Month: May 2011

Emma Louise – Full Hearts & Empty Rooms (2011 EP)

Emma Louise is a Brisbane based chanteuse who has a voice so beautiful that it would melt the hardest of hearts. She writes eloquent songs that speak of love and longing with such clarity and grace that their maturity belies her tender years. Her debut release Full Hearts & Empty Rooms showcases a collection of…

Read More

The Mercy Kills – New Rule (2010 EP)

Melbourne four piece The Mercy Kills make all the gritty, dirty things in life seem gloriously attractive with their sleazy rock and roll. It’s something that was made for brandishing devil’s horns in the mosh pit. Their hard rock sound isn’t reinventing the wheel, but they play with such a furious energy that it’s impossible…

Read More

The Big Pink – Tapes (2010 LP)

There’s nothing like a good mix tape, the old school labour of love that involved hours of bootlegging to compile a selection of tracks designed to woo the object of your affection (or impress your friends with your obscenely good taste in music). The digital age has taken the wind out of the mix tape’s…

Read More

Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Karuna – It's A Beautiful Day

In an AU review exclusive, we’re proud to present the world premiere of “It’s a Beautiful Day” – a wonderful track and entrancing music video from NSW based producer, DJ, vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Karuna. It comes off his self-titled EP which is available now through Young Mine (who put out the brilliant Jinja Safari debut…

Read More

Live Review: DZ Deathrays + Chicks Who Love Guns + Corpus – Rock Lily (27.05.11)

“Thank you for staying with us. This is very much the weirdest gig we’ve ever played. Sorry that it wasn’t loud enough.” I almost feel like DZ Deathrays, who are quoted here as they brought their show to an end, summed up the night better than I ever could. As the night hit 1am, the…

Read More

White Denim – D (2011 LP)

White Denim are a band that are difficult to categorise using the plethora of buzz words available to describe sound. Psychedelic, spazz-jazz, alternative, blues-jazz, country, pop, garage, exercise, post-rock, and party jams are a few of the more popular terms associated with the four piece from Austin, and none of them really do justice to…

Read More

The Antlers – Burst Apart (2011 LP)

Brooklyn based trio The Antlers wrent the world in two with their heartbreaking LP Hospice. The ambient noise and beautiful arrangements that were punctuated by the devastating narrative that ran throughout the record resulted in one of the most intense and haunting releases of 2009 that somehow managed to be both melancholic and emotionally draining…

Read More

Song Riff Offs: Reese & Santonio (1987) and Supernova

Back in February, I received the following e-mail. While many “riff offs” are a mutual, cordial affair – just as many have completely ripped off the original. For this installment of Song Riff Offs, I’ll leave it in the capable hands of Kevin Saunderson, to explain why the following is such a perfect example of…

Read More

Georgia Fields + Brian Campeau + Tara Simmons – The Vanguard (22.05.11)

There’s nothing quite like a Sunday night where you’re serenaded by some truly beautiful performances, in the relaxing atmosphere of a venue like The Vanguard. This particular Sunday night in question featured the talents of Georgia Fields, Brian Campeau and Tara Simmons – three wonderful performers who gave me the sort of end to a…

Read More

Red Ink + Royston Vasie + San Fran Disco – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (20.05.11)

There was a bizarre mix of people inhabiting the Corner band room, ranging from overly excitable teenage girls to a few of the over fifties club, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of headliners Red Ink. The supporting line-up was equally as diverse as the crowd, with local four piece Royston Vasie kicking things off with…

Read More

The Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps (2011 LP)

Born from the ashes of The Afghan Whigs, Greg Dulli and his musical vehicle The Twilight Singers have been making a racket since 1997. The band have recently released their fifth long player Dynamite Steps, and this being my first experience with their sound, I found it to be quite the heady trip into their…

Read More

Live Review: Katie Noonan with Elixir – Trak Showroom, Melbourne (22.05.11)

Katie Noonan’s voice is so powerful, yet so delicate it’s hard to think about anything else than what is happening on stage. Elixir is a trio who have been one of Katie’s many musical projects in the jazz world ever since the festival rollicking days of george. Her voice is perfect to this style of…

Read More

Daniel Lee Kendall – Talk The Night Away (2011 EP)

Daniel Lee Kendall is one of those really annoying talented people, who is not only a gifted songwriter, but a gifted songwriter with devilishly good looks and a naïve presence that is both disarming and beguiling. Talk The Night Away is Kendall’s sophomore release and showcases more of the textured melodies and soothing vocals that…

Read More

Guineafowl – Hello Anxiety (2011 EP)

Sam ‘Guineafowl’ Yeldham, has followed a common trend in music today – he started on a laptop creating music that was earnest, sincere and laced with emotion, garnered himself the attention of labels and has now moved on to bigger, better and unfortunately blander things. The Hello Anxiety EP showcases Guineafowl’s obvious talent for penning…

Read More

Jebediah – Kosciuszko (2011 LP)

Fourteen years ago Jebediah inspired teenagers around the nation to be moving on with their hit single “Leaving Home” and they’ve been in and out Australia’s consciousness ever since with their grunge/punk/rock that is cheeky, endearing, heartfelt and endlessly fun. 2011 marks the release of the first Jebediah album in five years and as it…

