Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Riptides Finally Release Debut Album, 30 Years After Recording It

If ever there was a story about perseverance, it’s the story of The Riptides. The Brisbane-born band are preparing to release their debut album Tombs of Gold this week, 30 years after it was recorded.

That’s no typo. The band finally got the financing they needed to take their music to the masses after a successful PledgeMusic campaign. It’s stories like this that make me love the capabilities of the internet.

For those of you who don’t know, The Riptides quickly became darlings of the Sydney music scene when they relocated in 1980. They drew big crowds and gained a reputation as one of the nation’s best live music acts. They did it old school, funding time in the studio, booking and running their live shows, and even building their own PA system in their own truck. Then they signed a record deal and the metaphorical wheels fell off. Mark Callaghan moved on to GANGgajang and The Riptides became a distant memory.

Thankfully now it’s 2014, and the internet has helped musicians and their fans forge connections outside of the industry. Mark reacquired the rights to that album and set about finally getting it into the hands of those loyal fans. The PledgeMusic campaign helped not just to distribute the album, but to transfer those analogue tapes to a digital format for remixing.

“The album is finally finished and sounds just like I always wanted it to,” Mark explained. “It was recorded in our prime but thanks to these great mixes, it also sounds like it could have been recorded this year”.

The release of Tombs of Gold on October 31 should appeal to fans new and old, with digital, CD, and limited edition gold vinyl LP versions available. You can preorder your preferred version on the PledgeMusic campaign page.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lisa Mitchell Makes the World Feel Better with “Wah Ha”

Oh Lisa Mitchell, how I’ve missed you. I didn’t even realise quite how much until I heard your new song “Wah Ha” and felt instantly at peace. Its melody is so beautiful and you sing it so sweetly and its lyrics are so relatable.

And to you, dear readers, I’m sorry I stumbled across this one so late. Apparently Lisa unleashed it ages ago and life’s been moving at such a frantic pace that I didn’t realise. And sadly now there are only a couple more days where you can download it for free on Soundcloud. So click-click-click without delay!

Lisa’s going to play a couple of shows in London next month (oh you lucky Brits!) before she heads to country Victoria to record album number three. At least we Aussies know more music’s on the way. If you’re in the UK, you can catch Lisa at the following shows.

12 November 2014 – The Islington, London
13 November 2014 – The Slaughtered Lamb, London
15 November 2014 – Rough Trade West, London

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Citizen Kay Makes Powerful Statement with “Freedoom”

I was really impressed with Citizen Kay when he burst onto the scene a couple of years ago. Rap isn’t usually my genre of choice, but I loved the way he blended it with big funky brass and created tracks brimming with positivity. He’s gone a bit darker with his latest song “Freedoom,” but I really appreciate the message behind it. I don’t normally post big slabs of quotes but I think Citizen Kay explains how the song came about better than anything I could write.

“’Freedoom’ is a song I’d actually written around the same time as Manage but it was so, so different to anything else I’d ever written around that time because it was inspired so differently to any other track I’d written,” Citizen Kay explained in a press release. “I was searching the net pointlessly one day, watching news reports around the world and random videos etc. when I clicked on a news story from America about some gang on gang/black on black shootings that had happened in a local area and how they’d escalated to the point where innocent people were being shot and killed simply because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Now being someone that’s lived in Australia for most of my life, I’ve always found these things almost unbelievable. As I was watching this news documentary there was one guy in particular being interviewed about his thoughts on everything and how the community could better itself and absolutely everything he talked about he used the word ‘we.’ After a bit the reporter picked up on it and asked why he kept saying ‘we’ and if it implied that he had any part of it and he responded with something along the lines of ‘Yeah, I have a part in it … you have a part in it and everyone on the planet has a part in it.’ He went on to explain that these things will never stop until ‘we’ make the true and conscious effort to strive for peace.

“There were more specifics about black people killing fellow ‘brothers’ as well for the most part of the video and from that I began writing lyrics but doing so from their perspective (particularly the one guy in the interview). I thought about what he might say if he was the one writing the song and ‘Freedoom’ is what came from it. It’s heart-breaking to see any sort of unnecessary violence anywhere or to anyone so although the song really had nothing to specifically do with me, it actually meant a lot more to me that a lot of other songs I’d written and that’s simply because it’s probably one of the only songs I’ve written completely from someone else’s shoes but still somehow, at the same time felt like it could have been me.”

“Freedoom” comes from Demokracy, a mini-album set for digital and CD release on November 7. Citizen Kay will celebrate its release with his own shows ahead of supporting Ice Cube on his sold-out shows around the country.

1 November 2014 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
7 November 2014 – Cats @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide
8 November 2014 – Laundry Bar, Melbourne
21 November 2014 – Academy, Canberra
28 November 2014 – The Roller Den, Sydney
29 November 2014 – CoLAB Festival @ Oak Lawn, UWA, Nedlands

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

See Virtual Slow Chase Show to Celebrate Single Release

Australian-UK collaboration Slow Chase are showing plenty of swagger with their new single “Exorcism.” It’s a down and dirty slice of blues which marks a return to form for the band which haven’t released anything since their 2012 debut EP.

Slow Chase will celebrate the October 13 single release with a live YouTube show at 9pm AEST before hitting the road for a string of dates.

