No Zu Share Farewell Singles

It’s a shame that No Zu decided to call it quits earlier this year, but as we’ve seen, being a musician in the current climate is a challenge unto itself. But, as they say goodbye, the Australian outfit wanted to send you off with a fond farewell. The track began as a take on 23 Skidoo’s “Last Words,” but the group quickly made the instrumental tune their one, creating “one last bucket of Zu ooze” to share with the world. For me, it encompasses the energetic fusion of all great dance music, which is what the group always brought in their sounds…plus you get a great visualizer created by Bridget Trout and Jon DeNapoli. Join me in wishing the band a fond farewell! This track brought to you by the good folks at Chapter Music.

Friday Album Streams: Echo Ladies, Swansea Sound, Sharp Pins + More

It’s Friday, and while you gaze towards the weekend, maybe you need some musical recommendations to get your day started. I’ll try not to wax philosophically on these, as we’ve covered singles and what not heading into the album releases…so without further ado.

Swansea SoundTwentieth Century (Skep Wax Records)

Members of Pooh Sticks, Heavenly return with another great collection of pop rock with a subtle political bent.

 

Echo LadiesLilies (Rama Lama Records)

Dark, noisy and beautiful. One of my favorite releases this year I wish more people could put their ears upon.

Friday BoysDepressed Gang (Self-Released)

Good old fashioned punk rock from here in Austin. Now with more hooks! Friday’s jams from Friday Boys.

Kath BloomFinally (Chapter Music)

Chapter Music celebrate the 1990s recordings of Kath Bloom with the first ever vinyl release of Finally.

Sharp PinsTurtle Rock (Tall Texan Records)

Another “first ever” release for the solo-project of Kai Slater of current Lifeguard fame, courtesy of Tall Texan Records.

DAIISTARGood Time (Fuzz Club)

New up-and-coming Austin act drops their debut LP. Sweetness amidst walls of noise.

Yirinda Announce Debut LP

When I think of Chapter Music, I tend to think of the incredible pop coverage their label has provided to the world over the last 20+ years. But, they’re also huge music heads, digging into all genres and styles, particularly when its a representation of Australian culture. Their latest signing, Yirinda, is exactly that; it is the project of Samuel Pankhurst and Fred Leone. Fred is one of three Butchulla songmen, as such, he sings all the tracks on this record in Butchulla, an endangered language spoken by only a handful of people. As such, the album offers generations of storytelling for listeners, with this lush production that would find a home with acts like Balmorhea; the string arrangements move you back and forth, rocking you with Leone’s vocal tones. Yirinda, the self-titled debut, is out early next year!

The Native Cats Announce New LP, Share My Risks is Art

I was really stoked when the Native Cats got their whole back catalog up on the DSPs, but I honestly wasn’t expecting Chloe and Julian to jump out with a fresh record too! If you’re new to the band, you’ll hear them as the kindred spirits of modern post-punk, or maybe as a band looking back on that classic era of club punk from the early 2000s. For me, I find them straddling that territory, and as ever, making it entirely their own. It’d be easy to pull off the Rapture and throw frantic cymbal work all over this…and I’d love it. But, I love it more that that’s not where they travel; they seem more intent on using Chloe’s vocals to stake claim to the risks one takes as an artist, and more importantly, as a human being you can’t file or label. It’s bewildering and powerful, immediately making me run back and play it just to get it in my head again. They’ll release the Way on is the Way Off via Chapter Music on November 10th.

June Jones Signs With Chapter Music

When I look at labels that I love, one of the one’s I modeled ATH Records after (in my mind at least) was Chapter Music. The label, partially through our site, was perhaps known for great Aussie guitar pop with acts like Crayon Fields or Goon Sax. But, if you dug in deeper you’d see the label’s affinity for an array of artists from all walks of life, like their newest signing June Jones. “Good Girl” operates with this hyper pulse that’s definitely infectious, tugging you into the pulse even as the vocals come across with a bit of steadied calm. Every time I press play, I imagine what it’d be like if Stephin Merritt wrote club bangers, so I’m glad there’s an artist like June Jones to fill that void. Fall into those electropop vibes below.

