8 posts tagged “australian”

The Drones

Just a quick one here. After being on the scene for quite a few years now, I've never been a huge fan of the Melbourne band, The Drones; just not my thing. But don't get me wrong, The Drones do what they do (epic, dreamy, well-constructed rock) extremely well. So they are very much worth a mention. The news that I'm wishing to share with you is that although their latest album Havilah was released months ago (March 2009) in Australia The Drones have added US dates to their upcoming Havilah Tour. Support includes Model/Actress (USA) and Bridezilla (Aus), so well worth nipping along.

There's no shortage of dates, so whether you be in the US or, it seems, in any city in Europe (slight exaggeration), you'll get a chance to see them in the near future. Some of the closer dates include:

September 9 - Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
September 15 - Schuba's - Chicago, IL
September 16 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
September 17 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
September 18 - Cafe DuNord - San Francisco, CA

Just a little sample to whet your appetite, have a listen to the tune, Nail It Down, from their live album recorded at The Hi Fi Bar in Brisbane. The live record is set to be released later this year. 

http://thedrones.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/thedronesthedrones
http://atpfestival.com

Dappled Cities
I've always had a soft spot for Dappled Cities although I must admit I've kinda let me interest slide over recent time. Have they been hiding? or has living in suburbia alienated me that much?

What's to love about Dappled Cities? Well... many things. What I mostly value about their music is the variety in their songs. From mellow, soothing, chill-out type tunes to feel-good pop songs that force you to get up and have a little dance. I must also say that, as a bonus, they do put on a splendid live show.

So what's the news? It seems I haven't really been that out of touch after all, the band have been spending time in the US... I can't be expected to be keeping up with all this news!. The big news is that this Sydney band have recently released their third album, Zounds, which happened to debut at #1on the Australian Independent Music Charts... and will be released in the US on September 15th. (An interesting fact: all 12 songs on the album feature the sounds of a "Gakken" – a $40 build-it-yourself cardboard synthesiser from Japan)

The first single, The Price, has a bit of a disco feel. But what's new about this track, to me, is the inclusion of a string section, intermingled with that infectious indie pop that they are best know for. I'd have a dance. I have yet to hear the entire album, but off the back of their first single, I'm sure to be hunting it down in the near future.

If you happen to be in Perth, you are in luck. You can catch the final show of their Wall of Zounds tour tonight at the Norfolk Basement in Fremantle... run!

http://www.myspace.com/dappledcities
http://www.dappledcities.com

The Grates
Look at these guys, awww.... everything appearance-wise about The Grates oozes cuteness and fun (feel free to look at their website for further evidence), but don't be fooled too easily. There's a definite rawness to The Grates, guitar-rich pop songs, complimented by the voice of Miss Patience Hodgson, which can sway from sugary sweet to rock vixen-esque in a matter of seconds within the same song.

Since bursting on to the scene several years ago (with their debut album Gravity Won’t Get You High) The Grates rose to an immense level of popularity in Australia and not for the first time, they are set to head overseas on the back of their latest, self-co-produced album, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. (Due to be released in Canada and the US on September 15th)

I can assure you that these guys put on a splendid show and i whole-heartedly advise you to pop along if they happen to be swinging through your neighbourhood. Check there website (or their MySpace page for show dates).

http://www.myspace.com/thegrates 
http://www.thegrates.com
http://www.twitter.com/thegrates

The Scare
Originally from Queensland, The Scare now spend a great deal of time in the UK. The other day i managed to pop along to the album launch of their new release Oozevoodoo. I must say I was concerned that I'd have a terrible time. Just reading about them before the show... "It is abrasive but clear, we like being noisey but channeling it in a fashion that you can still make out the melody", I was a little apprehensive that it'd be some kind of horrid punk monstrosity. But what do you know! It was excellent. I haven't heard the album itself, but what I can say is The Scare are an excellent live band. The tunes are a bit more heavy than i'm used to, but there was no absence of melody, which i loved.The frontman, Mr Kiss Reid, channels enthusiasm and entices the crowd to feel the tunes rather than just stand there watching like a stunned mullet.

