Month: September 2011

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Nightfall” – Bec Plath

When she’s not keeping company with The Bloodpoets, Bec Plath is creating incredibly moving music as a solo artist. Her EP Unrequited was one of my favourite releases of 2010, and I was thrilled to see her follow it up with another stunner in Nightfall.

There are just four tracks on this short player, which makes it a bit bittersweet. I was captivated from the opener “Obsession,” a song driven by a dark Tori Amos-esque pounding piano. It could easily become too gloomy, but it’s balanced beautifully with its strong melodic core. “What I Was Waiting For” floored me with its passionate delivery and lyrics. It seemed all too soon when the opening strains of “At The End of the Night” began to close this release. This tune starts sweetly, showing a softer side of Bec, but it builds beautifully to become something much bigger.

Nightfall sees Bec Plath delivering more lush and powerful music. It’s another stellar EP from this Queenslander. It only poses the question, when will this incredible talent treat us to a full length album?

Image source: Bec Plath Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gotye Makes It Five in a Row

Gotye’s made it five in a row after retaining the top spot on the ARIA Singles Charts again this week. In doing so “Somebody That I Used to Know” has enjoyed the longest stay at the top of any Aussie single since Gabrielle Cilmi clocked up five weeks with “Sweet About Me” in 2001. The last act to better the feat was Savage Garden who spent eight weeks on top in 1997 with “Truly Madly Deeply.” Can Gotye better the Brisbane duo?

The single’s success has also helped Gotye’s album Making Mirrors jump back to number two this week, up one spot from last week. He’s sharing time in the top 10 with fellow Aussies Pete Murray, who sits at number six with Blue Sky Blue, and Icehouse who’ve slipped only a couple of spots to number seven with White Heat: 30 Hits.

Click below for this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Gotye Makes It Five in a Row” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Friday Pick Me Up from Kate Vigo

It’s been one hell of a week for me. While earlier I was looking for music that soothes, as I sat alone in my empty house this afternoon, with my husband en route to America, I was after a pick-me-up. I found it in “Wanna Run” a deliciously playful slice of indie pop from Melbourne’s Kate Vigo.

There’s a lovely retro Cure-esque quality to this tune that had me dancing around my lounge room in my PJs. Hey, I’m here with only the cat watching, so why not? While the good vibes of this tune hit the spot, it’s the lyrical depth behind the melody that makes things really interesting. This song speaks of the struggle of finding your own path in life so eloquently. I’m impressed.

“Wanna Run” is the second single from Kate Vigo’s forthcoming album Blue to Gold, which hits stores in March. That’s an awfully long time to wait, but her hometown fans can get an early fix with her “Wanna Run” launch show. Kate will play The Toff in Town on October 6.

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Neil Finn talks Pajama Club Album

Pajama Club, the self-titled album from Neil Finn and his wife Sharon’s new musical venture, hits stores today.

The music we’ve heard is a real departure from the works of Split Enz and Crowded House, and that’s rubbed a few folks up the wrong way. However this video gives us a bit more of an insight into what we’re in for.

Neil and Sharon take us through the disc track by track, explaining the stories behind the songs they’ve created. I must admit, these snippets still aren’t floating my boat but I’m intrigued by the creative process behind them.

Are you excited by Neil’s new musical direction?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“These Pictures Won’t Tell You” – Nik Lone

I’ve had one of those weeks. My internet went down on Tuesday, and has only just returned. Other people might take this as an opportunity to have a holiday, but with deadlines looming I found myself dealing instead with a pocket wi-fi that dropped out frequently in my suburban home, and was crawling when I was online. My parents jetted off to Italy, leaving me feeling very jealous, and my husband started to pack for his two-week business trip to the States. To say I’ve been a bit emotional may be an understatement.

And so predictably I’ve looked to music to soothe the savage beast. And I found it in Nik Lone’s debut solo effort These Pictures Won’t Tell You. As I slipped it in my stereo and the first track “Raining” washed over me I knew I’d made the right choice. The track is a slow burner, beautifully built. I thought what an amazing soundscape Nik had created, with his unique voice another instrument in the mix.

More lush, lovely tunes were to come, particularly the string-laden “Time” and the old-world influenced ballad “Little White.” I found myself enjoying all the tracks, but I had a few niggly issues.

There’s a fine line between creating tracks that burn slowly and ones that are merely sleepy, and I think Nik crosses that sometimes. Some parts frankly bored me. Every song had its moments, but many tunes didn’t sustain themselves for the length of the song. I’d nod in understanding when they reached their pay-off point, but that often came about three-quarters of the way through the track. The radio lover in me noted that many people would have changed the channel by then, missing those really crucial moments.

