ALBUM REVIEW: Not Given Lightly: A Tribute to the Giant Golden Book of New Zealand’s Alternative Music Scene
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
LIVE REVIEW: Manic Street Preachers @ Metro, Sydney 15/11/10
written by Chris Familton A decade since their last show in Sydney and finally Manic Street Preachers return – with a few more albums under the collective belt and somewhat of a new lease of life. Dead Actors Club had the opening honours and they seemed like somewhat of an odd fit with the headliners. They played a set that was high on looks and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Manic Street Preachers @ Metro, Sydney 15/11/10
INTERVIEW: Philip Selway
written by Chris Familton Stepping out of the shadows of Radiohead has been a major event and a long time coming for Philip Selway. He has been the solid backbone of the English quartet for 25 years so the release of his debut Familial at this point comes as a pleasant surprise. Also surprising is the lack of focus on traditional drumming – instead Selway … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Philip Selway
LIVE REVIEW: Baroness @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney 13/11/2010
Metal comes in many shades and those at the Annandale bore witness to 3 variations of the genre. Baroness were touring as support for Metallica but took the time to play a show at the much smaller pub venue to honour their fans and get up close and personal with the punters. Up first were locals Summonus who progress their sound every time I see … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Baroness @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney 13/11/2010
MP3: Dear Time’s Waste | These Words Stick Me To You…
Dear Time’s Waste is the recording name for Kiwi Claire Duncan and this track is taken from her debut album Spell – out on Nov 26th via Speak N Spell/Inertia. Her sound is a wash of indie pop textures akin to The Cure and ghostly melancholy electronica. MP3: Dear Times Waste | These Words Stick Me To You Continue reading MP3: Dear Time’s Waste | These Words Stick Me To You…
MP3: Cloud Nothings | Understand At All
Cleveland Ohio’s Cloud Nothings are getting all the love at the moment for their carefree jangle guitar pop not disimilar to Beach Fossils… Have a listen, make up your own mind… MP3: Cloud Nothings | Understand At All Continue reading MP3: Cloud Nothings | Understand At All
STREAM: 13 important NZ songs that weren’t on Flying Nun…
….and the maggots dance, 1…2…3… Bruce Russell, who runs the Xpressway label also does a radio show on Volcano Radio in Lyttleton and he recently put together a playlist of tracks that were important moments in NZ music that didn’t appear on the Flying Nun label. Ironically the playlist was compiled at the request of FN to celebrate the release of the latest Dead C … Continue reading STREAM: 13 important NZ songs that weren’t on Flying Nun…
VIDEO: Die! Die! Die! | Wasted Lands
The amp cab seen in the clip is the same one Chris Knox took to Oz in the 70’s with Toy Love… Shot in Dunedin and Port Chalmers on 16mm, some bathroom developing and a shitload of of painting and scratching by the band – all cut on the dinner table and transferred to tape in the garage. Continue reading VIDEO: Die! Die! Die! | Wasted Lands
NEWS: Purple Sneakers release volume 2 of We Mix You Dance…
Those Purple Sneakers scenesters are about to release a followup to their first mix cd and have imaginatively called it We Mix You Dance Vol. 2. This time round they’ve thrown in the likes of Sleigh Bells, Deerhunter, Soft Pack and LCD Soundsystem. Check out the the promo mix below with 13 tracks in 9 mins for a taste of the full 46 track comp… We … Continue reading NEWS: Purple Sneakers release volume 2 of We Mix You Dance…
LIVE REVIEW: 78 Saab @ The Annandale Hotel, Sydney 29/10/10
written by Chris Familton It felt like somewhat of a flashback heading to the Annandale to see 78 Saab, such was the ritual a decade ago when they were fresh faces on the local scene alongside the likes of Bluebottle Kiss, Further and Peabody – seemingly playing every weekend around town. The newer guard of Sydney music opened the night with Yae!Tiger filling the room … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: 78 Saab @ The Annandale Hotel, Sydney 29/10/10
LIVE REVIEW: Drawn From Bees @ Melt, Sydney 05/11/10
written by Chris Familton Brisbane’s Drawn From Bees have taken somewhat of an indirect career path by playing a number of industry showcase events and conferences over the last year. It has seen them reach a wide audience but probably not a large one – a point confirmed by a disappointingly low turnout for their Sydney show. Made In Japan played a precise and tight … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Drawn From Bees @ Melt, Sydney 05/11/10
NEWS: Sydney Festival 2011 program launched…
The Sydney Festival program was anounced today and we’ve gone straight to the musical line-up to see what they’ve got planned for 2011. Opening Night will be headlined in the Domain by Emmylou Harris while Arrested Development, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and others will perform across the city. The rest of the festival is packed as usual with great acts with Beach House, Sufjan Stevens, The … Continue reading NEWS: Sydney Festival 2011 program launched…
Doubtful Sounds 