clean, The … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Dick Diver | New Start Again
written by Chris Familton This has been a bumper year for wistful guitar music brimming with melodies and laidback vibes – perfectly suited to soundtracking either a dreary autumn day or the warming expectation of summer. Real Estate, Girls and Oh Mercy are at the more immediate end of the spectrum but not far behind are a gang of Melbourne musicians in bands like Twerps … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Twerps | Twerps
Doubtful Sounds 