So, on that note.... here are some live dates that I feel you should pop along to:
Sept 5 - Hobart - Republic Bar Sun
Sept 6 - Launceston - Hotel New York
Sept 9 - Albury - Sodens
Sept 10 - Wollongong - The Harp
Sept 11 - Sydney - Gaelic Club
Sept 12 - Central Coast - Coaster Festival
Sept 17 - Adelaide - Fowlers Live
Sept 18 - Perth - Rosemount Hotel
Sept 19 - Bunbury - Prince of Wales
Sept 20 - Fremantle - Newport Hotel
Sept 24 - Maroochydore - Sands Tavern
Sept 25 - Gold Coast - Miami Tavern
Sept 27 - Brisbane - The Step Inn

http://www.myspace.com/thescare
http://oozevoodoo.blogspot.com/

And with that... it's time to bake some scones.

Sally
sally@weheartmusic.com

100 best songs ever!
As you know, Australians have the best taste in music. This weekend Australian radio station, Triple J, is counting down the Hottest 100 of all time. I recall, in the past, I have made a post regarding the annual Hottest 100 that Triple J broadcast every Australia Day (January 26th).

Basically, for this event, the public were invited to vote for up to 10 songs that they regarded as being the best songs of all time. Easy! Voting was not just limited to Australians, so my first statement could potentially be wrong, but an interesting exercise all the same. It is this weekend that they are now counting down the top 100, well worth a listen.

(Although i guarantee my 10 wont be in there.... well not all of them anyway)

I'm posting this because you, right now, can click HERE and listen along. Hurry! They've started!


Pocketbooks
The last time I used the word "cute" in a review I got a little bit of piss taken out of me, but from what I have in front of me with respect to the London-based outfit, Pocketbooks, "cute" is one of the first words that springs to mind. It's pop, indiepop.... the cutest kind. *covers head ready for arse-kicking*.

Footsteps is the name of the song I'm referring to. It's the pretty harmonies, the simple beat, the uncomplicated lyrics and the catchy catchy tune.

I'd like to hope that the rest of the tracks from the debut album, Flight Paths, are as this lovely, but alas i have not heard it. But you can hear some more of their tunes on their MySpace page.

The song is available on iTunes, and you can also download it free here:
Pocketbooks - Footsteps (MP3)

And you can watch a video for the song here:
Pocketbooks - Footsteps (Video)



Where's Jerome

Are you in Australia?

Well do I have some thing pleasant for you!

Sydney three-piece Where's Jerome have had their latest tune, Into The Ocean, made single of the week this week on iTunes.... unfortunately it's only available to iTunes users in Australia.

So.... Download it FREE all week from iTunes! Hurry. Click on the link below!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=322312905&s=143460

For more info (or if you're not lucky enough to be standing on these fair shores) you can look here:
http://www.wheresjerome.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wheresjerome


That's all for today.

Sally
sally@weheartmusic.com

What do you need to know today? Well… whether you need to know any of this or not, it’s probably best that you do. Here’s a few totally unrelated gems that have either landed in my inbox or lap over the last couple of weeks.

6000 Year Peach

This is the first digitally released album Soma Dose by 6000 Year Peach, Brisbane artist who we have covered before. Soma Dose is an album of electronic music, best suited (in my opinion) as a hangover soundtrack…. when mixed with a light spattering of bacon and egg roll. Smooth and chilled, no brain strains here. It’s a big step up from the previous release, an obvious improvement in recording skills and a better grasp of what makes an excellent and well-rounded album.

You can hear two tracks from Soma Dose on the 6000 Year Peach MySpace page, "Smile for me e new everything" and "Back to my place” and the album should now be available on itunes, amazon and emusic.

For more info, head here: www.myspace.com/6000yearpeach.

Mimas

Mimas Mimas - Cats on Fire Mimas

It has to be a special reason for me to review a single song. After receiving an email on behalf of the band, Mimas…. I thought ‘how bizarre’. This was the strangest email I'd received in ages. The only person to send me more bizarre emails is my crazy cousin in London who sends me photos of "aliens" (pieces of modern art).

It was only recently I was having a conversation with a group of friends about bands to come out of Denmark…. other than Aqua we were stumped…. And one participant in this conversation was Danish. I now have some additional ammunition if this topic ever comes up again.

