Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amazing Marcia Ready to Release “Amazing” Album

Singers don’t get much more amazing than Marcia Hines, so it’s only fitting that the adjective is not just the name of her new album, but also the lead single.

Marcia’s looking so fabulous that you’ve got to stop to remind yourself that she’s 60. That age brings an awareness of who she is musically that so many youngsters just don’t have. She doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but she doesn’t have to. She’s Marcia Hines.

There is something pretty revolutionary about Amazing though. It’s the first album of original songs Marcia’s recorded in 20 years. She wrote these songs, co-produced them, as well as laying down all those vocal tracks. Reading what she’s saying about it, her passion for this album really shines through.

“This album is very personal and I hope and pray that my fans love this songwriting side. I have never before exposed so much of my inner-self than in these songs. You will hear the full range of human emotion, and all of it comes from my heart,” Marcia said in a press release. “The opening track ‘Amazing’ is about creating the happily-ever-after moment. This is the soundtrack to finding that fairytale love. You are the silver lining to my life and you are amazing.”

The album Amazing hits stores everywhere on April 4.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chet Faker Readies First Album

The incomparable Chet Faker is preparing to release Built on Glass, his first full-length album and the follow-up to his gold-selling and critically acclaimed EP Thinking in Textures.

The lead single “Talk is Cheap,” sets the tone, an ambient number with a soulful core which effortlessly melds soul, house, and electro influences.

Built on Glass will be released by Future Classic & Opulent on April 11. Preorder it and you’ll instantly receive “Talk is Cheap” and “Melt,” featuring Kilo Kish, to tide you over until the album’s release.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yacht Club DJs Tour Mixtape

After wowing crowds in the United Kingdom alongside Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, and HAIM, Yacht Club DJs are back on home soil and settling in to tour their latest mixtape, Oddity Number 5.

That mixtape, available for free download soon, is as eclectic as they come with sounds from 60s blues, 90s pop, death metal, and Disney movie soundtracks.

The Yacht Club DJs will tour the mixtape and, if fans are lucky, offer a sneak peek of their very first original EP, which is set for release later this year.

11 April 2014 – Elsewhere, Gold Coast
12 April 2014 – Oh Hello, Brisbane (FREE before 10 pm)
13 April 2014 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
17 April 2014 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
18 April 2014 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
24 April 2014 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amaya Laucirica Releases Pair of Singles Ahead of Sway Release

Melbourne singer-songwriter Amaya Laucirica is giving music lovers a sneak peek at her upcoming third album Sway with the release of a double A-side single. “Prettier Than The Sound” and “On the Air” are both featured on the album, which hits stores on April 18.

I must admit, Amaya’s earlier releases passed me by, but I’m really digging this. With her sweet voice and gift for songwriting, she reminds me a little of Julianna Hatfield. She’s also surrounding herself with the right people. Sway was recorded by Dave McCluney (Nick Cave/Mick Harvey/Robert Forster), mixed by Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey/Beth Orton) and mastered by Ray Staff (Spiritualised/David Bowie). With such an amazing team on her side, Sway’s sure to be something special.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Supergroup Holidays on Ice Back with The Luxury of Wasted Space

Angie Hart from Frente!, Dean Manning from Leonardo’s Bride, and Stella Mozgawa from Warpaint are back with a brand new Holidays on Ice album. This Aussie supergroup will release The Luxury of Wasted Space on March 31.

The album’s title cheekily references the modern aversion to emptiness, and if the lead single’s anything to go by it’s fitting. The song is very subtle and minimalist, but Angie’s heavenly vocals and their collective musical sensibility shines through. It’s definitely a slow burner, but patient listeners will be rewarded. I also love that, like the album’s other songs, it was recorded in a living room to eight track reel to reel. How old school!

The video for new single “Broken” also shuns modern animation techniques for a more traditional approach. Dean actually made all the puppets in the clip from clay and wood. He even sewed their clothes and made the sets, then painstakingly put the clip together frame by frame.

Holidays on Ice will celebrate the release of The Luxury of Wasted Space with a national tour through April.

18 April 2014 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
20 April 2014 – Open Studio, Northcote
25 April 2014 – Glebe Café Church Hall, Glebe
27 April 2014 – Dowse Bar, Paddington

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dewayne Everettsmith Releases Long-Awaited Solo Album

I can’t say that tourism ads are generally where I go looking for great music, but I found it when Tourism Australia featured Dewayne Everettsmith’s song “It’s Like Love” in their last campaign. I feel head over heels for the tune way back in 2012, and was desperate to hear more. He’ll finally show us what else is in his bag of tricks when he releases his debut album Surrender on March 14.

