Year: 2017

Lorde returns with two new tracks from her sophomore album, Melodrama, out June 16th

Ya girl Lorde is back! It’s been a little over two years since we fell in love with her breakthrough debut Pure Heroine and in the mean time, Lorde’s been busy starting her 20’s. Melodrama will be released on June 16th via Universal Music Australia and is already shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated…

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We take a look back at Jhené Aiko’s debut LP Souled Out

It was around this time last year that Jhené Aiko came to our shores to tour her debut studio album Souled Out. After a decade gaining the real world experience the unchosen path of teen stardom would have denied her, Souled Out has been cast as Aiko’s musical renaissance.  Since the album’s release in 2014, Aiko…

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Album Review: The Franklin Electric – This Is How I Let You Down (2016 LP)

Canadian four-piece The Franklin Electric have been moving and shaking in the folk scene since 2012, entering and winning a Nashville songwriting competition with over 8000 other bands from around the world. Flavoured with alternative pop, their debut LP This Is How I Let You Down layers perceptive lyrics with string-based harmonies, emotive piano chords and their self-proclaimed secret weapon, the…

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Blizzard announces StarCraft: Remastered coming mid-year

Blizzard Entertainment are revisiting their 1998 megahit RTS StarCraft, and its expansion StarCraft: Brood War, releasing a new high-definition version dubbed StarCraft: Remastered. The announcement was made by Blizzard president Mike Morhaime in Seoul, South Korea this afternoon at the I <3 StarCraft fan event. Hit the jump to see it in all its glory.

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Director Tommy O’Haver and writer Irene Turner on why we’ll love to hate Netflix’s The Most Hated Woman in America

Just released on Netflix, the biopic The Most Hated Woman in America is the true story of iconic Atheist activist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, starring a brilliant Melissa Leo in the title role. The film had is world premiere earlier this month at SXSW and while there, I sat down with the film’s director Tommy O’Haver…

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AF French Film Festival Review: A Woman’s Life (France/Belgium, 2016) is a melancholy look into a past patriarchal life

A dark, moving yet warming adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s classic novel Une vie is eloquently created in to a period arthouse picture by director Stéphane Brizé (The Measure of a Man), as a young woman comes to grasp the turmoil that unfolds around her in 19th-century France. The aesthetic of the film is created perfectly by…

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Handa Opera’s CARMEN spells out the opera in fierce red against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour (Performances until April 23rd)

CARMEN. Big block letters spell out the opera in fierce red against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, an outline of a bull back to back with the lettering. Nothing takes away from the thrill of gazing upon the stage at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour each year and seeing the cityscape stretch behind, but this…

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Dance Review: The Australian Ballet bring yet another triple bill masterpiece to audiences with Faster (performances commence in Sydney on April 7)

There is nothing quite like seeing a contemporary ballet reflect the world in which we live in. For such a traditional dance form where discipline is paramount in the execution of movement, to see such fluidity and freedom amidst the dancers is refreshing and forward-thinking. The Australian Ballet‘s Artistic Director David McAllister says this triple…

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National Theatre Live has done it again, this time with Hedda Gabler (In Select Cinemas from 1st April)

I officially have a new hobby – seeing any National Theatre Live film that comes to Australia. This is a genius concept that has been going on for a number of years but this particular viewing was my first time. Imagine being able to see the best of British theatre at the cinemas?! Genius I tell…

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MICF Review: Why you HAVE to see Trainspotting Live (Performances in Melbourne until April 13)

This will be the best night out at the theatre you will ever experience. But be warned; no one is safe. If you’re not into audience participation then this show probably isn’t for you but I’m telling you now if you miss this show you will be sorry. Fresh from sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival…

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Darlo Country Club launches Parisian inspired St-Germain brunch sessions (Sydney)

This past weekend was the beginning of a new weekly series at Darlinghurst favourite Darlo Country Club. The St-Germain Brunch Club will help transform the venue into an old-world Paris vibe with live music, a curated menu and, of course, bespoke Elderflower infused cocktails from now until September. Guests are transported to a 1920s Parisian…

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SXSW Film Review: Small Town Crime (USA, 2017)

Directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, Small Town Crime is a neo noir that isn’t here to reinvent the wheel, rather attempt to perfect itself as a genre piece. Not that it can be pigeon-holed. Part western, part crime fiction, part family drama, and a lot of noir, the film doesn’t cut any corners for…

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Travis Collins takes home three CMC music awards as 2017 winners are revealed

It’s been yet another incredible year of Australian country music, and what a better way to cap it off then with the 2017 CMC awards. Hosted by Morgan Evans, the award ceremony, now in its 7th year, is the only viewer voted country music awards in the industry, giving fans and listeners a real chance to back their…

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Spoon deliver Hot Thoughts to Sydney; captivate their audience free of gimmick

Thursday night, American act Spoon performed to a fully packed Metro Theatre, travelling in the wake of their latest release, Hot Thoughts. The most noticeable and impressing aspect of the band’s performance was its intentional understatement: the set was free of gimmick, distracting light design, or larger-than-life rock star ego, and yet was effectively captivating in…

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SLØTFACE (Norway) talk touring and new music at SXSW

Norway’s own SLØTFACE came to SXSW with a fiery live show to be brandished and brandish they did over their trip to Austin. We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with the band – Halvard Skeie Wiencke, Tor-Arne Vikingstad, Haley Shea and Lasse Lokøy – to find out how their SXSW had treated them as well as their…

