Tag: australia

New Jam From Loulou

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Wandering what’s hot from Australia? I mean, I usually am. That’s where I found the latest tune from Loulou, which should definitely have you keeping your eye on the band’s brand of rambunctious indie rock. The band name references to Eddy Current and Parquet Courts, but I can hear bits of Wedding Present in the guitar playing; I also hear touches of our friend Santi (Growl/DaphneTunes), though I’m sure that’s purely unintentional. This trio keeps churning out these great bops that wear badges from your favorite genres, yet always seem to somehow escape being perfectly pigeonholed; they’re creating their own recipe of rock n’ roll and I’m totally on board.

Dag Share Who Own’s Pain Single

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When I heard that Dag were putting together a double LP, I was a little shocked, wondering how they’d get all those song together. But, as more leaks come out from the release, it seems you really get all these different vibes from the band, which has me rather excited. I love the sort of baroque pop attitude of this new single, sort of plodding along like a marching band down the streets, albeit one with a bit of an Aussie twist. Subtle backing vocals add a further texture that’s equally enchanting…I mean, who doesn’t like the “ba ba ba da da” moment in the song’s late end? Pedestrian Life sounds like its going to rip; it drops on June 25th via Bedroom Suck Records.

The Goon Sax Announce Mirror II

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Through two albums, the Goon Sax have been nearly flawless with their brand of jangling guitar pop, but as they announce Mirror II, their third LP, it sounds like they’re taking some chances. In this tune, both the video and the song seem to have this heavy anxiety, almost a sense of foreboding; it’s a weight that even seems to hold the chorus down, with Riley and Louis seemingly holding back where they’ve been buoyant before. Still, that little change has me drawn to the tune like a moth to the light; I particularly like Riley’s vocal performance just as the song fades to nothing but synths and drums at the 3 minute mark. They’ve changed things up a bit, while still managing to sound wholly like the vibrant pop band that seemingly sprung out of nowhere; I’ve got to applaud them for pushing their sound into new territory. I look forward to hearing more from Mirror II…out July 9th via Matador Records.

Quivers Share Chinese Medicine Video

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At this moment, I’m not sure anyone’s writing timeless pop music quite like Quivers; Sam Nicholson has dialed into peak songwriting, and with his band’s arrangements, they’re crafting some truly unforgettable tunes. This latest single opens much the way you’d expect, with semi-wayward jangles and Nicholson’s voice; the steady beat keeps things moving, giving the listener this undeniable connectedness. Soon, a synth note twinkles in the far off night sky, matched by some very faint backing vocals that build towards a burst…a shooting star of pop falling across the song’s skyline. While all this goes on, sit back and watch the great video animated by Jordan Thompson of the Ocean Party; I’m a big fan of the line work there. But, the song’s not done, as the vocals swell, joined by more of a backing chorus, letting the guitars ring silent as the song fades into a tinkering piano line that eventually disappears into the world. Just another string pop number from the forthcoming Golden Doubt, out on June 11th via Ba Da Bing/Bobo Integral/Spunk.

Shrapnel Annoucne Alasitas

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Shrapnel have been toiling around Australia for a hot minute, and now they’ve got a brand new record on the way courtesy of Tenth Court. This time around, the band have expanded their line-up, adding new instruments to flesh out their sound beyond the confines of jangling pop rock. Here you get a subtle nod towards psychedelia, with faint little woodwind nuances layered over the guitars. It almost feels out of place, but in the best way, reinventing the pop of 1970s communes and filling it with this new vibrant nature that makes it magical in its own way; you’re honestly not sure what direction they’re going, or where they’re taking their cues, but your ears are rewarded with every textural note. Alasitas drops on June 11th.

Dag Share Another Single from Pedestrian Life

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There have already been a couple records dropping this year that have absolutely charmed me, making them (in my mind) better than anything else. While this is on the second single from Pedestrian Life, I can feel that this forthcoming Dag LP is going to weasel its way into that 2021 pantheon of greats. I was sold at the open, with careful guitar notes staggering in off-kilter, matched by great strings and; they’re soon joined by harmonica and a catchy little rhythmic bounce. You get all that in the first minute, quickly followed up by overlapping vocals, one more of a spoken-sing-song with the other operating in a more melodic registry; this is the little nugget I put in my pocket to carry away. Is it weird that I want this song soundtracking the next year of my life? Pedestrian Life is out June 25th via Bedroom Suck Records.

Methyl Ethel Brings Another Hit

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Our Western Australian friend Jake Webb, and his musical project known as Methyl Ethel, has been praised many times on these here pages of ATH over the years. We are typically not much into straight pop music so we’ve always been down for the more alt-pop approach coming from the recordings of Webb. After the criminally underrated Hurts to Laugh EP from last year, Webb is back with this new banging single called “Neon Cheap”. This might be one of the most danceable tracks we’ve ever heard from Methyl Ethel and once again offers some incredible pop music for the more alternative/indie listeners. This should be on your weekend playlist.

Deuce Share Antipodes Video + Album Announcement

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I’ve been writing about Curtis Wakeling’s music for almost a decade, first with his project Velcro, then later as a member of Ocean Party and Pop Filter. But, like many of the folks on his side of the great big pond, there’s always another project brewing; this time he’s working with Kayleigh Heydon under the name Deuce. Kayleigh’s controlling the vocal role on this single, nearing some of the tonal notes that you’d find on a Beach House record, though Curtis does add some subtle backing notes to her voice as well. Musically, the song has this misty quality, almost this foggy solemnity as it floats, filled with these delicious little nuanced moments. Fittingly, that accompanying mood seems to match with the theme, as Heydon notes the song is about the pain associated with longing for things you don’t have, in regards to relationships. I reckon that plays a part in the song’s title with Kayleigh in Melbourne and her family in Manchester. Deuce will release their self-titled debut on June 16th via Dinosaur City.

Dom and the Wizards Announce New LP

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Dom Trimboli perhaps is best known on our site for his work with Wireheads, who we’ve covered a bit, but his other project Dom and the Wizards is offering something refreshing new. A familiar beat opens the first few seconds before twisting into this plodding maraud akin to classic bard deliveries. It’s like a Renaissance Fair jester serenading you through the kaleidoscope of pop music; violin and light strumming accent the storytelling delivery of vocals, more often than not, spoken and not sung. I found this tune leading me down a path where the rest of the stuff in my box just felt really really mundane. You’ll hear this track on The Australian Cyclone Intensity Scale, which drops on April 2nd via Tenth Court.

Stream This: Cool Sounds + Toledo + Kelly Duplex

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It’s Friday…and I just wanted to point you in the direction of some jams that have been on rotation around these parts, just in case you don’t have the time to really browse through the web and find that magic. So here’s a couple of suggestions on my end.

Cool Sounds are an Aussie outfit we’ve supported for some time, and today they release Bystander around the world. For me, I’ve been drawn to “Back to Me” since I first heard it, so I’m sticking with that as my favorite slow burn on the LP, but, there’s this subtle sunlight from “South of France.”

And, earlier this week we tossed out a tune from Toledo, and the band drop their Jockeys of Love EP today. It’s a collection of well written ballads with just a faint hint of that subtle emo sound; it reminds me a lot of Good Morning, offering just good clean guitar tunes to bounce around in your head.

Kelly Duplex‘s debut LP is something I’ve been raving about the last few months, sharing every little single I could. Well, today’s the day you get to hear it in its entirety, courtesy of Strange Daisy. Plus, if you’re a collector of vinyl, you’ve got to see all the limited edition colors they’re offering…on top of these rad songs!

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