LIVE REVIEW: Dirty Three, Mirel Wagner @ State Theatre, Sydney Festival (15/01/16)
I’d heard great things about Mirel Wagner and she played a good if slightly disconnected set that, for the types of songs she writes (acoustic gothic ballads), lacks an element of menace or otherworldly spookiness to match her visceral lyrics. The talkers in the lobby were a complete distraction too. I can never understand why people shell out close to $90 for a show and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Dirty Three, Mirel Wagner @ State Theatre, Sydney Festival (15/01/16)
NEW MUSIC: Damien Jurado – Exit 353
Damien Jurado has a new LP called Visions Of Us On The Land coming out on March 18h via Secretly Canadian/Inertia. It once again features producer Richard Swift and carries on the themes established on the excellent preceding albums Maraqopa and Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son. ‘Maraqopa’ the album introduced a character – deliberately unnamed, intended to represent anyone feeling that way – who stumbles … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Damien Jurado – Exit 353
NEW MUSIC: Explosions In The Sky – Disintegration Anxiety
Texan post-rockers Explosions In The Sky return in 2016 with their new album The Wilderness on April 1st. Released locally on Spunk Records, The Wilderness is the band’s sixth album, and first non-soundtrack effort since 2011’s Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. TRACKLISTING 01 Wilderness 02 The Ecstatics 03 Tangle Formations 04 Logic of a Dream 05 Disintegration Anxiety 06 Losing the Light 07 Infinite Orbit 08 … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Explosions In The Sky – Disintegration Anxiety
French Disco Boogie Sounds (1975-1984)
For total indulgence and unabated dance floor pleasure you can’t go past this compilation of French soul, pop, funk and disco tracks from 1975-1984. Selected by Charles Maurice, the album was released last year on the Favorite label. Hit the Bandcamp link below to stream and/or buy the album on 2LP, CD and digital formats. In their words: Helped by a close connoisseur friend, DJ … Continue reading French Disco Boogie Sounds (1975-1984)
NEW MUSIC: Savages – Adore
Savages return with their second LP Adore Life, on January 22, 2016. Here’s the video clip for the new single ‘Adore’. We weren’t sold on the earlier release ‘The Answer‘ but this slower, moodier track hits the spot perfectly. Adore Life will be out via Matador Records / Remote Control Records. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Savages – Adore
ALBUM REVIEW: Danzig – Skeletons
Covers albums can be hit or miss affairs, sometimes insightful and revelatory, often indulgent and derivative. Glenn Danzig’s selections and interpretations sit somewhere in the middle. He has certainly applied the demonic, grandiose metal Danzig sound to these songs, though often they sound like poorly recorded demos. In particular Elvis’ Let Yourself Go works well, as does his Ramones ramalama take on The Troggs’ With … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Danzig – Skeletons
LIVE REVIEW: Moon Duo, Grinding Eyes, Glass Skies @ NSC, Sydney (10/12/15)
Opening this evening of psych rock was Glass Skies who whipped up a hard stoner/space rock barrage of riffs and grooves for the few early arrivals. The singer/guitarist overplayed his hand with teeth and behind-the-head solos but they nailed the ‘rock’ aspect of psychedelic music convincingly. Grinding Eyes enhanced the tripped-out mood of the evening with a a sea of projected images flooding the band … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Moon Duo, Grinding Eyes, Glass Skies @ NSC, Sydney (10/12/15)
LIVE REVIEW: Julia Holter, Marcus Whale @ NSC, Sydney (09/12/15)
This was a night for a light to be shone on the more distant edges of pop music, where obtuse angles and bold and wilder imaginations take flight. Marcus Whale had emailed Julia Holter requesting a support slot and his wish was granted. Holter and local label Mistletone’s trust was more than rewarded with a riveting opening set that took militant drums, a caustic electronic … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Julia Holter, Marcus Whale @ NSC, Sydney (09/12/15)
LIVE REVIEW: Mercury Rev @ OAF
MERCURY REV, JAMES DELA CRUZ (DJ SET) @ Oxford Art Factory, 07 December 2015 Eschewing the usual opening band, the warm-up honours went to James Dela Cruz (The Avalanches) who played an eclectic hour long DJ set that stretched from Neil Young to warm techno flows and some fine turntablism skills. Mercury Rev hold a fairly unique position in music with their fantastical, dramatic sound that hits … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Mercury Rev @ OAF
LIVE REVIEW: Thurston Moore @ Metro Theatre
Thurston Moore, Gold Class @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (05/12/15) When you have half of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine’s bassist on stage one would expect the venue to be fairly brimming with indie rock fans right? It was a surprise then, and somewhat disappointing, to be greeted with a curtained off and reduced capacity theatre that still only made it to two thirds capacity. … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Thurston Moore @ Metro Theatre
Favourite Albums of 2015
Another year comes to a close and it’s time for the end-of-year lists to be revealed. Here at Doubtful Sounds we’ve had another 12 months deeply immersed in Americana music (alt. country & folk) so you’ll find plenty of albums from that genre on the list below. That’s not to say we didn’t listen to plenty of other styles of music. As usual we wrapped … Continue reading Favourite Albums of 2015
INTERVIEW: Dan Kelly
Hippie Days Are Here Again Dan Kelly thought he was going to write and record and quick follow-up to his 2010 album Dan Kelly’s Dream but instead songs were scrapped and re-written, countries were explored and finally, after unexpectedly meeting an old friend in the main street of Nimbin the seed for Leisure Panic was planted, as Kelly explains to Chris Familton. That jump-off point … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Dan Kelly
Doubtful Sounds 