Nick Barker hasn’t released an album with The Reptiles since 1991’s After the Show, but it doesn’t seem like he’s having any teething problems putting the band back together. New single “Bend Not Break” is a welcome return to form with all the blues-rock trademarks this outfit is famous for. I’d forgotten just how much I loved their music until I wrapped my ears around this one.
Hopefully its recent release means there’s plenty of new Nick Barker and the Reptiles music to come soon!
Merpire speaks straight to the heart with her intimate new single “Invitation.” It’s one of those songs that draws you in with its quiet vulnerability. It’s an exercise in restraint, which starts small but builds to a stunning conclusion.
This song is a little bit out of left-field for the artist who usually drops upbeat numbers, but for me this could be her best. It’s so powerful and raw. I can’t stop listening.
“Invitation is about a time I was really fighting the need to be on my own. I struggled to be the one to provide the love I needed,” Merpire explained. “It’s about the confusion and the clarity, the frustration and the freedom, the loneliness and the longing that came along with that.”
“Invitation” comes from Merpire’s EP Endless Chatter, due out 23 June. She’s playing a few shows in the coming months. Official launch shows will be announced soon.
15 June 2018 – The Newsagency, Sydney
16 June 2018 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra
30 June 2018 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne
13-15 July 2018 – Bello Winter Music Festival, Bellingen
Image used with permission from This Much Talent
Summer might be behind us, but Mar Haze is spreading with its cool new EP Good Money. There’s such an easy, funky vibe about these guys that makes listening to these five tracks a joy.
Opening track “Fit Freddy” has such a great bass-driven groove. It suckered me in right away, whetting my appetite for what was to come. The title track comes next, with more of a rock edge. The Hammond organ gives this one the feel of an instant classic. “Wonderland” starts out a tender love song but it builds to an epic, emotional rock crescendo. After the power of “Wonderland,” the laidback groove of “Strange” helps us catch our breath. This is one of those happy-sad songs, which bounces along despite its lyrics exploring a relationship breakdown. There’s a dash of reggae in the closer, “Don’t Hold On.” There’s also an element of pathos to the lyrics here, although the big drums and piano chords make sure it doesn’t sound mopey.
Good Money is such a cool EP. Mar Haze seem to ooze charisma with their beachy vibes and laidback grooves. They’re not afraid to rock a little harder or explore some big stuff in their lyrics, but ultimately these guys want you to have a good time. Good Money has all the right ingredients for warding off those winter chills.
Image used with permission from Mar Haze
Critics of The Voice like to say the reality show hasn’t produced any stars. Perhaps if you take that to mean artists selling truckloads, it’s true. The singers from The Voice certainly don’t have the profiles of Australian Idol’s Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Jess Mauboy, or Anthony Callea. Personally I take a different view of stardom. While fame is exciting, true stars shine simply because they’re doing something fabulous. When you consider that definition, Karen Lee Andrews, better known to The Voice audience as Miss Murphy, is the genuine article.
Of course, The Voice didn’t make Ms Murphy shine so bright. Her talents were already in her. But they gave her a platform to showcase them. Surely they helped open the doors that see her releasing her latest EP Far From Paradise.
What a collection of songs this is. Soulful and bluesy, with so much heart and pain. They feel like instant classics, delivered with so much class.
Opening track “Love You” eases us into a more soulful space, with its earnest declarations and easy groove. “Troubled Mind” is a delicate soul piece which shows the power of restraint. It’s driven by pure emotion and Karen’s powerful voice, which slays each and every time.
After the tenderness of the first two tracks, the dark swampiness of “Going Down” is like a bolt from the blue. If you thought Karen Lee was all sweetness and light, this is the track that dispels the notion. The EP is rounded out by an extended version of “Higher,” an earlier upbeat release which feels right at home here.
What a talent Karen Lee Andrews is. Hopefully she won’t leave us waiting too long for a full-length album. Far From Paradise is a stellar EP, but it leaves me wanting more.
See Karen Lee Andrews performing at Blues on Broadbeach, the country’s largest freee music festival, from May 17 to 20.
Image used with permission from Jessica Davidson
Sons of the East have been wowing crowds in the United States following their appearance at South by Southwest, but we won’t need to wait too long to see them. The Sydney indie-folk trio are heading home for three shows before jetting off to the United Kingdom in August.
With the band putting the finishing touches on a new EP, these gigs are likely to be the perfect place to road-test some new material. Look forward to hearing some new stuff and plenty of your old favourites at the following shows.
9 June 2018 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
14 June 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
30 June 2018 – Mojo’s Bar, Perth
Image used with permission from IMC Music
Perth-born folk act Simon Paparo has charmed me with his new single “Gold at Midnight.” It’s such a sweet song, full of the hope and optimism you feel when a new love grows. The Claire Nica-directed clip, featuring a young couple basking in the sun and one another, is also so endearing.
