Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bamboos Celebrate 25 Years With Album + Tour

I can’t quite believe The Bamboos have been releasing the funkiest music in the country for 25 years, but here we are. That fact could make us all feel old, or we could simply look ahead to all the wonderful things this milestone brings.

First there’s the deluxe compilation album The Bamboos Best, available on gatefold gold marble double LP or CD on July 25. It features 20 of the band’s best songs taken from their 12 albums, including many tracks that haven’t been available on vinyl since their initial release. You can preorder yours from Impressed Recordings here.

And if course The Bamboos do their best work on the stage, so we’ve got shows. You know they’re going to be massive, so if you’re a fan don’t miss them. Standard tickets and ticket bundles with the vinyl or CD are all available from the links below.

11 September 2025 – City Recital Hall, Eora/Sydney
13 September 2025 – Moorooka Block Party @ Peggs Park, Meeanjin/Brisbane (FREE)
20 September 2025 – Northcote Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (Followed by a free afterparty at Northcote Theatre Mezzanine with DJs Kano and Lance Ferguson)

Photo credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

SoSo Doing It Their Way With “Messed Up”

Eora/Sydney-based alt-punk act SoSo describe themselves as “offensively average,” but take a listen to their latest single “Messed Up” and you’ll soon hear that they’re selling themselves short. It’s a fantastic pop-punk track with a face-melting guitar solo and relatable lyrics about being in the wrong relationship.

“Lyrically, the track is about opening up to someone when you kind of knew deep down that you shouldn’t, then having it thrown back at you by their actions,” frontman Rhys Weeks explained. “The kinda toxic relationship where you’ve created an idea of what your life with that person would look like, rather than seeing the relationship for what it was from the start – and having to mourn not only the end of the relationship, but also the end of whatever future you thought you might have seen for yourself and having to reset your outlook for your future.”

“Messed Up” comes from SoSo’s forthcoming debut album So Much For Second Chances. It’s not out yet, but already the band are predicting big things.

“We’re going to turn heads,” Rhys said. “We’re going to be the band that goes against the grain and pushes back on the traditional way of doing things. By keeping ownership of our music, self-funding and self-promoting our debut LP AND GUARANTEEING a Number 1 Record, we’re convinced that we can show independent bands that you don’t need to sign away your rights to be successful.”

If you want to see SoSo hit number one, you can help them along by pre-ordering So Much For Second Chances for up to 50% off the recommended retail price (depending on your chosen format) from the band’s website.

Image used with permission from Capital Artist Group

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird On the Comeback Trail With “My Ghost & Its Crawling”

It’s been three years since Naarm/Melbourne indie act Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird graced us with new music, but they’ve coming back with some really special tunes. The first is “My Ghost & Its Crawling,” a tender, poetic number that hints at all of the sonic goodness to come.

“‘My Ghost & Its Crawling’ explores the haunting nature of memory, and the forms that significant people assume within our own psyches,” Lachlan Rose, the band’s frontman and songwriter, said. “In some ways I think people from our past live inside us as very real, living, breathing entities. They can be talked with, argued with, listened to and loved, for better or for worse. In my experience, no matter how hard you exorcise those spirits, they can still be heard crawling around in the attics and the garrets and the nooks and in the hallways of your heart. This song is sung from the perspective of such a spirit”.

“My Ghost & Its Crawling” comes from Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird’s forthcoming album Rosewater Crocodile, which drops on July 10. They’ll celebrate its release with a string of local shows. Tickets are on sale now, so get onto it!

25 July 2025 – The Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
2 August 2025 – The Ed Castle, Tarntanya/Adelaide
9 August 2025 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
12 August 2025 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ocean Alley Drop “Love Balloon” Ahead of Album Release and International Shows

It feels like only yesterday that Ocean Alley burst onto the scene, so my head is spinning with the news that they’re about to release album number five, called Love Balloon. While the title track is a pretty funky affair, we should expect plenty of diversity from the album.

“The album explores the many layered dimensions of love – not just the cinematic kind where you’re falling head over heels, but the full spectrum: joy, hurt, discomfort and disappointment,” explained Ocean Alley’s keyboardist and vocalist Lach Galbraith. “Let’s call it the river of love – whether it’s with a partner, a friend, or family, you never know when it’ll get deep, go shallow, or suddenly change course. It’s such a force that you have to just surrender to its current.”

The Love Balloon album drops on September 19. Ocean Alley has plenty of shows in North America, South America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Aotearoa/New Zealand planned. Here are all the dates you need.

