ALBUM REVIEW: Low – Double Negative
Press play and the first thing you’ll hear on the new Low album is the equivalent of a digital sandstorm. Slowly but surely, out of the static and sonic scree comes the voice of Alan Sparhawk, sounding like a ghost trying with all his might to re-engage with the physical world. It’s a fascinating way to open an album; a new approach for Low and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Low – Double Negative
NEW MUSIC: The Rebels of Tijuana – Erotique
Psychedelia out of France from The Rebels of Tijuana. This track, ‘Erotique’, comes from their new double album Asile recorded on analog tape at the Back To Mono Studio with Christian Hierro and due out on October 5th. Gallic pop drips all over this track as it digs a psych garage rock groove and follows it with swing and verve. Great video clip too. The band have … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Rebels of Tijuana – Erotique
NEW MUSIC: Mylk – Your Name
Melbourne alt-rock quartet Mylk released a two track EP Full Cream earlier this year and below you can check out ‘Your Name’. It’s a curious song in that it begins sounding like a Talking Heads/Vampire Weekend/Strokes-sounding slice of clever indie guitar pop before it takes flight like a lit firecracker and morphs into a bratty grunge sound. The quiet/loud dynamic works well, balancing the … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Mylk – Your Name
NEW MUSIC: Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease – On Monday
Joey Sweeney hails from Philadelphia and as well as writing some great music he also does a very good thing in donating proceeds from his sales to charities. In the case of his album Catholic School, which ‘On Monday’ comes from, half of all profits from album sales, both digital and physical, will go directly to Rock To The Future, a non-profit organization that provides music education for Philadelphia’s underserved … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease – On Monday
NEW MUSIC: Fidelity Project – Shift
Fidelity Project released their EP Out From Under three months ago and this is the song from it that caught our attention. ‘Shift’ has that billowing, aqueous sound where it quickly finds its dreamy groove and just rides it right through the entire song. Cymbal splashes, indie rock guitar that sits somewhere between Johnny Marr and War On Drugs with a vocal from main guy … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Fidelity Project – Shift
NEW MUSIC: Darren Cross – Sur La Vague (Drive Me Nuts)
The sonic alchemist that is Darren Cross (Jep and Dep, Gerling) has released the second single from his new LP Peacer. ‘Sur La Vague (Drive Me Nuts)’ is a persistent ear-worm of a track. Over a Krautrock rhythm he weaves a mantra-like vocal peppered with hovercraft synths and saxophone. It’s that sweet blend of downbeat and uptempo – a kaleidoscopic, left-of-centre, pop nugget that brings … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Darren Cross – Sur La Vague (Drive Me Nuts)
NEW MUSIC: Grand Sun – Go Home
Here’s the debut single from the Lisbon, Portugal quartet Grand Sun. ‘Go Home’ is a sunny psych pop trip built on bouncing rhythms, quirky diversions in chants and handclaps and, aesthetically speaking, one foot in 90s England and the other in 60s California. A wonderfully infectious track. Hit up their Bandcamp page below to buy the track at a ‘name your price’ and find links … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Grand Sun – Go Home
NEW MUSIC: Straight Arrows – 21st Century
Sydney band Straight Arrows return with a new slice of ramalama garage rock ‘n’ roll called ’21st Century’. Killer breakbeat, rolling bass and guitar chops! It comes from their forthcoming new LP On Top, due out October 21st. Look out for a 7″ 45rpm single release coming soon. Hit the Bandcamp link to hear the single (plus ‘Out & Down’) and preorder the album. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Straight Arrows – 21st Century
NEW MUSIC: Silent Feature – Stiffs And The Saints
A recently released single from Brisbane band Silent Feature. ‘Stiff And The Saints’ careens along on pop’ish hooks and some fine indie rock guitar. They’re a tougher take on the sound of The Shins, echoes of country rock bouncing off their walls… power pop too, particularly 90s glam sound that Redd Kross were mining. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Silent Feature – Stiffs And The Saints
ALBUM REVIEW: Roadhouses – Roadhouses
They say that it is harder to play music slowly than it is to play it fast. Things fall apart and momentum is lost. In the case of Sydney trio Roadhouses, sedated rock music is their calling card. They deal in drifting, alt-country-imbued, slowcore torch songs where heartache is just a tear away. If you got Lucinda Williams to front Spain, at the Twin Peaks … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Roadhouses – Roadhouses
NEW MUSIC: The Rifle – Hidden Knives
Slacker, desert fever, dream vibes abound on this track from what appears to be the second album by The Rifle (Tucson, AZ), Anabasis. ‘Hidden Knives’ snakes along as Nelene DeGuzman sings of knives and smiles over rolling bass and a garage rock-style organ. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Rifle – Hidden Knives
NEW MUSIC: Old Faith – Landing
Though Old Faith are only releasing their debut LP, the post-rock quartet have previously released a couple of EPs under another name. This finds them realising a sound that harkens back to the golden era of post rock when bands such as Mogwai, Isis, Pelican and Tortoise were regularly releasing music that wove epic dynamics, hypnotic guitar-led incantations through sonic peaks and valleys. For more … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Old Faith – Landing
Doubtful Sounds 