“Gold at Midnight is inspired by my fiancé. She is a truly beautiful soul,” Simon gushed. “It is about us, a couple on their journey in the younger stages of courtship. It dives into my emotions early on in the relationship when I couldn’t talk about the feelings I felt for her, as it was too early and may have caused conflict.”
Simon will launch his single at the Workers Club in Melbourne on May 13. He says “Fans can expect a full and rich sound – I’ve been working closely with Charlie Heart who is a great songwriter, pianist and vocalist and have guitarist Paul Mason, bass guitarist David Kean and drummer Jon Ritchie ready to keep the fans ears alight. I’m really looking forward to hitting the stage with these amazing musicians. All of these guys are accomplished vocalists too, so I can’t wait to unleash these new tunes to everyone.”
Tickets are available now from Oztix.
Image used with permission from On the Map PR
Arig was born in Sudan after her father and 15-year-old mother fled conflict in Eritrea. They were both determined to find a better life for little Arig, so they applied to come to Australia. Only Arig’s mother was granted a visa, so she bravely left her partner and headed Down Under. When she arrived here, Arig was just two years old. Life wasn’t easy for the pair. Arig’s mother fell into one toxic relationship after another and money was always tight. Music was Arig’s solace then, something that could take her away from the struggles of her life and give her hope for a better future.
Hard experiences like these shape us. If we’re lucky, we can channel them into something beautiful, as Arig has done with her EP Attrition.
Opening track “Mama Said” is an absolute showstopper. It’s dark and brooding, with a killer chorus. When the bar is set so high, it’s exciting but also a little unnerving, because you wonder where the artist will go.
Arig’s vocals on “Leash” are angelic, and it’s got the great groove of a classic slow jam. It’s not all sweetness and light though. The lyrics bite, providing such an enticing juxtaposition.
“Welcome Home” clocks in at just one minute, but this subversive nod to doo-wop is really special.
The complexity of relationships and our desires is explored so eloquently in “77.” “Playlist” strips everything bare, revealing a flawed portrait of the place lost love can often leave us.
After the slick beats that dominate this EP, the closing number, piano ballad “What’s Real,” really stands out. I love the tenderness and vulnerability this song captures. It was unexpected, but in a wonderful way.
Arig’s vocals are undeniable, but the way it interplays with her soundscapes elevates this to another level. Her EP Attrition is so strong, so creative, so soulful, and so interesting. Arig will launch the EP tonight in Brisbane at the Milk Factory. If you’re in the Queensland capital, you don’t want to miss this show.
Image used with permission from Emily Fernandez
She might be from Heathcote, but there’s an Irish charm about Mariah McCarthy’s new single “Hail Mary.” The former Deer Prudence songstress sings of memories lost, wrinkles gained, and the adventures that lie ahead in this charming ballad.
“The idea for the song came to me when an elderly man, who was sitting behind me on a bus, recited the prayer for the first 40 minutes of the trip,” Mariah explained. “I thought there must be a story behind that.”
“Hail Mary” is the second single lifted from Mariah’s forthcoming debut album Counting Sheep, set to drop on May 25. She’s playing a few shows around Victoria in the coming months; catch her at the following gigs.
11 May 2018 – Gold Dust Lounge, Bendigo
26 May 2018 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne
27 May 2018 – Taproom, Castlemaine
2 June 2018 – Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo
Saturday 16 June – Martian’s Cafe, Dean’s Marsh
Sunday 17 June – The Door Gallery Cafe, Geelong
Saturday 30 June – The Kilmore Celtic Festival, Kilmore
Image used with permission from This Much Talent
Castlemaine-based songstress Eliza Hull has always impressed me with her passion. She doesn’t write songs that simply sound good; they get right underneath my skin and speak to my heart. New single “Hard Way” is another knockout from this talented singer-songwriter.
“It’s about letting go of someone who wanted to change you, and realising that you don’t have to hold onto that person, you can learn from the experience and move on, in a sense it’s about self-love and acceptance,” Eliza explained.
“Hard Way” has a great raw, honest energy about it, which might come because it was recorded live with the band. I love the way it all comes together, with Eliza’s voice and the musicians so perfectly in sync.
“Hard Way” comes from Eliza’s forthcoming EP How We Disappeared, due out in the middle of the year.
Eliza will launch “Hard Way” with a show at Melbourne’s The Penny Black on June 22 followed by an appearance at the Oxford Art Factory Gallery in Sydney the following night, June 23.
Image used with permission from Rare Finds
I’m not one for mornings or Mondays and this one seems to have hit me harder than most. It’s one of those days where you need a little encouragement to get fired up and on with the day. Thank god for Melbourne rockers South Village and their new single “Say It Now.”
These guys formed back in 2014, and that experience shows. The track has a confidence about it that calls to mind acts like The Smiths and Buffalo Tom. There’s a classic feel to the music, with influences worn proudly without sounding copycat.
Say It Now” is available now through all good digital outlets.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department