Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Archie Roach Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Charcoal Lane

Archie Roach is one of Australia’s most beloved artists, a veteran of the industry after 25 years in the business. Charcoal Lane is the album that kicked it all off, and a quarter of a century after its release Archie is celebrating with a reissued album and shows all around the country.

The new deluxe edition of Charcoal Lane features new versions of the songs with guest vocals from some of Archie’s best mates including Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan, Emma Donovan, Gurrumul, and Dewayne Everett-Smith. His 1990 Triple J Live at the Wireless records are also included, along with a booklet full of previously unseen images from the era and insightful liner notes. Isn’t it exciting to get a CD with decent liner notes these days? I think so.

The reissued version of Charcoal Lane is in stores now. Tickets are still available for the following shows.

21 November 2015 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
22 November 2015 – Homeground 2015 @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney (FREE)
3 December 2015 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
4 December 2015 – The Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury
6 December 2015 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
11 December 2015 – Fremantle Arts Centre Front Garden, Fremantle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Down with EMRSN’s Soulful New Single

Aussie soul singer EMRSN has teamed up with Soulection producer Jarreau Vandal for his groovy new single “Down.”

I really love all the flavours on this. At times it’s playful, at others it’s so raw and emotional. The lush instrumentation is gorgeous, and EMRSN’s vocals always impress.

“Down” is lifted from EMRSN’s forthcoming debut album TMRW, which is scheduled for an early 2016 release.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spookyland Wins Me Over with “Bulimic”

“Bulimic” by Sydney rock act Spookyland is a prime example of the reason I don’t make snap decisions about the music I listen to. When I first hit play, I was put off by the vocals. Honestly, Marcus Gordon has one of those voices grates on me.

But beyond that, there’s a lot to love about this song and as I sat with it for its epic six minutes that’s what came to the fore. It sounds incredible. And the lyrics are superb, meaty and poetic.

“Bulimic is mostly a song about social friction I think, when there’s chaos in your mind, there’s a certain impulse to hurl the whole thing into the toilet bowl to find some kind of self-esteem, but this kind of program is basically doomed. Bulimia of one’s humanity…” Marcus explained in the press release.

So take a listen. Even if you’re not sure at first, stick with it. I promise you this song will reward your patience.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Vernons Touring Single and Snappy EP

I’ve always had a soft spot for bluesy Gold Coast act The Vernons. So even though I didn’t get to the press release spruiking their new single “Keep On Dreaming” and EP Snap until the launch tour was well and truly underway, I couldn’t resist posting it. Because whether you wanted to get to the shows or not, this song is one of those songs that you should hear. It’s a break-up song the way it should be done, so raw that it bleeds.

And if you’re living in Melbourne or Sydney, you’re in luck, because they haven’t visited your town yet. Tickets are still available for the shows at The Grace Darling on November 13 and Brighton Up Bar on November 14.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ariela Jacobs Back with “Sandman”

I can scarcely believe that it’s been two years since I last wrote about Ariela Jacobs. I’m so glad to hear something new from her, which is every bit as beautiful as “The Sound.”

Just like “The Sound,” “Sandman” has won me over with its gorgeous folk-pop melody, heartfelt lyrics, and Ariela’s angelic voice. That’s not to say that she hasn’t grown over the last two years, but she’s also stayed true to everything I loved about her the first time.

“Sandman” is the first track lifted from Ariela’s EP Yesteryear, which will be released in early 2016.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Olympia Impresses with “Tourists”

Watching Rage of a Saturday morning has been one of my favourite rituals for almost as long as I can remember. I love the unique mix of brand new stuff and classics. One of the newer tracks that has caught my attention the last couple of weekends is “Tourists” from Melbourne singer-songwriter Olympia. Her voice is just sublime, and the song is ridiculously catchy.

