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You all know we love our Australia, so their latest export, Stonefield, seemed like the perfect act to check in with this week, just before the band heads overseas to the festival for the first time. The four psych-rock sisters are prepping a new album for release later this year, so keep your eyes peeled, and expect to hear a few new tunes at this year’s fest.
I’ve been following Bloody Knives pretty closely the last several years. The band play an abrasive version of modern dream pop/shoegaze, filling in their tracks with buzzing guitars and a warmth in the vocals that somehow manages to steady the ship for listeners. Their latest effort, I Will Cut Your Heart Out for This, already has an ominous attitude, and the single below fulfills that darkened omen with shrieking walls of guitars. But, perhaps the reason I’ve come to respect the band is that they manage to juxtapose that darkness with a gentle beauty, be it in central melodies or the vocals…it never disappoints. There aren’t too many, if any, acts around pulling this off…this well. Look for the LP on April 15th via Saint Marie Records.
After the exceptional “Boyfriend” single, my expectations for the Goon Sax debut album were riding super high. Their new single takes on a slightly different stroke, but it’s keeping it’s lofty aim. There’s a slower pace hanging out in this song, similar to other Australian artists who’ve been unfairly titled dole-wave. What’s most astonishing is how polished and perfect these tracks are, and the band themselves aren’t even in their twenties. This IS the next great Australian band, I promise you that. Look for Up to Anything on March 11th via the ever-reliable Chapter Music.
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Didn’t want to dwell too much on the softer, ethereal side of the musical world today, so wanted to make sure my last contribution was a good little bit of pop rock…courtesy of Culture Abuse. The San Fran band is preparing to release their debut album, Peach, and this should definitely give those in the garage rock circle something to be excited about; it packs a punch while filling your ears with some hooks. Look for the record on April 6th via 6131 Records.
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The new EP from Beloved Elk made its way to my computer from overseas, like a gentle godsend cruising atop the waves. The two-piece are perfect at building quiet pieces where every note is intentional, every beat serving a purpose. The Close EP has five new tracks, and it’s been issued by Listen Records…serving my favorite Melbourne area. Just feel like as my body begins to hit that post-lunch haze, this song is perfectly fitting. Try it for yourself, just don’t fall asleep at your desk.
Full disclosure, Roaring Sun is a young new band in Austin, and I actually taught one of these kids long ago…but I didn’t expect his musical tastes to progress (nor his songwriting). Listening to the first single he sent my way, it takes some modern touches a la Cut Copy, but there’s also a feeling that it owes some of the electronic flourishes to Grandaddy. It’s exciting that these guys are so young, and can come out with such polished production. They have a show tonight at Cheer Up Charlies too…with other young acts, The Cuckoos, The Spoils and the Avocados. Enjoy this upbeat number.
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Eerie Wanda hadn’t really come up on my radar until I started thumbing through the SXSW listings, but I’m glad to have found the act, moving them high upon my list of bands I want to catch. They’ll be releasing their new album, Hum, on Beyond Beyond is Beyond this week, and pop fans will clamor to get their hands on it. At moments, the band recalls Camera Obscura, but there’s also a darker edge in the guitar chords, which creates a different sound that’s not really being utilized by any other acts. Spend some time with this track, and grab the album when it comes out tomorrow.
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I really enjoyed Skeptic Goodbye, the debut from You Won’t, but I haven’t heard anything from the band since then…until yesterday. They’ve just announced the release of their new effort, Revolutionaries, which is going to be handled by Extraneous Music. Their sound has always been difficult to identify, working within the confines of indie rock, Americana and folk music. This song shows the band fleshing out their sound a bit more, filling in some of the empty space that might have been audible on their debut. The record comes out on April 29th, and they’ve also got a video for the tune HERE, if you’re into the visual affects.
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Australia’s Spookyland are a few months away from their release of Beauty Already Beautiful, but they’re hoping to continue building some buzz Stateside with their appearance at SXSW. We caught up with Marcus from theband for a few quick words on their visit. Props to him early on for his love of Robert Forster.
I really love the sound that PLAZA are unleashing into the world. It’s part indie rock, but there’s also an intricate guitar element that’s often labeled as mathematical rock. For my two cents, the band lives somewhere in between the space left by Foals and Field Music, using these sounds to craft hooks in a more artistic manner. No exact word on a full length, but this new single will be available over the weekend. It’s not your average fare, and I’m definitely down with that.
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