17 October 2014 – Musicman Megastore, Bendigo
18 October 2014 – The Loft, Warrnambool
25 October 2014 – Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
31 October 2014 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
14 November 2014 – Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong
20 November 2014 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Inventions Do Things Differently

Melbourne band Inventions chose their name because they never want to sit still. It’s the brainchild of frontman Jake Leaney, who spent time auditioning musicians who could help bring his video to life. Together they honed their unique blend of alternative-rock, pop, and punk for 12 months before unleashing their debut EP.

The epic lead single “Shadows” gives you a taste of what this band’s all about. It’s big and gutsy, perhaps even to the point of being melodramatic. But it doesn’t do things by halves, and I like that.

Inventions will celebrate the EP and single releases with a string of shows that kick off tomorrow night in their home town.

2 October 2014 – The Curtin, Melbourne
8 October 2014 – The Rosemount Hotel, Perth
10 October 2014 – Ya-Ya’s, Perth
11 October 2014 – YMCA HQ, Perth
23 October 2014 – The Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
1 November 2014 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
2 November 2014 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
6 November 2014 – Rad, Wollongong
8 November 2014 – Valve Bar, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Twinsy Get us Through Monday with “Tear it Down”


Mondayitis can hit hard, but Ballarat trio Twinsy are here to help you get through it with their single “Tear It Down.” The anthemic single is a real winner, with melodic hooks, driving drumbeats, and a sing-along chorus. It’s our first taste of Twinsy’s new EP Espiritus, which is due out on October 31.

“’Tear It Down’ started coming together while on tour, somewhere between New York and Washington and we ended up finishing it in a tent the day before we played Splendour in the Grass,” explained one third of the group, Guy Chappell.

Has “Tear It Down” impressed you?

Image used with permission from Dew Process

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Calm Collected Make Me Smile

If you’re looking for the next pop act to brighten up your weekend, then look no further than Perth four-piece Calm Collected. The lads recently released the catchy as hell single “Nothing Like the Movies” ahead of the October 13 launch of their EP Give Me Your Worst.

The quartet might not be breaking new ground here, but it’s an awful lot of fun. I love those big pop hooks, and I was tapping my toe in time before the song’s end. It’s also impressive that frontman Tim Tan writes the band’s songs himself and is a dab hand in the producer’s chair. Add the instrumental skills of all involved and you’ve got an act that’s got the edge over many of the pop artists on the charts.

Catch them at The Nexus Arts Centre in Adelaide on October 3.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Ottewell Celebrates Local Release of Rattlebag with Acoustic Shows

Incomparable Gomez frontman Ben Ottewell will bring his solo show to Australia next month. He’ll showcase the songs from his forthcoming release Rattlebag, some old favourites, and even some surprising covers in these intimate, acoustic shows.

Rattlebag again sees Ben collaborating with his childhood buddy Sam Genders.

“Sam and I grew up together in a little village called Bonsall in Derbyshire and have been friends since childhood. I love his songwriting — the stuff he did with his bands Tunng and The Accidental, particularly lyrically.”

Ben Ottewell’s tour kicks off in Fremantle on October 24, the same day that Rattlebag gets a local release. It might seem a bit of a gamble getting tickets for concerts showcasing a brand new album, but this sublime stripped back performance of “Rattlebag” should put your mind at ease.

24 October 2014 – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle
25 October 2014 – Four5Nine, Perth
26 October 2014 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
29 October 2014 – Newtown Social Club, Newtown
30 October 2014 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
31 October 2014 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
1 November 2014 – The Bunker, Coogee
2 November 2014 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
3 November 2014 – Substation, Newport
5 November 2014 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
6 November 2014 – Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Miss Elm’s “Bitter Taste” is Oh So Good

Brisbane’s Miss Elm are giving us a sneak peek of their new EP, Hybrid, with the release of the sassy new single “Bitter Taste.” I love the blend of sugar meets sour in this tale of a jilted lover. It’s pop with a dark undercurrent that’s just so delicious.

Miss Elm will celebrate the release of “Bitter Taste” with an East Coast tour, which kicks off in the band’s hometown on October 2. Here are all the places you can catch them play.

2 October 2014 – The Globe Theatre, Brisbane
10 October 2014 – The Petersham Bowls Club, Sydney
24 October 2014 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
25 October 2014 – Currumbin Creek Tavern, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Pricewar Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Secret City Release Eye-Popping Animated Clip

Sydney band The Secret City have outdone themselves with their incredible video for new single “Little Darling.” This animated clip is Dreamworks worthy stuff, which tells a timeless tale of a boy and girl thwarted in their quest for love. Sure, most love stories don’t take place inside clocks, but I’m sure you’ll be able to relate. Major props go to Big Cookie Studios for their work on this.

And the song itself is pretty fabulous too. It’s a beautiful marriage really, with gorgeous visuals matching a really unique blend of folk and pop.

I hear these guys are incredible live, with three dynamic performers out front of an ever-changing cast of bass players, drummers, keyboardists, and programmers. You can find out for yourself when The Secret City launch “Little Darling” at the following shows.

17 October 2014 – Lazy Bones, Marrickville, NSW
6 November 2014 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
8 November 2014 – Ric’s, Brisbane
30 November 2014 – Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham