Tag: melbourne

Gritty Number From Obscura Hail

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In my never ending quest to find some new tunes which offer a unique take on older genres, one need look no further than this new track “Doomer” from Melbourne based band Obscura Hail. The group, lead by Sean Conran, take elements of grunge rock and a sludge rock style and pair them effectively with some nice poppier elements and impressive vocal work. I especially love the unique fuzz sound coming through on the guitar throughout the song to give the track some real teeth. You gotta love this one.

Obscura Hail will be releasing a new EP entitled Siren on September 8th via Dot Dash/Remote Control.

Pop Filter Share Big Yellow Van

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While Pop Filter might be a new incarnation, the band’s members have been writing songs together for quite some time. One of the core songwriters, and is Lachlan Denton, whose voice always feels like home to me, whether its in the song he penned below, his solo work or his various other projects (with Emma Russack for one). Little keyboard stabs flesh out the tune from the start, building in some ambiance while the drums right the ship and the Denton stretches his voice across so perfectly. I love the crisps notes of the guitar; you can almost hear the warmth of the strings as they vibrate sound. The outfit will release their debut Banksia in August of this year!

Thibault Share Centrelink

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It’s never a bad thing when you can get Kathleen Hanna and Ad Rock to support your work, though I don’t much think that Thibault need that hype machine because this new single is pretty special. It’s both nostalgic and timeless, transporting the listener into this dreamy smoke filled bedroom in the 60s; the arrangements behind the vocals definitely hold the song in the present, from the horns to the electronic workings behind the rise and fall of the vocals. If I were to collect the perfect snippet from this track, I think the rise and fall of the “ahh” in the chorus is a sublime musical moment. Search in the lyrics to find a common global thematic element, as Nicole wrote the song in response to her struggles to get unemployment services during this pandemic. Or Not Thibault will be out on September 4th via the revered folks at Chapter Music.

Tram Cops Share Hometown

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When I imagine the sound of Melbourne, there is definitely an energy that comes to mind; I think that threw me for a loop when I first heard this brilliant new Tram Cops tune. In truth, it seems more fit to a back porch jam written here in our home of Austin, Texas. It’s this wispy little pop tune, bouncing along ever so carefully, drawing you in with little nuanced notes and sounds; see if you can hear the crickets. It’s just one of those unassuming tracks that gets stuck in your play rotation; it’s charming in its simplicity and rewarding listen after listen.

Sorry I Missed This: The Bell Streets

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Amidst all the global pandemic hoopla, it’s allowed that something truly great gets to slide by my ears, like the debut album from the Bell Streets. The band features Josh from Sugargliders/Steinbecks fame and Nick Batterham, for those of you falling the breadcrumbs of great indiepop stuffs. Opener “Brooklyn” is definitely one of the immediate highlights, offering a bouncy pop feel with ringing guitars and pure pop vocals. You’ll also find songs that are more contemplative in nature, though as rewarding, such as the slow burn of “Crying Inside” or “About to Find Out.” There’s a great amount of diversity within, so I highly suggest you check out Monument today!

Jarrow Shares Sauce Song and Flowerbed

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I’m always trying to figure out what’s going on in the Melbourne scene, and luckily I got an email that turned me onto Jarrow, which is the solo work of Dan Oke. He’s got a self-titled album slated for May release via Spoilsport Records, so why not toss out two tracks from said release. On “Sauce Song” we find Dan fairly synth driven, which isn’t always my cup of tea, but there’s something familiar in the chorus; it definitely sounds like everything that swirls around the pop indie scene. I liked the experimental flare that drew the song to a close. “Flowerbed” seems to burst brightly from the get-go; I like the way the vocals sort of jump high up, only to casually come down to Earth. Oke has these little vocal inflections here too that pack the punch, raising the tune above mere mimicry in the scene.

Another Ditty from Go Get Mum

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Don’t you dare let the slow tease of the guitars catch you off guard on this new Go Get Mum track, as this might be the pop tune to make today slightly less shitty. Once it kicks on, those guitars start to ring fast and quick; the vocals do their best to keep up with the frantic pace. Those angular notes and the harmonic gang vocals are just too good for you to turn away from; I also kind of feel like there’s hints of the Feelies in this number (probably just me, right?). Their new EP, Ok Now What, is out on Meritorio Records on March 20th. It’s so damn good!

Primo Share Perfect Paper

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Having already shared “Best and Fairest” from Primo‘s forthcoming LP, it only makes sense that we continue our personal hype machine for the band’s album with their newest single. What I love about the tunes we’ve heard from Sogni, like the one below, is that the band seem to have really settled into their skin as a group. The harmonies are spectacular, faintly outlining the band’s pop leanings. Here, the guitars ring out in this steady fashion, sort of holding court patiently with this crunchy sound; guitar layers get built in around to craft this wondrous wall of catchy discord. I love this record. It drops April 17th via Upset the Rhythm.

Pleased to Meet You: Brain Drugs

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It’s always great to find new stuff going on in the world, and this new single below has two great things to offer: 1) it’s the first release from new Aussie label Cannery Records and 2) Brain Drugs is a new project from Mike and Pete. Who are they? I can only surmise they’re the two hay-covered gentleman in the accompanying video (the costumes took 6 people and 2 weeks to construct!). Musically, they’re offering this sort of intoxicating instrumental synth and drum work; it’s rhythmic pulses find some magical way to crawl beneath your skin as you watch the grainy 8mm footage before your eyes. The steadiness and constraint are important, neither pushing or pulling the song in one direction, just holding the line, and you! Their debut album comes out this April.

Primo Announce Sogni LP with Best and Fairest

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Put everything down and do yourself a favor; you’ve got to press play on this Primo pop tune. Guitars jump out of your speaker as the rhythm section gurgles just beneath the mix, allowing the vocals to coolly charm you with this measured indifference. Suddenly, the rhythm picks up the pace and you’re presented with the repeated titled as the chorus; all this makes way for a post-punk interlude that sets up the next verse. While the song seems frantic and destructive, the vocals serve as this gravitational pull, drawing on just the slightest pop sensibility to suck you into the song. The band will release Sogni on April 17th via Upset the Rhythm and Antifade.

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