With a massive day of Vivid behind me, I moved onto FBi Social at Kings Cross Hotel to close out my night, catching an acclaimed Vivid artist who I unfortunately missed earlier in the week: Manchester’s Wu Lyf. Having sat down with Ellery and Tom of the group a few days prior (you’ll be able…
Read More
I kicked off an epic day of Vivid early, catching Yo Gabba Gabba! ahead of some fascinating chats at Creative Sydney. Dubbed “Creative Futures”, today’s talks were streamed live online, so I hope you had a chance to catch it too! The segment “Building the Brand” was of particular mention, with intriguing insight into the…
Read More
Just after their Sophomore album Puzzle was released in Austraila, I had the opportunity to talk with violist Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir of the Icelandic band Amiina, perhaps best known for their collaborations with Sigur Ros. We chat briefly about the new album, working on a soundtrack to Lotte Reiniger’s animations and what’s coming next for…
Read More
The Grates (or at least two out of three of them…) are back! They have delivered a brilliant new music video for “Turn Me On”, taken from their new album Secret Rituals, out June 17. The clip was directed by Dimitri Basil, who has provided a little bit of extra info: “The main concept was…
Read More
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
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
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
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
“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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