Olympia will celebrate the release of “Tourists” with a show at Shebeen in Melbourne on November 24 and another a Darlinghurst’s Oxford Circus on December 3.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lily & The Bellows Release Retro Pop Gem

Sydney indie-pop bank Lily & The Bellows are taking us back to summer in the 60s with their far out new single “White Lies.”

This track reminds me of the sort of thing a retro girl group might have done, although the lyrics have a deliciously modern bite! It’s ridiculously catchy and just the thing to match your Saturday mood.

“’White Lies’ is the tale of a girl who’s willing to risk her family and friends just to live a day in fantasy land,” explained frontwoman Lily So. “Her friends are models and rich kids with old money. In the end she loses everything and becomes everything she fears; just a poor, ordinary girl.”

What do you think of this retro-inspired single?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nakatomi Take it Back to the 80s with “The Knife”

There’s nothing like a little 80s inspired electro-pop to wake me up in the morning. This Humpday slice comes courtesy of Adelaide duo Nakatomi and their latest single “The Knife.”

“The Knife is about the downward spiral of bad experiences or relationships, but choosing to see some beauty in the fall rather than getting consumed by it,” lead vocalist Emily Smart explained in the press release. “We worked with Badcop (Tkay Maidza) on the sound design and sought out Melbourne producer-engineer, Jimi Maroudas (Kimbra, Bertie Blackman) to produce and mix, and tracking was done at the amazing Chapel Lane Studios in Adelaide.”

She also explained a little about the very cool retro film clip.

“We had this idea to go with a sci-fi 80s vibe for this clip, so we contacted a great local film director named Aaron Schuppan and set him the challenge to create something inspired by movies such as Blade Runner,” she said. “Thankfully Aaron was just as excited about this idea as we were and proposed that our film clip take the form of a movie trailer for an amazing, lost tech-noir film from the 80s, but something with genuine emotion at its core. Aaron threw together a crazy script, and our only thought was, if he can pull this off, this is going to be epic!”

And epic it is! Now given their love for all things 80s, it’s hardly surprising that Nakatomi took their name from Nakatomi Plaza in the Die Hard flicks. However, the duo’s quick to point out that it’s also the ancestral name of the great Fujiwara clan.

Nakatomi will be hitting the road in just a couple of days to promote “The Knife.” Here are all the places you can see them do their thing.

30 October 2015 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
20 November 2015 – Pow! @ Mynt Lounge, Werribee
22 November 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 November 2015 – Oxford Art Gallery Bar, Darlinghurst

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kathleen Mary Lee Casts a Spell with “Fine Times”

Don’t you just love when you hear those songs that stop you in your tracks? “Fine Times,” the first studio release from Kathleen Mary Lee, is one of those songs.

It has such a magical, almost medieval quality to it. The presser compares her to Lana Del Rey, but I think there’s much more fragility and mysticism about what Kathleen Mary Lee does. When I read that she was obsessed with fairy tales I thought that makes perfect sense. Can’t you just imagine hearing a fairy singing this song in a dark, woodland setting? Or is that just me?

I love the lyrics too, which tell of a relationship that’s failing with such sadness and poignancy coupled with the optimism of what might lay ahead. What a special song.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kevin Dolan Impresses with “Modern Times”

I appreciate music of all genres, but if I had to pick a favourite, gun to my head, it would be folk. I love the way the best folk music tells a story and soothes the soul. So I was thrilled when Irish-born, Melbourne-based musician Kevin Dolan got in touch to tell me about his new song “Modern Times.”

Now trust me, just writing to me is no guarantee that I’m going to feature your music. I get too many emails and I have too little time to write about everything that lands in my inbox. But the gritty honest truth of this song got me. It reminded me a little of something Glen Hansard might write, so perhaps it’s not so unexpected that Kevin cites The Frames’ frontman as an influence.

“Modern Times” is the first track lifted from Kevin’s debut EP Home Movies, which will be released on November 1. He’ll support its release with a launch at Bar Open on November 15.