REVIEW: PITCH BLACK live @ Spectrum

DS was at the Pitch Black show in Sydney last week and had its mind and body moved… …As each track evolved and lifted the tempo, the grinning cyber punk Free worked frantically around his midi controller and samplers as if he was trying to keep up with the music. Hodgson, expressionless, worked studiously next to him, physically leaning into and tweaking the mixer knobs … Continue reading REVIEW: PITCH BLACK live @ Spectrum

REVIEW: THE FELICE BROTHERS – Yonder Is The Clock

2008’s The Felice Brothers was near the top of my end of year list, its strength coming from the way it caught the imagination with its rustic, cracked and weary charm. It contained songs played with minimal fuss and maximum heart and it was a breath of fresh air amongst the angst and art of many of the year’s other releases. Anticipation of a new … Continue reading REVIEW: THE FELICE BROTHERS – Yonder Is The Clock

REVIEW: WAGONS – The Rise And Fall Of Goodtown

Four records in and Wagons have well and truly hit their stride. On the new album The Rise And Fall Of Goodtown they have, in 33 minutes, captured the essence of what real country and soul music is all about. The wide open spaces, love won and lost, death, God and Satan. From the retro-Western artwork, with its sepia tinged images of communal country life … Continue reading REVIEW: WAGONS – The Rise And Fall Of Goodtown

REVIEW: AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD @ The Forum, Sydney

A wet and rainy Sydney evening was a good way to spend a few hours in The Forum with two bands that understand dynamics of sound in quite different ways. Trail Of Dead were touring their latest Century Of Self album and experiencing something of a minor renaissance after the mixed response to their last two records. Read the full review here…  FASTERLOUDER Continue reading REVIEW: AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD @ The Forum, Sydney

REVIEW: MEAT PUPPETS – Sewn Together

The brothers Cris and Curt Kirkwood have experienced a rollercoaster life through nearly 30 years as Meat Puppets. Their story includes signing to the seminal US punk label SST, transitioning from punk to their trademark ‘cow punk’ sound, their role in Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged and a tragic trail of drug addiction and prison. Through all of this, they have kept coming back to the music, … Continue reading REVIEW: MEAT PUPPETS – Sewn Together

REVIEW: TALONS – self titled

Punk is a pretty overused word to describe bands these days. It can veer from Fugazi to Sex Pistols to Blink 182 which is a fairly wide net to cast. Talons come stumbling and crawling on bloodied knees from the Sydney ‘Punk’ scene with their debut self titled album and they are definitely punk, the type that is uncompromising, raw, real and intense. As a … Continue reading REVIEW: TALONS – self titled

REVIEW: LAWRENCE ARABIA – Chant Darling

New Zealand’s Lawrence Arabia (aka James Milne) has been a prolific musician on the NZ music scene over the last few years. With his band The Reduction Agents and stints with both the Ruby Suns and The Brunettes he is a man well versed in melodic indie pop songs. On his second solo album Chant Darling he ups the ante with sweet harmonies, nagging dark … Continue reading REVIEW: LAWRENCE ARABIA – Chant Darling

NEWS: VIVIAN GIRLS Everything Goes Wrong on new album…

Those lo fi garage girls Vivian Girls have announced that a new slab of vinyl is due out on September 8th via In The Red. Word is that Everything Goes Wrong will be slightly more expansive than their debut. Revisit the interview doubtful sounds did with them earlier this year HERE. 01 Walking Alone at Night 02 I Have No Fun 03 Can’t Get Over … Continue reading NEWS: VIVIAN GIRLS Everything Goes Wrong on new album…