With a brand new single “Sword to a Gunfight” burning up the airwaves, it seems the perfect time for Children Collide to announce another tour.

The single has a unique sound for the band, which frontman Johnny Mackay shed some light on.

“I was paddling down the river somewhere between Primal Scream & Boney M and ended up falling out of the boat into a time-travelling disco space-punk song which I still think is hilarious,” he explained. Well that clears that up!

The shows will give fans a sneak peek at Children Collide’s new album, Monument, which will hit stores in April. The single builds on the band’s post-punk roots and develops them into something the band has dubbed an “aural theme park.”

“There’s one or two ghost trains, a few rollercoasters and even a couple of tea-cup rides. It’s always hard to describe these things from the inside but the sound and production feels very here and now to me”

Tickets go on sale tomorrow from the venues for the upcoming shows.

9 March 2012 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
10 March 2012 – Pelly Bar, Frankston
11 March 2012 – Breath of Life, Launceston
15 March 2012 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
16 March 2012 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast
17 March 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 March 2012 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
22 March 2012 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
23 March 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
24 March 2012 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
29 March 2012 – The Gov, Adelaide
30 March 2012 – Capitol, Perth
31 March 2012 – Players Bar, Mandurah
1 April 2012 – Mojos, Fremantle
12 April 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
13 April 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Crucial Music

We’ve all heard of those new age restaurants that ask diners to pay what they think their meal is worth. Now Brisbane electronica act Arundel is encouraging us to do the same with his music.

Arundel is so excited to release his second EP Olive Caves, he wants as many people to hear it as possible. So he’s inviting us to download it from his Bandcamp website. Consequently we can enjoy the music for free or choose to donate some money to fund additional projects if we’re so moved.

“Essentially, the collaborators and I make music for people like you to hear, and we don’t want anything to get in the way of that,” Arundel explained.

I particularly like the lead track “A Deep Freeze,” but there’s a lot to appreciate about this EP. It redefines what I think of as electronica with its rock influences and lyrical content, and that alone makes it worth a listen.

The Inland Sea are continuing to impress me with their latest single “The Only One” The track is a big rambunctious bluesy number that transports me back to a simpler time in music. See if you can resist clapping your hands along to this one.

“The Only One” comes from Inland Sea’s sophomore EP Fortune, which is out now through Plus One Records. If you like what you hear make sure you catch the band playing the Gold Coast’s Big Day Out on January 22 and The Soundlounge at Currumbin on January 25.

Brisbane rock band For This Cause is embarking on a truly Oceanic tour this month. The lads will play shows in New Zealand next week before returning home to Australia and then winging their way to Indonesia and Malaysia. Looks like they’ll clock up a few frequent flyer miles!

Things are definitely on the up for this band. The video for their new single “Sirens” has been viewed by more than 12000 fans in the last month. They’ve also just signed with Japanese record label Zestone. Surely world domination is next on the cards!

But for now the rockers will have to be content with wowing fans closer to home. Catch For This Cause at the following shows this month and beyond.

25 January 2012 – Zeal, Henderson, NZ
26 January 2012 – HBC Primal, Orewa, NZ
27 & 28 January 2012 – Parachute Music Festival, Auckland, NZ
4 February 2012 – Shout It Out Festival, Perth
19 February 2012 – Tuggeranong Alliance, Canberra
23 February 2012 – LiveO Music, Singapore
24 February 2012 – Scape Lab, Singapore (with A Skylit Drive)
25 February 2012 – Green Kemang, Jakarta, Indonesia (with A Skylit Drive)
2 March 2012 – Rumah Api, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3 March 2012 – Auditorium Taman Budaya, Kuala Terrengganu,
Malaysia
4 March 2012 – Shalien Studio, Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia
10 March 10 – Forest Edge Music Festival, Victoria

Australian Idol alum Jacob Butler is ringing in the New Year with the release of a brand new single “Come My Way.” It’s another rocking number from Jakey B, although it’s got more of a retro feel than his last offering “UKOK?” It reminds me a lot of The Psychedelic Furs, which isn’t a bad thing at all. Are you digging it?

It was a bit of a blast from the past for me on the weekend when I spotted the new video for The Last Kinection. The single “Are We There Yet?” sees band member Naomi Wenitong reunited with her Shakaya sister Simone Stacey, who handles the track’s chorus.

I remember marveling at the harmonies of these girls way back in 2002 when they shot up the charts with “Stop Calling Me.” I was upset to see them part ways, but thrilled to see they’ve lost nothing over the years. It might be for a short time, but I’m glad to see these girls working together again.

I’m probably too old to be falling in love with them, but try as I might I can’t resist the charms of The Never Ever and their brand new single “At Sixes and Sevens.”

This simple but ridiculously catchy slice of power pop is the first track to come from The Never Ever’s forthcoming EP, Breathe. That disc won’t hit record store shelves next April, but until then we’ve got the single to tide us over.

The Never Ever will also launch the “At Sixes and Sevens” for hometown fans on the Rocks Rhythm Boat in Sydney Harbour on February 12. That’s one of the more unusual spots I’ve heard for a single launch so it should be a night to remember.

Merry Christmas Sounds of Oz readers. I hope that whatever you’re doing for the holidays you’re enjoying it.

I’ve probably been up since the wee small hours, because I’m still a big kid at Christmas. I’m wearing oversized bell earrings and a tacky necklace with flashing lights which is likely to annoy my younger sisters immensely. I’m sure I’m drinking and eating too much, but sometimes that’s the best way to deal with the small children that inevitably come with family get togethers. I’ve also probably been thoroughly spoiled by my husband and parents. They’re good like that.

I’m certainly not working. I wrote this post well in advance so I could take the day off. I think after a busy year of blogging I deserve the rest, don’t you? I’ll leave you with The Bedroom Philosopher’s very unique take on “12 Days of Christmas” which comes from his A Very Beddy Christmas EP. With a vengeful ex-girlfriend sending the “gifts”, it’s far from the usual seasonal fare!

“I Wrote a Novel” is one of my favourite tracks from The Trouble with Templeton’s debut album Bleeders, so I’m thrilled to see it’s also the disc’s latest single.

Its release is accompanied with this music video which is every bit as whimsical as I hoped it’d be. Remarkably the clip was shot in just one take on one camera. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

Again The Trouble with Templeton worked with his brother Josh on the clip, just as he did on the “Bleeders” video. I think they’ve done a great job, don’t you?

The Trouble with Templeton will play at the Peats Ridge Blues and Roots Festival over the New Year, so if you’re there make sure you head on down to the Chai Tent and check him out!

Sydney DJs Flight Facilities take us back to the disco era with their latest single “Foreign Language.”

I love how authentic this single is, from the sweet guest vocals of Jess Higgs to the sweet retro styled music video. Seriously, if this were a TV program I’m sure it would become my next guilty pleasure. I initially thought it might have been stock footage, but it’s been cleverly shot by French director Dimitri Basil around Waverly Cemetary, Rose Bay and The Ivy.

Honestly I find the music video distracts me from the song, which might not be as fabulous without the footage, but thanks to YouTube the two need not be separated!