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Allday shares new track from second album + announces national headline tour

This week Allday has taken a break from his usual Facebook banter to share a brand new single from his highly anticipated second album, as well headline tour dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane in July. “In Motion” is the rapper’s favourite song from the new album Speeding, and features glowing, electronic production from…

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Punk-rock legends Black Lips share new track from their eighth studio album, due May 5th

Returning with their eighth studio album and first new music in three years, Atlanta rockers Black Lips have revealed Satan’s graffiti or God’s art? is set for release May 5th on Vice Records. Black Lips have continuously shifted, evolved and endured the test of time to come out blazing as one of the most prevalent and significant…

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Mark Gable of The Choirboys on new music, touring and the magic of AC/DC

Mark Gable is the front man and founding member of the Australian hard rock band, The Choirboys. Formed in 1978, with Mark on lead vocals, Ian Hulme on bass guitar, Brad Carr on lead guitar and Lindsay Tebbutt on drums. He also penned the classic Australian anthem, Run To Paradise..

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Music Video of the Day: Baby Blue “Concentrate” (2017)

We can’t deny that we’ve been won over by Baby Blue‘s charm.The Melbourne group has recently swelled to a four-piece, and they just keep on delivering delicious tunes. They’re just about to finish up a residency at The Tote, have an anticipated EP due for release in April, and are the opening act for Boogie Festival…

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Winners of the AU review’s 4th Annual SXSW Awards announced

We’re excited to reveal the winners of the AU review’s 4th Annual SXSW Awards, which celebrates the best performances and events we caught at the Austin, Texas festival – and some of the disappointments too. BEST AUSTRALIAN GROUP All Our Exes Live in Texas There was no shortage of great Australian bands at SXSW this…

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PlayStation Store Celebrating A Decade of Downloads With Anniversary Sale

Sony Interactive Entertainment Australia is today celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Playstation Store and a full decade of downloads with great sales across a wide range of titles. To mark the momentous occasion, players can enjoy the ‘Only on Playstation’ sale, now live on the PS Store until April 5th. On sale are a…

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SXSW Interview: Animals co-creators Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano take acid and talk Bill Cosby

The second season of HBO’s animated series Animals just premiered, and in anticipation of its release I sat down with the series creators Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano at SXSW to talk about its return, Bill Cosby, warping minds, The Duplass Brothers (the series’ Executive Producers) and taking acid on 3-11. So I just came…

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SXSW Interview: Austin native Aaron Burns chats about his new Latino horror film, Madre and the need to create

Hot on the heels of the news that the global streaming rights to his new horror film Madre had been picked up by Netflix at SXSW 2017, our own Larry Heath sat down with the film’s director Aaron Burns for a chat that spans his career-to-date,  his process, a never-ending desire to create and the influences that…

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Full program revealed for 20th Annual Spanish Film Festival, including closing film The Trip to Spain

The Spanish Film Festival has just revealed the stellar line-up for its 20th anniversary, with a star-studded line-up of films featuring performances from Penélope Cruz, Steve Coogan, Maribel Verdú and Rob Brydon in a new installment of The Trip, alongside a whole plethora of brilliant Spanish films. The centrepiece film this year will be Berlinale…

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Love Actually legend Bill Nighy to tour Australia for Their Finest

Transmission Films have announced that the brilliant BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy will be travelling across Australia to promote his upcoming film, Their Finest with special event screenings in Sydney and Melbourne in April. “The opportunity to host an actor as beloved as Bill Nighy is an absolute privilege,” said Transmission Films…

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Director Sam Wainwright Douglas talks about releasing Through The Repellent Fence in Donald Trump’s America at SXSW

While at SXSW, we caught the brilliant documentary Through The Repellent Fence: A Land Art Film (read our review HERE). The film documents a Land Art project by Post Commodity, situated on the border between Mexico and the United States – the future home of Trump’s proposed border wall. I sat down with the film’s Austin based…

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Microtransactions: What Are They Good For?

Growing up playing video games, there was never any need to pay more after an initial purchase. You’d walk down to your local Toys”R”Us, pick up your brand new copy of Digimon World 3, plonk it in the disc drive of your scratched up PlayStation and you’d be off. If there was an issue with…

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Adam Suckling, CEO of The Copyright Agency discusses the Cultural Fund and bringing Indigenous stories to the classroom

Earlier this year it was announced that The Copyright Agency was to team up with remote publishing house Magabala Books, and the Australian Literary Educators Association to devise a series of specially created teaching resources for 15 Indigenous stories; which would then be made available to teachers via the Reading Australia website. These resources have…

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5 risqué acts to see at the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

There’s all manner of comedy at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, from theatre, to stand up to improv. We have already put together a bunch of great shows you go and see already. Some people like to go all out and either shock, deal with subjects that push the edge, or simply provide thought-provoking stuff…

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Tim Ennis shares the story behind BlenheimFest – returning to Clare Valley, SA for the 8th time this Easter

Now in its eighth year, BlenheimFest is a locally supported, volunteer run, not-for-profit festival, held on Good Friday at Blenheim in the Clare Valley, South Australia. This year they’re extending their event to two days – starting it on the Thursday – while they continue to raise funds for New Hope Cambodia and throw an…

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