by Chris Familton Finally the debut solo album from Sydney’s mercurial Kirin J Callinan sees the light of day. As a member of Mercy Arms and subsequent sonic game changer for Jack Ladder he has become a familiar figure on the local music scene. After the disconcerting music clips that preceded it this felt it was going to be a special album and indeed the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Kirin J Callinan | Embracism
by Chris Familton This feels like the big one for the Wellington sextet, even before it was released there were ads and editorial appearing in international music magazines like Uncut and MOJO and a real sense of coming of age has been in the air. Not that they haven’t already arrived, their preceding albums all contain absolute gems of literate guitar pop (Hitchcock, 40 Years, … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Phoenix Foundation | Fandango
It’s a busy time for Sydney’s Kirin J Callinan as he prepares to release his debut album embark on an American tour supporting Ariel Pink. From the streets of New York he gives Chris Familton an insight into his emergence as a solo artist. Not long into our conversation Kirin J Callinan pauses before painting, with an element of concern in his voice, the picture … Continue reading INTERVIEW: The Antithesis of Escapism – Kirin J Callinan
One of the joys of visiting someone who has a record collection is flicking through the sleeves, finding gems and long forgotten memories and getting a snapshot of that person through the music they’ve collected either over their lifetime or during a specific time in their life. I’ve been collecting vinyl since I first bought Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell in 1983 and for the most … Continue reading A Song From Every Album In My Vinyl Collection
We are pretty stoked to be selected as one of 20 finalists in the music category of the 2012 Ultrabook Pedestrian.tv Blogster Awards. If you like what we do then we’d love it you could take a few seconds to hit the link below and simply click on the LIKE button to register your vote for Doubtful Sounds. VOTE HERE We’ve racked up over 250,000 … Continue reading Vote for us in the 2012 Ultrabook Pedestrian.tv Blogster Awards
written by Chris Familton Warp Records continue their foray into non-electronic acts with this debut release from Brooklyn natives My Best Fiend. In Ghostlike Fading may be made by a bunch of Americans but it has a decidedly English sound and mood. The songs swell and churn, wander and slow-burn with winding narratives that make the album feel a lot longer than its 47 minutes. … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: My Best Fiend | In Ghostlike Fading
written by Chris Familton After the recent and strange happenings in the life of Sinead O’Connor (alleged suicide attempts, advertised marriage and subsequent divorce) one could be forgiven for expecting a new album to be a train wreck from an artist on the slide. Remarkably the opposite is true as How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? is as strong as anything she … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Sinead O’Connor | How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
written by Chris Familton Jack Ladder was in solo mode in the early opening slot and he showed that the songs from last year’s excellent Hurtsville LP can work just as well when stripped back to that rich, melodramatic voice and a fantastic effect laden guitar sound. He only managed to play a handful of songs before he was ushered stage right yet he impressed … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Horrors @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (03/02/12)
STEPPING UP “We get talked about as a lo-fi band but it isn’t what we are trying to do,” says Step-Panther’s Stevesie as he takes Chris Familton through the recording of their debut album. For any new band the biggest step after writing a batch of songs and establishing your live show must be the recording of the debut album. Many have built a career … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Step-Panther
written by Chris Familton It is somewhat unavoidable when it comes to making comparisons between the new Dick Diver and Twerps albums as both have been released at the same time on Melbourne’s Chapter Music and both share a style that strongly echoes the music being made in New Zealand and particularly Dunedin in the 1980s. Variously the ghost of The Bats, The Clean, The … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Dick Diver | New Start Again
written by Chris Familton This has been a bumper year for wistful guitar music brimming with melodies and laidback vibes – perfectly suited to soundtracking either a dreary autumn day or the warming expectation of summer. Real Estate, Girls and Oh Mercy are at the more immediate end of the spectrum but not far behind are a gang of Melbourne musicians in bands like Twerps … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Twerps | Twerps
written by Chris Familton The Drones were winding up a national tour to promote the release of their first DVD A Thousand Mistakes. That document is an exhaustive look at the live evolution of the band from raw, unbridled punk rock through to their current position as one of the country’s best live acts and in Gareth Liddiard, one of our finest contemporary songwriters. Adalita … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Drones @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (29/10/11)
Doubtful Sounds 