Read More

Live Review: Husky + Ainslie Wills + Cilla Jane – Northcote Social Club (21.05.11)

Things started out chilled enough. Cilla Jane and her acoustic guitar were charming, with her cutesy vocals and tunes about the important things in life, like riding your bicycle. She had the seated crowd in quiet wonder, with songs that meant so much more than that, such as “‘Til The Morning Comes”, and “One Deep…

Read More

the AU interview: Pigeon John (California, USA)

Hello Pigeon John! We can’t wait to see you down here in Oz! This isn’t your first tour is it? No i first came here in 2004 opening up for Ugly Duckling on their Meat Shake Tour. Then opening up for Lyrics Born in 2007 i believe, then in 2008 on the Good Vibrations tour…

Read More

Teeth & Tongue – Unfamiliar Skirts (2011 Single)

Jess Cornelius has one of those voices that makes you melt like butter and go weak at the knees at the very sound of her sensual, impassioned tones. Cornelius records under the moniker Teeth & Tongue and has recently released her sophomore album Tambourine. “Unfamiliar Skirts” is the first single from the album and in…

Read More

Snowman – "Hyena" (2011 Single)

Listening to “Hyena”, the first taste of Snowman’s third LP Absence leaves a bittersweet impression as one marvels at the wondrous sonic landscape the band has pieced together, hoping the music never ends, and then the harsh realisation kicks in – that this new, exciting sound you’ve discovered won’t be taken any further as the…

Read More

The Mercy Kills – "Wasting/Save" (2010 Single)

Local Melbourne four-piece The Mercy Kills have perfected the art of sleazy, dirty rock and roll. The “Wasting/Save” single is one hell of a sweaty, gritty, ball breaking ride that encompasses the right blend of old school nostalgia with a fierce ‘fuck off’ 21st century attitude. The intense energy of “Wasting/Save” with it’s spiralling riffs,…

Read More

the AU interview: Nick of Loon Lake (Melbourne)

Larry Heath catches up with Nick from Melbourne group Loon Lake to chat about their debut EP Not Just Friends, working with Robin Mai, how the band met, Big Sound, Red Riders and what we can expect next from the group… First up, congratulations on your debut EP Not Just Friends. It’s quite the fun…

Read More

Pikelet + Montero + Angel Eyes + Dick Diver – The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (13.05.11)

Local group Montero kicked off the night with a short set that was entertaining, although probably not in the way the band members intended. Their brand of synth heavy pop was catchy but rather generic. Making the best of having a small crowd to entertain, their lead singer danced wildly around with a tambourine before…

Read More

the AU interview: Fyfe Dangerfield of Guillemots (UK)

British indie wonders Guillemots are a band you may not be familiar with, but they are definitely an act you need to know. The four-piece have recently released their third studio album Walk The River, a collection of lush, delicately arranged pop tunes that simultaneously recall the sounds of classic ’80s romance and the exploratory…

Read More

the AU interview at Bluesfest: Warren Haynes (USA)

Larry Heath catches up with legendary American guitarist Warren Haynes – long time member of the Allman Brothers Band, The Dead and Gov’t Mule. Sitting down at the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, they discuss his solo album Man in Motion, working with the Dave Matthews Band and much more.

Read More

the AU interview: Tord Overland-Knudsen of The Wombats (UK)

The day after they played their final Groovin’ The Moo Festival show in Canberra, The Wombats returned to Sydney to play the Enmore Theatre. Larry Heath caught up with Bassist Tord Øverland-Knudsen from the group to talk about the Australian tour, their love letter to Japan “Tokyo”, his side project Sin, their new album (which…

Read More

Ben Sherman's Big British Sound with Ball Park Music + Strange Talk + Boy in a Box + Step-Panther – Gaelic Club (12.05.11)

Featuring a decidedly more ‘underground’ lineup than in 2010 or 09, the third annual Big British Sound event was downsized from the Metro to the Gaelic Theatre, and the ticket price was a ridiculously affordable $10. Throw in the fact that many guests were able to walk away with a couple of free drinks and…

Read More

the AU interview: Jonathan Pierce of The Drums (USA)

Just before they hit the Metro Theatre stage in Sydney (one of their Groovin’ The Moo Festival sideshows), Larry Heath sits down with The Drums‘ frontman Jonathan Pierce to talk about heir forthcoming record, touring Australia and more!

Read More

the AU interview: Jess Cornelius of Teeth & Tongue (Melbourne)

First up, congratulations on your sophomore LP Tambourine! You’ll be launching it around the country in June… what can fans of Monobasic expect from the album and from the tour? Thank you. It took a little while to get here. As far as the album goes, I think it’s a more focused, concept-driven album than…

Read More

the AU interview at Bluesfest: Bobby Long (UK)

Larry Heath catches up with emerging UK folk singer Bobby Long, at the Byron Bay Bluesfest 2011.

Read More

Young The Giant – Young The Giant (2011 LP)

Californian natives Young The Giant were the darlings of SXSW this year and contrary to the media hype surrounding the five-piece, their debut album sounds more like an exercise in corporate music marketing than it does a creative endeavour. The main problem with this record is not its lack of appealing tunes, but the fact…

Read More