Christian Fennesz has been merging electronica and guitars for years now, making both seem inseparable in his world, the latter often unrecognisable. Now he’s returning to the Mego label where he released what many consider his finest album Endless Summer (My personal favourite is still Venice) in 2001. On April 29th he’ll unveil his new record Bécs. Here’s the first taste of the album with the track ‘Static … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Fennesz | Static Kings
Auckland, NZ duo Show Me Where It Hurts are next week officially releasing their debut single ‘Show Me Where It Hurts’ at Lucha Lounge on Friday April 4th with support from Betty Loves Elvis. After a couple of years of demos, studio recordings (at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios) and live shows (including a support slot for Bobby Womack) Josh Hetherington (Fender Rhodes, vocals) and Ronny … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Show Me Where It Hurts
New Zealand expats now based in the UK, Popstrangers already have a new album in the can and ready for release on May 27th via Carpark Records. Fortuna follows their excellent Antipodes LP, my favourite NZ album of 2013. ‘Country Kills’ is a tad less noisy and chaotic than their debut yet it still possesses their wonderful knack for chorus melodies. By the second chorus … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Popstrangers | Country Kills
Amen Dunes have a new album called Love coming out on Sacred Bones Records On May 13th. Damon McMahon, the main guy behind Amen Dunes, recorded Love in Montreal with Dave Bryant and Efrim Menuck of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. In addition to recording the sessions that McMahon produced, members of Godspeed also played on several of the songs. So did saxophonist Colin Stetson and … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Amen Dunes | Lonely Richard
After releasing Let the Sunburnt Country Burn in 2013, Sydney band Greta Mob haven’t wasted time in getting new music out on the streets with their new EP Gyspy Town due Friday March 28th. The title track (a re-working of the song that appeared on their debut album) features Spencer P. Jones (The Johnnys, Beasts of Bourbon etc) and it sounds like its been injected with blood-red technicolor. … Continue reading TRACK OF THE WEEK: Greta Mob | Gypsy Town (Revisited) Feat. Spencer P Jones
A second track from the new Afghan Whigs album has been released. The Lottery sounds like prime Whigs in its rhythm and groove and Greg Dulli’s soaring chorus. The first single was very good but didn’t excite as much as this one does. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the LP Do To The Beast which comes out on April 14th via Sub … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Afghan Whigs | The Lottery
Ben Frost is one of those unique composers working in the electronic realm who is able to harness the visceral nature of music. His tools are synthetic yet he always seems to build tangible, almost organic elements into his work. Live he does the some thing, bringing a physicality to his performance as he bends and turns dials and switches. He was spellbinding at ATP … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Ben Frost | Venter
Eschewing the trend of recent years for hard rock bands to base their touring around festivals such as Soundwave and to a lesser extent Big Day Out, Josh Homme and Trent Reznor decided they could have more fun and deliver a better show for the fans by teaming up as a double-headed alt-rock tag team and playing ten arena shows across Australasia. Who would play … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails @ Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney (06/03/14)
Walking Papers had a high curiosity factor, primarily for their members including Duff McKagan (G N’R) and drummer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season) but with a fine opening set they showed they were the full band deal with singer/guitarist Jeff Angell working the mic stand, doing hat tricks and venturing into the audience for their final slice of dark psych-laden rock. Down have been … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Alice in Chains, Down, Walking Papers @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (25/03/14)
Amaya Laucirica (VIC) has a brand new record Sway ready to be released on April 14th and it features the great first single Prettier Than Sound which you can stream below. The song includes Adalita on backing vocals and JP Shilo on guitar and they conjure up a wonderful hazy, shimmering track with billowing harmonies and cascading textural guitars. Laucirica’s upcoming tour dates are also … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Amaya Laucirica | Prettier Than Sound
Wild Beasts have been on something of an evolutionary arc with each album showcasing their willingness to dig deep into creative corners and musically chance their hearts and heads. Present Tense continues that trend, taking them further into the world of lush electronica. They’ve always been a band built on the tremendous voices of Haydn Thorpe and Tom Fleming, a strength they readily accept and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Wild Beasts | Present Tense
Darren Cross opened the evening with a fine set of songs that showed the extent to which he has mastered the art of gothic country song. He wove narratives around characters and situations with both emotional resonance and clever wordplay and it never felt hokey or contrived in that most American of genres. His voice, as the years have passed, has taken on real character and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: INFINITY BROKE, GOLDEN BLONDE, DARREN CROSS @ BRIGHTON UP BAR (27/02/14)
Doubtful Sounds 