Mimas are a band from Denmark who will be releasing their record, The Worries, in June. The song that they sent through to us was a delightfully named tune called “Cats On Fire”. Before I say anything about the tune itself I advise to have a squizz at the film clip for it. It’s hilarious and I quote “contains everything from bank robbers, violence, sex and blood! Only with sock puppets instead of humans.” Gold.

Cats On Fire is a tune with many facets. It begins smoothly and simply, guitars and trumpet. The lyrics….. well don’t ask me, I don’t have a clue. By the end it becomes quite heavy…. yelling included.

These guys do seem fun though. Just an excerpt, in the form of a short interview, from the email we received:

Where are you from?
We're from the future. No just kidding. We were formed in 1960 and then we broke up and reunited in 2004 with the name Mimas and Papas, but now we just like Mimas more. We live in the only country in Scandinavia where you can get seriously drunk without being the poorest person on earth the day after. Booze is cheap here!

Why are you named Mimas?
We really think that most good artists start with a M. Megadeth, Madonna, George Michael.... So we were really sure about the M. Imas we came up with while playing squash. It's a mental condition.

How would you define you?
If you would think of a mix between the old Take That and then take some of Ice Cubes solo stuff and put in a bit of the more melodic Norwegian Black Metal you would be completely off. We're just way more indie than that.

Your record will be out in the US on June 2009 on Distile Records and it will be distributed via MVD entertainment group. How is everything going so far?
Well. Very well. All we ever wanted since we were small kids on the playground shitting our pants and eating dirt was to make music and play it for people.

Anyway, if I were you I’d check them out. 

MySpace: www.myspace.com/mimas
Website: mimassite.com

Dan Bull

Safe is the debut album from English solo artist, Dan Bull. When I saw that someone had made the call that Dan Bull was “The Streets meets The Smiths”, I thought… brilliant! I do like The Smiths, The Streets…not so much. Unfortunately I can’t really hear any sprinklings of The Smiths in the album. The Streets... ooh yeah..... but what’s great about Dan Bull is that he sounds NOTHING like Mike Skinner (his voice drives me bonkers).

I would describe it as indie hip hop. It’s not pure hip hop by any stretch of the meaning. It’s actually very original. As I said, it IS like The Streets, but sooo much better. Better, that is, if you appreciate musicality rather than words alone. Thistopia is almost bordering on pop. Overall, very danceable (except for the title track Safe, which could be quite easily matched as the soundtrack to the scary bits in a Scooby Doo episode).

He also pronounces the word “year” like the guy who narrates a certain documentary series I occasionally watch on the history of the monarchy within the British Isles. Not sure why that matter…. Other than it makes me slightly giggle every time I hear it.

Check it! http://www.myspace.com/danbull.

What?

Just something completely left of field, which I find totally hilarious and awesome at the same time. Do you have bucketloads of cash? Do you live near the water? Have you ever wanted a giant guitar? Then click here: CLICK

Australian solo artist, Josh Pyke, is selling his guitar boat. It’s up for auction so that you can buy it for yourself…. or for me. You'd also be doing your bit for charity (Indigenous Literacy Project).

If you'd just rather listen to more of what Josh has to offer musically, pop along to his website: www.joshpyke.com

Sally
sally@weheartmusic.com

 09/02/2008 00:59:20  ♥ written by vu ()

What's the go with that? Is it some sort of conspiracy? Does having a dude with an Amish-style beard in your band make your sounds more pure? Perhaps.

Anyway... arriving back from a tough 6 weeks in Europe and catching up on a few reviews they were backed up and I've noticed this somewhat startling fact.

So here we go. Two Australian bands/artists. Both very folky. Both producing some of the best music to vacuum / go on a car trip to Dubbo with.

Sal Kimber is very much a soloist with a backing band. There's something about her that you can instantly tell that she's obviously:
1. grown up in the country (the Australian country - you can't get away from that unmistakable Aussie twang)
2. been playing music for quite a while

The debut album, Sounds Like Thunder, The songs are both beautiful and catchy. The overall sound is warm and rich in texture. Her band, the Good Ole Boys, defiiinitely compliment her voice perfectly.
Plus, i dont think you can go wrong with a banjo and a piano accordian (unless you leave me alone in a room with them, of course).