16 July 2025 – Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
18 July 2025 – The Eastern, Atlanta
19 July 2025 – Fillmore, Charlotte
20 July 2025 – The NorVa, Norfolk
23 July 2025 – Fillmore, Silver Spring
25 July 2025 – Citizens House of Blues, Boston
26 July 2025 – Brooklyn Paramount, Brooklyn
27 July 2025 – Fillmore, Philadelphia
29 July 2025 – History, Toronto
31 July 2025 – The Outset, Chicago
31 July – 3 August 2025 – Lollapalooza @ Grant Park, Chicago
7 August 2025 – Sziget Festival, Budapest
27 September 2025 – Alexandra Palace, London
4 October 2025 – Austin City Limits @ Zilker Park, Austin
11 October 2025 – Austin City Limits @ Zilker Park, Austin
15 October 2025 – The Mission Ballroom, Denver
17 October 2025 – Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles
20 October 2025 – Lunario, Mexico City
23 October 2025 – Audio, São Paulo
25 October 2025 – Teatro La Cúpula, Santiago
24 January 2026 – Catani Gardens, Naarm/Melbourne
30 January 2026 – Brisbane Showgrounds, Meeanjin/Brisbane
31 January 2026 – The Domain, Eora/Sydney
21 February 2026 – Fremantle Esplanade Park, Walyalup/Fremantle
22 February 2026 – 3 Oceans Winery, Wooditchup/Margaret River
27 February 2026 – Spark Arena, Auckland

Photo credit: Kane Lehanneur

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

End of Fashion Celebrates 20 Years With Vinyl And Shows

The first thing I did on hearing that End of Fashion are celebrating 20 years since the release of their self-titled debut album was feel old. The second was to fire it up on Spotify. And I’ve got to say, it sounds even better than I remember it.

There’s the monster single “O Yeah” of course, but all the songs around it really stand up. It makes me wonder why they weren’t all over the charts.

The album sounds good on Spotify, but no doubt the special anniversary double vinyl will sound even better. The first record features the original album remastered while the second has rare demos, B-sides, and unheard gems. It also features artwork from the archives, a never-before-released lyric sheet, and a collage of photos submitted by fans. You can preorder yours now from Universal.

“When we made this album, we never dreamed it would still mean so much to people 20 years later. That’s a real gift for us and we wanted to give something back. We put this re-issue together with a lot of love — and a lot of memories…our own and most importantly, the fans. Which is why we got them involved. This is as much theirs as it is ours. To have this out in the world again, on vinyl, with all this amazing material from the archives that we never thought would see the light of day, feels really special,” said End of Fashion frontman Justin Burford.

To celebrate the milestone, End of Fashion will head out on their first national tour in almost a decade. They’re promising to play their debut album in full plus plenty of fan favourites. You know this is going to be big, so make sure you get your tickets before they sell out.

15 August 2025 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane
16 August 2025 – Crowbar, Eora/Sydney
22 August 2025 – The Night Cat, Naarm/Melbourne
23 August 2025 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
30 August 2025 – The Rosemount, Boorloo/Perth

Photo credit: Peter Sherlock

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wafia Delays Debut Album Release

Aussie expat Wafia planned to release her long-awaited debut album Promised Land this month, but decided to delay its launch after watching the devastation in her new adopted home of Los Angeles. So I thought instead I’d bring you Wafia’s most recent single “Something,” a delicate neo-soul jam that celebrates the headiness of new infatuation.

“I wrote this song after a really really good first kiss,” Wafia shared on Instagram.

Wafia has bundled “Something” on Spotify with all her previous releases from Promised Land so make sure you check them all out. We’ll finally get to hear the album in full on its new release date, February 7.

Photo credit: Maddy Rotman

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

King Stingray Announce Aussie Shows to Support Second Album, “For the Dreams”

It’s taken some time, but King Stingray have finally given us a love song. “Cat 5 (Cyclone)” comes from the band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, For the Dreams. Like the other songs on that album, and indeed the album before, “Cat 5 (Cyclone)” is a joyous track that celebrates life.

“Nothing’s changed in the sense that we’re still who we are, we’re still playing music and enjoying things. But what I think is different about this one is there’s a little bit more lived experience,” the band explained. “We wanted a lot of singalong moments … We were thinking a little bit more about getting everyone in on the party.”

