Melbourne is throwing up some great soul and funk bands of late, particularly the ones with a subtle strain of garage rock running through their grooves. Saskwatch have released a new single this month which was recorded by go-to-guy Mikey Young. It is out now digitally and will be followed by a 7″ vinyl release on Northside Records. Keep an eye on their Bandcamp page … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Saskwatch | I Get Lonely
We’ve been talking up Bad Dreems since they first emerged and they’ve just posted a stream of their forthcoming single Caroline which is due out April 6th and is the first taste of their new EP which will be out soon. Caroline sees them hitting The Soft Pack meets Nirvana territory with a tumbling rhythm section and vocals that shift gears from ambling to shredding and … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Bad Dreems | Caroline
Sydney songwriter Bryan Estepa has been releasing music for a decade now and on Heart vs Mind he has consolidated those years of songwriting, performing and developing his craft to produce a superb album that excels in effortless, meticulous and timeless songwriting. The predominant feature of the record is how versatile Estepa is as a musical magpie. He dips into all manner of stylistic pools, whether it be the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Bryan Estepa – Heart vs Mind (2013)
by Chris Familton As far as experimental, improvised music goes The Necks are the masters of their craft, never playing the same set twice and composing and creating widescreen, emotionally rich music in the moment. The trio played two hour long sets at The Basement and even though the instrumentation remained the same (piano, drums, bass) the virtuosic talent and imagination of Chris Abrahams, Tony … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Necks @ The Basement, Sydney (13/02/13)
Spencer P. Jones has a knack of surrounding himself with superb collaborators whether it be in The Beasts of Bourbon, The Johnnys, or with the likes of Paul Kelly, Chris Bailey and Kim Salmon. Now he has teamed up with James Baker (The Scientists/Hoodoo Gurus) and Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin from The Drones and recorded a fantastic collection of visceral rock songs as The … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Spencer P. Jones & The Nothing Butts
by Chris Familton Featuring Charlie Horse bassist Craig Beck on guitar and vocals, Rushing Dolls have a big strong sound that relies on 90s rock dynamics and impassioned vocals from the school of Placebo but they lacked a stage presence that might otherwise make their songs more believable and enjoyable. They build melody into their rock and there were some flashes of where they might … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Charlie Horse @ The Factory Floor, Sydney (03/11/12)
DARK END OF THE STREET WITH HER SOPHOMORE ALBUM AS MELODIE NELSON, LIA TSAMOGLOU HAS CREATED A MORE DETAILED AND COHESIVE SONG CYCLE WHICH, AS SHE EXPLAINS TO CHRIS FAMILTON, IS BASED AROUND HER FASCINATION WITH THE CULTURAL SHIFT OF LATE 60S SUBURBIA. In 2011 Melodie Nelson released her debut album Meditations On the Sun, a collection of songs deeply indebted to the sound of … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Melodie Nelson
Sydney independent label Popfrenzy have announced a trifecta of exciting releases in the last week. Songs have a video for their new song Alone When I’m With You from the forthcoming (early 2013) album Malabar. The song can be purchased HERE for a measly 99c. Next up is the first single on the label from Sydney band Day Ravies. Double Act follows up … Continue reading NEWS: New musical delights from the Popfrenzy label
Deep Sea Arcade round out their massive year with another single from their Outlands, a record that sounds like a whole album of singles. Granite City Girls is packed with footage from their recent tours in a suitably hazy, psych pop filtered style. The band are about to head out on a national tour to celebrate the single release: Fri 9th Nov – The Corner … Continue reading WATCH: Deep Sea Arcade | Granite City Girls
by Chris Familton Regardless of how straight Thurston Moore’s 2012 solo album sounds the sonic provocateur is always one step away from experimental music and the sculpting of sound rather than song. Though his set would prove to be more of the latter Moore balanced things with the support act, Marco Fusinato who is known as much for his art as his music. Armed with … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Thurston Moore @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney (26/10/12)
by Chris Familton Melodie Nelson’s debut album of 2011, Meditations on the Sun, was a wonderful slice of hazy 60s pop which she has promptly followed up with a record that takes that template and builds on it with an air of confidence in both its songwriting and sound. To The Dollhouse is very much a period piece in that there is little to … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Melodie Nelson | To The Dollhouse
Melbourne duo I Dream In Transit have recently released the wonderful new single Absolute Peace backed with the equally great Night Dog. They’ve pressed it as a 7″ too so for those of you who covet the black circle you can grab a limited edition pressing if you are quick. Head over to their Bandcamp page to order now and/or stream and buy a digital … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: I Dream In Transit | Absolute Peace 7″
Doubtful Sounds 