Standout track for me is MET Police. Asside for being completely true lyrically, it's probablyu the most catchy and and as i sit here listening to it now I feel a great urge to do a small jig.

You can look and listen to Sal Kimber at some of these places:
http://www.salkimber.com.au
http://www.myspace.com/salkimber

Lamplight on the other hand are a definte 5-piece. When i mentioned Sal Kimber and her Good Ole Men produce a texture rich sound.... that's nothing compared to Lamplight.

Lamplight, is their (self-titled) second LP release...two songs recorded in Old Castlemaine Gaol (Swallowing the Key and Image House)... quite fitting when you listen to the lyrics... but the acousitcs in that place must have been amazing.

Only 8 songs in total... but each feels more epic than the next.

A thick rich sound, a vast array of instruments, the sounds of which intricatly weaved together. Strings, woodwind, piano, vocals, drums, melodies, harmonies, girls, boys.... ooh!

Gotta love the clarinet... of course, i am biased.

Now, I can hear you saying "where can i see these guys?"... well all hope is not lost. Lamplight are venturing Northward to play the Popkomm festival in Berlin in October and then venturing around some of the rest of Europe. So keep your ears to the ground... the internet knows all!

Look at them and Lamplight related stuff here: http://www.lamplight.com.au/ (and spot the spelling mistake)

And look! It seems that Lamplight have just relased their debut album The Fish Will Walk... Brilliant!


One more little thing.... just a small mention. I was recently trudging around a field in wellies at Summer Sundae in Leicester. I was delighted to stumble across a band that I had not heard of (but feel free to abuse me if you have).... Reverend and the Makers. Check it for youself. Just three more words... dirty dirty accents.

That's it!

Sally
 

Vu wrote: Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 10:08 PM

Reverend and the Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World

Sally, I wanted to add that Reverend and the Makers are one of the earliest band that we covered. To bring you up to date: in March 2007, Mads wrote about them, stating

Reverend And The Makers is one of those UK bands that has been getting lots of attention through Internet music forums and extensive gigging

In January 2008, guess what's playing on my iPod non-stop?

I love this song, and lately it's been playing nonstop on my iPod since Reverend and the Makers' debut album The State of Things, released September 2007.

It would seem that they've made their round to you.

Focusing on the top 10. I guess you could say that the songs were pretty much all expected to be up there.

The Panics - winners of a JJJ award for their album "Cruel Guards" another of the volumous brilliant bands that come out of Perth (my theory is because there's not a great deal else to do there).... *ahem*

Daft Punk have had a massive come back this year just passed (not that they really ever completely went away). I too agree that they're quite awesome in the realms of electronica, but another case of "i like your old stuff better than your new stuff" exists in my heart for these guys.

Faker - well... i've said all I need to say about Faker. but i admit, appealing to the vast masses by giving them that standard brand of rock that is by no means, bad.... just boring.

Both Silverchair and the John Butler Trio made several appearances throughout the day. And deservadly so.

The only similarities between these two bands is that they are based in Australia, pump out some crazily catchy tunes and have singers who could well be mistaken for hippies. Although I must say that anyone who grows up in the Australian coastal city of Newcastle, as is the case for young Daniel Johns (and myself) and doesn't turn out as a surfy wanker, it's thumbs up from me. It was easier for me being a hater of sun, sand and also being female.

I can't say i'm a big John Butler Trio fan, but talentless they are not. Their songs are well constructed and meaningful.

In the case of Silverchairs' 'Straight lines', more than one person had picked this as being the number 1 song for the day. I was inclined to agree. In my opinion, there were not obvious stand out songs of 2006.

So when i came time to huddling round the radio, beer in hand, to find out what that number one song was, we were all in quite a state of confusion. What other bands had released albums in 2007?

No idea.

And I must say, the fact that Muse came in at #1 was a huge surprise. Considering that their latest album, Black Holes and revalations, was relased in 2006.

Oh well.... another year over.
You can listen to it here, if you so desire.

So remember, no matter where you are in the world you are this coming December, voting is open to everyone! So start writing down the names of those catchy songs now.

Have a good one!  Sal
p.s. you ca listen to JJJ online... just pop in here.

The Panics - 'Don't Fight It'

Straight Lines - Silverchair