I definitely found myself singing along to this track by the end, so I’d say job done! King Stingray’s new album For the Dreams drops on November 8. You can preorder it now from various retailers by clicking this link. The band have got some American shows with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard coming up, but Aussies won’t need to wait too long to see them. They’ll play their biggest local shows to date in March. The pre-sale kicks off on Thursday, the same day the band will release “Light Up the Path,” another track from the album. Exciting times for King Stingray fans ahead! Whether you’re in the States or here in Oz, here are all the dates you need:

2 November 2024 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
9 November 2024 – Arizona Finance Theatre, Phoenix (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
15 November 2024 – Germania Insurance Amphitheatre, Austin (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
16 November 2024 – White Oak Music Hall, Houston (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
19 November 2024 – Fox Theatre, Atlanta (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
20 November 2024 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
21 November 2024 – Factory Town, Miami (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
21 March 2025 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney
22 March 2025 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
28 March 2025 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tarntanya/Adelaide
29 March 2025 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne
4 April 2025 – Freo Arts Centre (South Lawn), Walyalup/Fremantle

Photo credit: Sam Brumby

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Blasko Releases “The Way” From Upcoming Album

It’s been six years since Sarah Blasko released her last album Depth of Field. I really appreciate it when artists take the time to find inspiration and craft music that matters. It’s always worth the wait. Just take a listen to Sarah’s latest single “The Way,” the opening track from her soon-to-be-released album I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain, and you’ll know I’m right.

“The Way” was inspired by Sarah’s strict religious upbringing and reflections on her decision to turn her back on her faith at the age of 17. “I had been feeling like turning my back on god may have contributed to misfortunes in my life,” she said. “Looking back upon the death of my mother, a failed marriage, and then a failed friendship during a time that felt like the apocalypse. Makes sense considering I was raised to believe in the apocalypse when I was a teenager.”

I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain sees Sarah exploring goodbyes, griefs, new beginnings, and an important friendship that underpinned her childhood. She says “This album was probably the most relaxed & free feeling record I’ve made.” Album preorders and presaves are currently available ahead of its November 1 release.

Photo credit: Mclean Stephenson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dane Tutty and Jen Buxton Team Up Again for “burning alive”

With the release of “burning alive,” Mulubinba/Newcastle singer-songwriters Dane Tutty and Jen Buxton have provided us with the final puzzle piece of their EP, if it all burns down. I’ve already covered previous tracks “church” and “i don’t want to do this forever” on Sounds of Oz, and this one is every bit as good.

“burning alive” sits sandwiched between the past singles on this EP, acting as a kind of bridge between them. I love the natural chemistry between Dane and Jen’s very different voices, the way her pure tones soften his hard edges. The lyrics, written from the perspective of someone battling mental health issues, are also so powerful.

“Myself and so many people around me are or have been affected hugely by these things (suicide and mental health), I couldn’t help writing about it,” Dane explained.

While Dane and Jen haven’t announced any shows together at this stage, they also haven’t ruled them out. Here’s hoping. Until then, wrap your ears around “burning alive,” then revisit the rest of their music on if it all burns down. And if you or anyone you know is struggling with the mental health issues “burning alive” explores, please reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or professional resource. Lifeline offers 24/7 support on 13 11 14.

Photo credit: Shades of Blue Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“I Remember You” – Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields

Kiwi-raised and Naarm/Melbourne-based, Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields have both impressed me with their solo efforts, so it was inevitable that I’d fall hard for their new album of duets, I Remember You. With a natural chemistry and knack for songwriting, the pair have created some of the best music you’ll hear this year.

There’s a natural connection between the artists which is so appealing to listen to. I love the way their voices complement one another, but there’s more to love than simply their sound. There’s an electricity when they make music together, a bond that’s evident as they join their talents. Listening to poetic lyrics referencing their homeland, there’s a shared understanding that helps these songs resonate. Together they take us on a musical journey, from playful romantic numbers like the opening track “Your Heart of Gold” and “Prairie Song” to haunting songs like “No Trace” and “Dead Flowers and Stale Wine.”

As you might expect from these artists, the music is richly organic. I can imagine it sounded exactly this way when the pair laid these songs down. When so much music gets overproduced, hearing music like this that’s allowed to shine just as it was created is special.

I Remember You is out now. Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields are currently playing shows together in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Here are the remaining dates.

24 May 2024 – St Peter’s Village Hall, Paekakariki
25 May 2024 – Moons, Dunedin
26 May 2024 – Little Theatre, Gore
1 June 2024 – Ohakune Carrot Carnival 2024, Ohakune
7 June 2024 – ONEONESIX, Whangarei
8 June 2024 – Te Pahu Sound Lounge, Hamilton
14 June 2024 – Mt Eden Village Centre, Auckland

Images used with permission from Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields