This is fine.
When I first heard about the electronic musical stylings of Australian based band Pines a few years ago, I was immediately hooked. Since then, the band always finds some room on my playlists for pretty much any time and feeling. Their music just sort of works that way. As a fan of the band, it was an easy call for me to send them interview questions when they hit me up. Hit the jump for their thoughts on SXSW.
I feel like I’ve got a pretty good grasp of what’s going on in the Aussie music scene, but I haven’t heard of the slow jam stylings of Slow Dancer until today. The pop crooner is so new in fact, that he hasn’t quite made it to the States, though that will surely change after announcing he’s signed with ATO Records and has agreed to play at SXSW. His new video displays an understated groove to it, allowing plenty of room for his rhythmic voice to take on the focus. Shout out to one of the female stars in the video for her “Don’t Mess With Texas” t-shirt! Look for a new album from the project come Spring.
Since late last year, Dag has been pretty high on my musical radar. The band crafts this dreamily discordant rock n’ roll. It’d be easy to toss this act in the bin with the rest of their Oceanic peers, but there are some things that stick out to my ears that elevate the sound on Benefits of Solitude. You’ll hear some little bits of noise, be it squawking horns or string instruments stretched to the maximum of their tones. “Exercise” and “Guards Down” have to wear the badge of lead singles, but while those offer more swinging energy, don’t skip on some of the more subdued numbers like “Company” or “JB,” — the latter sounds a great deal like Tim Kasher. You might even just jump right in with my favorite, “Staying Up at Night.” Clearly, one run through, and you’ll find textured indie rock begging for repeated plays, so be sure to guarantee your listening by buying it from Bedroom Suck Recordsthis Friday
It’s fair if you haven’t heard of Sodastream, but that’s no reason not to spend a little time getting to know the Aussie act today. They’ve just released Little by Little, filled with careful wordplay and subdued indie folk. It reminds me of an odd cross between Weakerthans and Mountain Goats and Belle and Sebastian, with each note purposeful and each word poetically placed. There’s tons of great orchestration too, adding a layer of depth that builds the album up, giving you a more meaningful listen. Ready to be carried away by words and melody? Here’s the place.
I don’t know how the Aussie folks do it, but Dag is just another group in the long line of hitmakers coming across the sea. This particular tune seems to hit some discordant notes, only forcing you to focus more closely on the song’s construction…well-played. The casual attitude is perfect for the verses, wearing a heavy male vocal; it’s joined by a female counterpart during the choruses, which kicks up the endearing factor ten fold. This tune appears on the band’s new LP, Benefits of Solitude, and it should only be a matter of time before the rest of the States start clamoring for these guys; look for the LP on February 24th via Bedroom Suck Records.
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The blogosphere runs heavy with bands who know the right folks, so I’m always happy when I come across a gem that seems to have gone unfairly noticed. This new track from Biscotti has a propulsive synth groove that hooked me right away, with little no wave guitar chords stabbing in and out of the mix. I think the vocal playfulness is also an attractive feature in this track, moving back and forth between a clever spoken word and a gentle little coo. If you’re looking to dance a little differently, then check out the upcoming record, Instamatic, which is coming your way this week, courtesy of Listen Records.
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An earnest vocal jumps out at the beginning of this track, and that’s exactly how Good Boy caught me. Then they unfolded a bit of angular dreamy pop; it’s not filled with atmospherics, just a bit of an indifferent attitude. It should come as no surprise that the band hails from Australia, as that sounds in here, though that dream pop element creeping in is what ended up making the tune for me. The band just unleashed the Plum EP, and this hook-laden ditty is a great place for you to start your own love affair with the group.
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Thought I knew all the hot bands hanging out in Australia, but Hollow Everdaze is a new one to me. I was taken by the vocals at first…they fall into that range that really pulls on my emotions. But, the string arrangements that are used to fill in the space have absolutely helped elevate this track; it creates a level of familiarity that’s led me into a state of adoration. This gem of a tune is set to appear on the band’s debut album, which is slated for release in early 2017; I’ll let you know as I get more.
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Feels like as the year ends, folks are scrambling to get their last releases out into the world, with this new Lower Plenty high on my list of things to anticipate. Listening to their latest single, it definitely feels like this is the epitome of the great indie rock that’s come from Oceania the last several years. There’s no rush, just a casual plodding with a nice guitar ring to it. The vocals, like the guitars, just sit back and offer you warm melody, allowing you to pleasantly let the day drift by you. Look for their new album, Sister Sister, via Bedroom Suck Records on November 18th.
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You know how the story goes right? I’ve never heard of a band prior to today, but they impressed me with a memorable single… blah blah. You’ve heard it before and it’s happening again today with this new single called “Cupo” from Australian based act The Tambourine Girls. At its core, the song is most definitely of the psych rock genre and the band execute inside that sound quite well. Production is tight, the washed out vocals fit in perfectly, and musicianship is spot on. Carry on.
The Tambourine Girls will release their self-titled debut album on November 4th.
Download: The Tambourine Girls – Cupo
