Trixie Whitley emerged as the singer in Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub project a few years back and her voice immediately stood out as a versatile, emotional and powerful instrument. Here it is given all the space and time it needs and for the most part Whitely nails it both vocally and as a songwriter. ‘Pieces’ in particular is a classic slice of jazz and blues … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Trixie Whitley | Fourth Corner
Auckland, NZ duo Show Me Where It Hurts are next week officially releasing their debut single ‘Show Me Where It Hurts’ at Lucha Lounge on Friday April 4th with support from Betty Loves Elvis. After a couple of years of demos, studio recordings (at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios) and live shows (including a support slot for Bobby Womack) Josh Hetherington (Fender Rhodes, vocals) and Ronny … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Show Me Where It Hurts
This is Cave and cohorts fourth live album, capturing them at in interesting junction in their career with Grinderman running its course, Push The Sky Away being the first album to not include founding member Mick Harvey and unlike some of its more varied predecessors it is for the most part considered and restrained in its delivery. Live from KCRW continues that mood, even when … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Live From KCRW
words by Charles Hemmingson / photo courtesy of Veronica McLaughlin (13th Floor) Soul is when you take a song and make it a part of you — a part that’s so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you. … It’s like electricity — we don’t really know what it is, do we? But it’s a force that can light a room. … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Bobby Womack @ The Civic Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand (18/05/13)
Following the swampier sounds of the last Iron & Wine album Sam Beam seems to have head for more soul-infused pastures from what we’ve heard of the new LP Ghost On Ghost. Here is the first video to come from the album for the song Joy. The album is out now via Nonesuch Records. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Iron & Wine | Joy
A NEW FLIGHT PATH FAT FREDDY’S DROP ARE ABOUT TO TAKE LEAVE FROM RECORDING THEIR NEW ALBUM TO PREVIEW IT AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE. KEYBOARDIST DOBIE BLAZE GIVES CHRIS FAMILTON AN INSIGHT ON THE TOURING LIFESTYLE AND THE BAND’S CREATIVE PROCESS. New albums aren’t a common occurrence in the world of Fat Freddy’s Drop. To date there has only been 2005’s debut Based On … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Fat Freddy’s Drop
by Chris Familton Melodie Nelson’s debut album of 2011, Meditations on the Sun, was a wonderful slice of hazy 60s pop which she has promptly followed up with a record that takes that template and builds on it with an air of confidence in both its songwriting and sound. To The Dollhouse is very much a period piece in that there is little to … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Melodie Nelson | To The Dollhouse
by Chris Familton Though Sola Rosa continues to be an increasingly collaborative project, the signature sound still comes from Andrew Spraggon who has been on the New Zealand music scene for two decades, predominately as Sola Rosa but also early on as the singer and guitarist for indie rock band Cicada. The transition from guitars to samplers came at a time when he was running … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Sola Rosa
Fans of left of centre hip hop, funk, soul and jazz will be excited about the return to Australia of Madlib this October. He will also be bringing along J Rocc (World Famous Beat Junkies) and Egon (Stones Throw/Now-Again) as part of his Madlib Medicine Show. 25th October – Coniston Lane – Brisbane – tix via Moshtix 26th October – The Metro Theatre – Sydney … Continue reading AUSTRALIA TOUR NEWS: Madlib Medicine Show to tour in October
by Chris Familton Artists get hyped beyond belief in this day and age so when a true legend whose discography spans thirty two years announces a rare Australian tour, his diehard fans and the wider public quite rightly get excited. Prince’s aversion to the media and interviews has given him an aura of mystique, much the same way as Dylan and over his career he … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Prince @ Allphones Arena, Sydney (11/05/12)
by Chris Familton My Morning Jacket did the early attendees a great service in bringing Dawes down to Australia with them and it was a real shame more people weren’t there to get a taste of their straightforward Americana that caught the ear with its plentiful use of space and some nice power pop dynamics. Fronted by Taylor Goldsmith, the band is definitely more than … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: My Morning Jacket @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (03/04/12)
Last year The Rolling Stones released the 1973 bootleg The Brussels Affair with vastly improved sound compared to the bootlegs that have been floating around for the last 35 years. Now they have announced the digital release of L.A. Friday (Live 1975). The concert was part of the Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas, and celebrated the newest addition to the Stones: Ronnie Wood. The tour festivities … Continue reading NEWS: The Rolling Stones officially release 1975 live bootleg
Doubtful Sounds 