NEW MUSIC: Darren Cross – Givin’ Up?

Darren Cross has just released his new album Distorder on digital and limited edition CD, available now via Bandcamp. It’s a great trip through the wildly inventive musical mind of Cross, stretching from the sound he created in the 90s with Gerling, right up his more recent solo albums Peacer and Xantastic! Check out the new animated clip for the track ‘Given’ Up?’. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Darren Cross – Givin’ Up?

ALBUM REVIEW: Darren Cross – Keeping Up?

Darren Cross returns with a new album called Keeping Up? In recent years he’s explored folk noir with Jep and Dep, his own eclectic solo albums and a pair of instrumental acoustic folk albums under the moniker D.C Cross. Here he orbits planet Gerling closer than he has since the band split back in in the late 00s. It’s still a totally different musical creature … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Darren Cross – Keeping Up?

20 Of Our Favourite Albums From The First Half Of 2020

A quick trip back through the memory cells and some scanning of my music library has thrown up these twenty artists (in alphabetical order) who have released some of our favourite albums of 2020 so far. There are plenty more I haven’t heard yet, hopefully some gems among them. In the meantime, I hope this throws up a few that you may not have had … Continue reading 20 Of Our Favourite Albums From The First Half Of 2020

SPECIAL SOUNDS FOR STRANGE TIMES

Over the last few months, one of the things many people have been turning to during periods of isolation during the pandemic is music. Music for distraction, companionship, solace and joy. Whatever the reason, putting on a favourite album or discovering something new that pulls you in and hits the spot, intellectually or emotionally, can be a great and wonderful experience. In this series we … Continue reading SPECIAL SOUNDS FOR STRANGE TIMES

SONIC KICKS: Darren Cross

Defiantly independent and creatively driven, Darren Cross is always seeking new ways to translate his ideas and influences into music. Whether it was in the heady days of indie/electro guitar punks Gerling, as a DJ and electronic music producer, as one half of folk noir duo Jep and Dep (with Jessica Cassar) or as a solo artist. Under his own name he’s released two solo … Continue reading SONIC KICKS: Darren Cross

Doubtful Sounds Presents: The Ramalamas, Darren Cross, The Finalists @ The PBC

Hey, we’re putting on a gig! Yep, we go to so many gigs and we know a good lineup when we see one so we’re putting on a Sydney show with three great acts. There’s a personal disclaimer with this in that I play bass in The Finalists. Head to The Petersham Bowling Club on Sunday March 10th and you can catch the cosmic country, … Continue reading Doubtful Sounds Presents: The Ramalamas, Darren Cross, The Finalists @ The PBC

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: Darren Cross – 90’s High

Darren Cross has just released his second solo LP PEACER, a 100% self-recorded and independent album that finds him balancing the day-glo deconstructed indie guitar pop of his years as the main-man in Gerling and his more recent dark avant-folk leanings. The first single and video from the album is ’90’s High’, a song with a strong sonic link to that peaking rush of Gerling … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Darren Cross – 90’s High

ALBUM REVIEW: Jep And Dep – They’veBeenCalled

This is album number two for Darren Cross (Gerling) and Jessica Cassar and it finds them expanding their monochromatic and ethereal world into darker corners where mystery slowly reveals itself and both hope and despair are around every slow bend. Their debut was clearly a interpretation of folk music but here they use even more swooning strings, piano and billowing reverb to add a ghostly … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Jep And Dep – They’veBeenCalled

NEW MUSIC: Jep and Dep – Cruel Moon (video)

Jep and Dep are back with ‘Cruel Moon’, the first single from their forthcoming second LP, due out this August. Over the last couple of years they’ve developed a cohesive and atmospheric style, built on strong monochromatic imagery in their photos and videos – the perfect marriage to their sparse, sometimes lush, always compelling folk-noir sound. Jessica Cassar and Darren Cross take a strong conceptual approach to … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Jep and Dep – Cruel Moon (video)

ALBUM REVIEW: Jep and Dep – Word Got Out

Writing and recording widescreen and cinematic music, where mood and atmosphere is paramount, and conveying it with minimal instrumentation shows both great restraint and ambition. That is exactly the musical world that Jessica Cassar and Darren Cross (Gerling) have created on their debut album Word Got Out. The cover image of the pair stepping out of darkness and into an unknown light sums up the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Jep and Dep – Word Got Out

NEWS: Jep and Dep announce debut album, tour and new single

Sydney duo Jep and Dep have had quite the year beginning with an opening slot before Johnny Marr before going on to play shows with Matt Walker, Mia Dyson, Hatz Fitz and Cara, Kristen Hersh, Raised by Eagles, Tracey McNeil Band and Lindi Ortega as well as their own headline gigs across nearly every reputable venue in Sydney and other parts of the country. Over at our … Continue reading NEWS: Jep and Dep announce debut album, tour and new single