DS Recommends… Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith | Not In Love
A bit slow off the mark on this one as it came out a while back but it is a killer of a track, kind reminiscent of M83 or some lost New Order track if they had continued down the electronic route rather than getting all rockist and bland. Smith sounds deliriously forlorn on this cover of Platinum Blonde’s 1984 hit…. If you are in … Continue reading DS Recommends… Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith | Not In Love
VIDEO: Okkervil River | Wake & Be Fine
Okkervil River debuted a new song on Fallon last week, taken from their forthcoming album I Am Very Far (May 10). With AC Newman accompanying on vocals it is a rollicking stagger of a song… Check it out HERE Continue reading VIDEO: Okkervil River | Wake & Be Fine
NEWS: The Strokes LP4 out in March…
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…
ON TOUR: Deep Sea Arcade & Surf City…
Deep Sea Arcade and New Zealand’s fabulous Surf City are heading out on the road together next month for a run of shows. Catch them if you can for some buzzed out guitar pop and psych psounds… Continue reading ON TOUR: Deep Sea Arcade & Surf City…
VIDEO: Ghoul | Dreambeat
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
VIDEO: Love’s Ugly Children | Bleed
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
LIVE REVIEW: U2 @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney 13/12/10
written by Chris Familton It has certainly been heavyweight season lately with the likes of Metallica, Bon Jovi and Guns n Roses coming through town but the biggest of them all is U2. Certainly they are the band with the widest appeal and even the most casual fan knows that the Irish quartet will always deliver a spectacular multimedia show. U2 chose to bring along … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: U2 @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney 13/12/10
2011… The Year Ahead
With the flicking over of the calendar another 365 days begin and record companies slide into another release schedule. In the southern hemisphere we are inundated with festivals so the good part of January will be spent outdoors in the searing sun at the Big Day Out, Laneway Festival, Soundwave, Sydney Festival, Mona Foma and many more. Laneway this year promises to be one of … Continue reading 2011… The Year Ahead
LIVE REVIEW: The Fall @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 07/12/10
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
LIVE REVIEW: The Lemonheads @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 01/12/10
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
ALBUM REVIEW: Syd Barrett | Barrett (reissue)
written by Chris Familton In early 1970 Syd Barrett entered Abbey Road studios and with fellow Pink Floyd David Gilmour in the production seat began the apparently laborious task of recording the tracks that would make up his second solo record Barrett. What we get here is a different kettle of fish to his first solo album The Madcap Laughs. There he continued a similar … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Syd Barrett | Barrett (reissue)
LIVE REVIEW: Sola Rosa @ Gaelic, Sydney 03/12/10
written by Chris Familton Dub and electronica have been big exports for New Zealand in the past 15 years, mainly through the efforts of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub, and Black Seeds to name just a few. Sola Rosa have been operating for a decade now and with 6 albums under his belt a trip to play live in Sydney was well overdue. Local Bondi … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Sola Rosa @ Gaelic, Sydney 03/12/10
Doubtful Sounds 