LIVE REVIEW: Primal Scream @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (05/12/12)

by Chris Familton The Delta Riggs were given the task of warming up the arriving punters and though there were only a handful present at the start of their set, by its conclusion there was a healthy contingent showing their appreciation for a committed and entertaining set. The Delta Riggs are a band that have studied their heroes with forensic precision – they sound like … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Primal Scream @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (05/12/12)

LIVE REVIEW: Beck @ State Theatre, Sydney (14/11/12)

by Chris Familton It is always a pleasure to visit the ornate surroundings of Sydney’s State Theatre with its outlandish detailing and proclivity for gold and chandeliers. It creates a certain mood and atmosphere and definitely lends a sense of occasion to whichever band is gracing its stage. UK’s Dark Horses had the opening honours and, with quite a different sound to Beck, they played … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Beck @ State Theatre, Sydney (14/11/12)

LIVE REVIEW: Charlie Horse @ The Factory Floor, Sydney (03/11/12)

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)

INTERVIEW: Melodie Nelson

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

NEWS: New musical delights from the Popfrenzy label

  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

LIVE REVIEW: Thurston Moore @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney (26/10/12)

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)

LIVE REVIEW: Twerps @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney (11/08/12)

by Chris Familton Jonny Telafone kicked things off with his kid on overload performance that rivals Donny Benet for its tongue in cheek pastiche, kitchen sink electro and synth pop cheesiness. There is no doubt that Telafone is a great performer even if he is just singing over Suicide-tinged backing tracks from his laptop but with song titles like Make Your Pussy Cum and his … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Twerps @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney (11/08/12)

ALBUM REVIEW: Hinterlandt | Cartography

by Chris Familton Jochen Gutsch is a prolific Sydney composer and one-man band with thirteen releases to his name since 2003. I call him a composer because his music is rooted in ambitious ideas with a multitude of elements fighting for space amid his instrumental soundscapes. There is also an overwhelming magpie eclecticism to Hinterlandt that can be both glorious and maddening as he chases … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Hinterlandt | Cartography

LIVE REVIEW: Xiu Xiu @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney (17/10/12)

by Chris Familton With some mildly unnervingly field recordings serenading Goodgod’s spinning mirror balls Rites Wild took the floor and proceeded to weave some intoxicating, pulsing electronic kosmiche tracks that sounded like the soundtrack to a dystopian analog future. Her long and spacious tracks delivered immersive and engaging results with some wonderful synth lines dancing and droning over pseudo-industrial rhythms. Stacey Wilson’s vocals have a … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Xiu Xiu @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney (17/10/12)

LIVE REVIEW: Lee Ranaldo @ OAF, Sydney (20/10/12)

by Chris Familton Melbourne’s Pony Face opened the evening and proved to be just as enigmatic and hard to pin down as they sound on record. The trio operate in the realm of dark atmospheric rock and showed they have a great handle on space and dynamics with songs that worked up often gentle and sometimes frantic moods. Their bassist was fascinating to watch as … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Lee Ranaldo @ OAF, Sydney (20/10/12)

LIVE REVIEW: Gary Clark Jr. @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney (28/09/12)

by Chris Familton Doc Holliday Takes the Shotgun had the opening honours and proceeded to rip up the memo that says the support band has to battle shitty sound, a disinterested sparse crowd and not upstage the main act. The singer and bassist spent the set lurching madly around the stage and dancefloor looking vaguely menacing between cheesy grins. Their sound sat somewhere between the … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Gary Clark Jr. @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney (28/09/12)