The Native Cats Put Whole Back Catalog Up on DSPs

Admittedly, as a music journalist failure, I got into the Native Cats in a backwards sort of way, as I first fell in love with their singer Chloe Alison Escott (who did a Rock n’ Recipes with us!). But, if you’re like me, or have no point of reference whatsoever, you’re now in luck, as the kind (very kind!) folks over at Chapter Music have helped make the band’s entire catalog available for streaming on all the DSPs! You can now find your favorite Native Cats tracks from Dallas, John Sharp Toro, Process Praise and Always On! Expect a sound that’s right in line with where everything stands in the post-punk realm at present. So, take an act like Dry Cleaning and mix in the propulsive nature of Sleaford Mods, then throw in a stunner of a vocalist that’s going to keep you engaged on that end alone. Here’s a fun little playlist of the hits, as suggested by the folks at Chapter!

Chapter Music Share Another Single from the Particles Reissue

Slow days mean you can dive to the bottom of your emails and pick out the true gems, like this track from the Particles. You can immediately hear why everyone in our circle is so excited to get their hands on this 1980s Bubblegum reissue. A nice little shuffling guitar line runs underfoot, with the bob and weave from the bass lines while the drums play it extra snappy. It all reaches its apex when you toss it in with the candied vocals, just in case you needed something to sweeten the deal here. In addition to this single, Chapter Music have also made two other tracks available, giving you a total of 5 tunes to hear for those who are just being introduced to the charms. The reissue will be available on July 7th, with US folks able to grab it from Seasick.

Last Week’s Jams (5.1 – 5.5)

Last week started off with a smattering of great tunes, but I’ll admit to wearing out by week’s end…for some reason just felt like there wasn’t a whole lot out there tugging at me! We were really excited to share some great ATX stuff like the latest from Feeling Small and Johanna Heilman…with Alien Eyelid‘s great new single just a few hours away from our home base. Lots of acts we’ve been harping on had new singles, like Daisies, The Soft Walls; we also got a new single from one of our SXSW raves, Lifeguard. Oh, and we’re starting off with the Particles, as we’re over the moon they’re getting some reissue treatment from Chapter Music.

Chapter Music Announce The Particles Reissue

The incredible humans from Chapter Music have been sharing incredible Australian music with us for years, and as of late, they’ve also been dipping into the past to make sure various acts don’t go unnoticed. First it was Whadya Want? and now they’ve got a reissue of 1980s Bubblegum, a compilation from the Particles, which has all the indiepop and punk nerds really excited. Their sound is a little tough to pigeonhole, particularly as they seem to embrace elements of everything that was great about the underground musical scenes of the late 70s/early 80s…there’s a little punk, a little pop, and a willingness to take those sounds beyond and make something entirely new. Interestingly, they could slide right into everything we love about indiepop today, pushing hooks and bounce with a sharpness you don’t get elsewhere. If this sounds like something you might like, the label will reissue the release on July 7th. There’s also a great promotional video you can find HERE!

Chapter Music Reissue Whadya Want’s Skippy Knows

I don’t know much about Whadya Want, other than the band had an impact on the folks over at Chapter Music, who are some of my most reliable musical resources. So, when they sent over these tracks to let us know about their reissue of the band’s lone album, Skippy Knows, I figured it would only do us all justice to learn a little more about the band, if only through their hook-laden pop rock sounds. It’s a mixture of 80s dance club sounds, holding onto what was left of the post-punk of that period. Below, you get this groovy number that’s only here as a digital bonus track if you grab the LP; it reminds me of the sharpness of an Orange Juice track, so you can’t go wrong there. Skippy Knows will be reissued on April 14th.

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