“When I wrote most of these songs, I was obviously in emotional turmoil – difficult things in my life,” he explained. “The idea was that when someone listens to it, it touches a nerve but they take a positive from it. That was the ultimate aim.”

If that intrigues you, make sure you grab a copy of the album and see Dewayne playing its songs live at a venue near you.

6 March 2014 – Kulcha, Fremantle
8 March 2014 – Kings Park, Perth (supporting Gurrumul)
9 March 2014 – Spiegeltent (10 Days On The Island), Hobart
11 March 2014 – Arts Centre Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise
14 March 2014 – Factory Floor, Marrickville
16 March 2014 – Casterton/Sandford Football/Netball Club, Casterton
20 March 2014 – Captains at Mariners, Batemans Bay
21 March 2014 – Southern Cross Club, Canberra
23 March 2014 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
26 March 2014 – Civic Centre, Wagga Wagga
27 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
28 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Central Coast
29 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Insomnia Inspires Anna O

If you love strong female voices like Kimbra and Lorde, you’re going to want to hear Anna O, a bold new talent from Perth. She’s matched her strong vocals with relatable lyrics in her ode to insomnia, “Sleeplessness.”

“The chorus explores the idea of the ‘choir’ of mind chatter, basically touching on how crazy it is to think about all the people laying awake with their mind going crazy, and what we’d all sound like together,” she explained.

“Sleeplessness” is the first track lifted from Anna’s debut EP, When the Winter Came, which will hit stores on March 21. We’ll all have a day to get familiar with it before she launches it for her hometown fans at North Perth’s Four5Nine Bar on March 22. It should be a night to remember, as Anna is itching to take the stage.

“I can’t wait to get out of the studio and start playing my songs to people.  I’ve got a DJ opening for me and I’m pumped to make it a slamming party,” she enthused.

Tickets for Anna’s launch are available now through Oztix.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Postblue Get Ugly, and I Like It

The fuzzy, unpolished sound of Postblue isn’t the sort of thing I’d normally go for, but there’s something about this meeting of Byron Bay and Melbourne musicians that’s gotten underneath my skin. I couldn’t help thinking of the grunge acts of the ‘90s as I listened to “Ugly,” the latest song lifted from their debut album I Hope They’re Praying For Me.

The album is scheduled to hit stores on March 21, and they’ll celebrate with a string of shows all around the country. Stablemates Luca Brasi will serve as support act for the following dates.

14 March 2014 – Magpies Club, Canberra
15 March 2014 – Hermann’s Bar, Sydney
16 March 2014 – Beatdisc Records, Parramatta (ALL AGES)
21 March 2014 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
22 March 2014 – Crowbar, Brisbane
23 March 2014 – The Lab, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
11 April 2014 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
12 April 2014 – Secret Venue, Hobart (ALL AGES)
12 April 2014 – Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sunnyboys Debut Gets Rereleased

Some albums still sound fresh decades after their release. The Sunnyboys’ self-titled debut is one of those rare recordings. It’ll be introduced to a whole new generation of music lovers when it’s rereleased on March 14.

The album features the singles “Alone With You” and “Happy Man,” but there’s plenty more to pique the interest of fans. As well as the 12 original songs, the album also comes with 24 bonus tracks made up of B-sides, demo recordings, and live cuts.

A deluxe edition CD and digital download of Sunnyboys will be released on March 14, which is not so coincidentally the day the band kicks off their reunion tour.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom E. Lewis Releases “Beneath the Sun”

The term legend gets bandied about a lot in the music biz, but it’s entirely appropriate for describing Tom E. Lewis. He was the star of The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith in the ‘70s, a fixture on stage and screen in the ‘80s, and he travelled the world playing his unique blend of jazz and traditional didge music in the ‘90s. And today he’s releasing his new album, Beneath the Sun.

The album tackles big themes of identity, love, murder, and respect in the tradition of great singer-songwriters like Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, and Wilco.

“I survived the dark side, marrkap [mate, although like a lot of indigenous words its meaning is so much more],” he said in a press release. “Now I can sing about it, be the lucky one to come out the other side.”

Lead single “Can’t Change Your Name” gives you a taste of just how good this album is, and how incredible Tom’s backing band sounds. It’s hardly surprising though as it features Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool), Michael Hohnen (Gurrumul), Tony Floyd (Black Sorrows), Stephen Teakle (Barry Morgan), and Craig Pilkington (The Killjoys).

Tom remains remarkably humble about the company he keeps and the quality of this album, simply commenting “I’ve been lucky, marrkap. Music, it heals. There’s medicine in art. I don’t know where this CD can go. I really don’t know. I’d like to write another one, yeah? I feel like there’s more coming.”

Image used with permission from SCG Media