But These Pictures Won’t Tell You really isn’t a disc for the radio-loving set. It’s challenging and complex. While I appreciate the way it soothed me this week, something tells me I’ll really get it a few weeks from now, or perhaps even longer. For now though I know this is a subtle, gentle album that’s a thing of real beauty. I know it won’t rev everyone, but for the patient listener it’s a find.

Image source: Nik Lone website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gotye Stays at Number One on Singles Charts

Gotye has made it four straight week at number one on the ARIA singles charts with his track “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Sadly Adele reclaimed her number one spot on the albums’ charts, forcing Gotye’s Making Mirrors down to number three.

Jessica Mauboy also slipped this week. Her track “Inescapable” fell from number five to six, which still isn’t bad considering it’s been hanging around for a month and a half now.

Jack Vidgen also ran out of a little steam. His album Yes I Am fell from number three to six. Something tells me the real testimony to this kid’s talent is what he can manage when the Australia’s Got Talent hype dies down, and he gets a bit of time to record an album rather than just bashing one out.

With so many albums slipping, it’s exciting to see Icehouse score a top five debut for their newest greatest hits collection White Heat: 30 Hits.

Click below for all the chart action.

Continue reading “Gotye Stays at Number One on Singles Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Guitar Legends Pay Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

Some of Australia’s leading musicians are coming together to pay tribute to the late, great Jimi Hendrix at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on October 29.

The Experience Jimi Hendrix concert will see the guitar legend’s tunes reinterpreted by Darren Middleton of Powderfinger, Stuart Fraser of Noiseworks, Peter Koppes of The Church, John and Rick Brewster of The Angels, Jack Housden of The Whitlams and The Badloves, Kevin Borich, and heaps more.

Along with all the hits the show will feature two jam sessions at the end of each set which should really be something special. You get that much talent on one stage and how could it be anything but?

If you’re keen I’d jump on the tickets when they go on sale tomorrow from Ticketek. Last year’s show almost sold out, so unless you want dud seats make sure you get in quick!

Image used with permission from Thrill Hill Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Harry James Angus Goes Solo

The Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus is taking advantage of his band’s hiatus and releasing a solo album.

Little Stories will be released digitally on September 16 and in stores on October 10. It’s been a bit of a labour of love, with Harry spending the last three years penning the tracks.

“These little stories have provided me with hours of entertainment, just me in the lounge
room. Sometimes my long-suffering wife will patiently listen as I stumble through an idea, but usually it’s just me – laughing at my own jokes, lip trembling at my own tragedies, watching the characters come alive – and the whole story just unfurls, eventually, like a patchwork sail,” Harry said.

Harry James Angus will celebrate Little Stories’ release with a tour of the major capitals later this month.

8 September 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
17 September 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
25 September 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

Image source: Elvina Mae

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Animals Rock Australia with New Tunes

The Baby Animals are ready to rock again with a string of shows in October.

It’s been a bit quiet on the Baby Animals front since they supported Train and INXS on those Day on the Green shows in January. But there’s been a good reason for their absence from the live scene. The band’s been huddled away in the studio recording new songs for a forthcoming album which they’ll unleash at these shows.

Fans from the beginning shouldn’t stress though; I’m sure you’ll still get to hear “Early Warning” and “One Word”!

You can catch this stellar live act at the following shows next month.

8 October 2011 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
21 & 22 October 2011 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
28 October 2011 – Canberra Southern Cross Club Events Centre, Canberra
29 October 2011 – Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, Windsor
31 October 2011 – Cup Eve @ Corner Hotel, Richmond

Image source: Danni Nix

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rolling Stone Photographer Baron Wolman Brings Rock Photos to Oz

Baron Wolman, Rolling Stone’s first ever photographer, is heading to Australia to celebrate exhibitions of his rock photography in Sydney and Melbourne. The shows will draw from Baron’s book Every Picture Tells a Story … The Rolling Stone Years, which hits stores today.

The exhibitions will feature portraits of some of rock music’s most influential figures including Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and Miles Davis captured during Baron’s three-year tenure with the music bible.

You can see Baron Wolman’s artworks at Sydney’s Blender Gallery from September 17 to October 22, and at Melbourne’s Raw Gallery from September 23 to October 23.

Image used with permission from Anouk Van Meeuwen Publicity