Feel like getting fired up? Then wrap your ears around the aptly named “Fire!”, the explosive new single from Riki and the Rants.
This is so much fun with its spandex and feathers and blue-faced men. It’s old school rock and roll, dynamic and theatrical with a spirit that Freddie Mercury would be proud of.
And best of all, it’s just been released digitally today. If you’re in Melbourne I suggest you get to The Toff on March 19 for what’s sure to be an entertaining launch show!
Our very own Guy Sebastian has lent his voice to “Bed of Clouds,” the debut solo single from Montreal rapper Swift K.I.D.
“Bed of Clouds” is the follow-up to “Hey Hey Hey”, a triple-platinum collaboration between Swift K.I.D., Laurent Wery, and Dev. Guy said he “really loved that track,” so he jumped at the chance to be involved with Swift K.I.D.’s next musical venture.
“He is a cool cat and got some good things coming,” Guy said.
I really love the way Guy’s soulful voice works with Swift K.I.D.’s rapping. There’s also great potential here. “Hey Hey Hey” chalked up more than eight million views online. Can you imagine what it’d do for Guy’s career abroad if this song got similar attention?
“Bed of Clouds” is available for digital download now.
Melbourne double act Colour Bomb blew me away with their debut single “On the Run,” and I’m just as impressed by their follow-up effort “Beautiful Parade.”
This track isn’t quite so epic, but it’s incredible likable. It’s unashamedly pop, but with a classic bent that helps set it apart from the throwaway tunes flooding commercial radio. The film clip’s also every bit as colourful as the band’s name.
It seems I’m not the only one who approves either. The video is currently Rage’s Indie Clip of the Week!
You might just want to wait until you’re out of the office before you tune in. There’s a little bit of nudity towards the end that the boss may frown upon!
So many modern tracks suffer from being oversung, overproduced, and just plain overdone. So it’s refreshing to hear a track like “Warned” by Melbourne act Alex Watts & the Foreign Tongue.
This is really raw stuff, with dirty vocals and gritty instrumentation. There’s a little too much reverb in the guitars, but that only adds to the appeal. Rather than studio trickery, I’m hearing something that could have been produced in any garage. Or at least a garage that had a visit from the horn section of The Australian Ska Orchestra!
Love it? Well get yourself a copy for free! Alex Watts & the Foreign Tongue are giving it away via their website!
I’ve always found the music of Abbe May a bit hit and miss. When she was on, she floored me with her raw, feminine power. But when her musical experiments didn’t work, they left me cold. Thankfully she’s back to her best with her kickass new single “T.R.O.U.B.L.E”.
I love the way the electronic tones work with Abbe’s haunting falsetto. It’s all so very sexy and raw. There’s so much swagger about it. I love it. If this is the kind of music we can look forward to when Abbe releases her new album Kiss My Apocalypse in May, sign me up.
Few of us remember the talent show contestants that fail to make the finals. But for me, Ngaiire was the exception to the rule. So many years since she was snubbed for the Australian Idol finals, I still remember her time on the show. So I’m thrilled to see she’s back in the spotlight with a new single and an album on the way in June.
That single is “Dirty Hercules,” the first song lifted from her debut album Lamentations. It’s a sultry, smouldering number that showcases Ngaiire’s voice beautifully. It reminded me a lot of something Sade might have released in her heyday. I expected a bit more spice from Ngaiire, but perhaps she’s saving that for future singles.
If you’re as excited as I am to hear more of Ngaiire’s music, make sure you catch her when she tours “Dirty Hercules” this month.
9 March 2013 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
10 March 2013 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
16 & 17 March 2013 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba
23 March 2013 – Republic Bar, Hobart
29 March 2013 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
30 March 2013 – FBi Social Club, King’s Cross
12 April 2013 – The Joynt, Brisbane
13 April 2013 – Full Moon Party, Noosa
14 April 2013 – Buddha Bar, Byron Bay
Image used with permission from Heapsaflash
Darren Cross has put his days in Gerling behind him to forge a brand new alt-country duo with Jessica Cassar. Together they’re Jep and Dep, the talents behind this gorgeous new song “Ain’t Coming Back.”
I adore the way this number breathes new life into the tired old love song genre. There’s none of the whining and pining. Instead Jep and Dep sing about getting out at the right time and moving forward. Its lyrics are also as poetic as any I’ve heard of late. The track gives us a taste of what’s in store when the double act launches their debut EP, Through the Night, on March 13.
If you love what you hear, get your skates on. Jep and Dep will give music lovers a sneak peek at the EP when they headline a show at the Oxford Arts Factory tonight. If you’ve missed it don’t worry; they’ll formally launch their EP at the following shows.
17 March 2013 – Green Room, Enmore
23 March 2013 – Earth Hour @ Midnight Special, Newtown
7 April 2013 – Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne
12 April 2013 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
Australia’s quirky electronica pioneers sonicanimation are heading out on the road this month for a long-awaited national tour.
It’s been some time since sonicanimation have toured the country, but they’ve got good reason to get back in front of fans. Tomorrow they’ll release Once More From the Bottom, their first full length album since 2006. I’ve heard we can expect big breaks, fat synths, and a whole lot of fun.
Get in on the action when sonicanimation hits Australia’s pubs and clubs in March and April.
21 March 2013 – Oxford Art Factory Sydney
22 March 2013 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
23 March 2013 – Clubhouse, Krave Nightclub, Canberra
28 March 2013 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
29 March 2013 – Good Revolution Friday, Yarra Hotel, Geelong
30 March 2013 – The Toff, Melbourne
4 April 2013 – The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
5 April 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane
6 April 2013 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
Image used with permission from Remedy Music
It seems I’m a little late to jump on to the Sticky Fingers bandwagon. When radio listeners voted their song “Caress Your Soul” into the number 61 spot on the last Hottest 100, I was still clueless. But now that I’ve heard their third single “Australia Street”, I’m hooked.
It’s not just the patriotism that’s won me over. The song has such an intriguing mix of hip hop, ska, and rock. I also love the band’s story. Drummer beaker and bass player Paddy Fingers met their lead singer Dylan Frost when he was busking outside Newtown’s Coopers Arms hotel. Now that’s rock and roll.
Surely the hype will amp up once Sticky Fingers release their debut album, also called Caress Your Soul, tomorrow. They’re also doing things the right way and taking the music to as many people as they can. You can get in on the ground floor when Sticky Fingers visit a town near you soon!
22 March 2013 – Manning Bar, Sydney
23 March 2013 – Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
27 March 2013 – Rosemount Hotel, Northbridge
28 March 2013 – The Prince Hotel, Bunbury
30 March 2013 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 April 2013 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
12 April 2013 – Republic Bar, Hobart
13 April 2013 – Royal Oaks, Launceston
18 April 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane
19 April 2013 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
20 April 2013 – The Big Pineapple Festival, Sunshine Coast
20 April 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
10 May 2013 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
Boom! Bap! Pow! delivers one of the most memorable lyrics in recent years in the chorus of their infectious new pop gem “Suit”. I’m not sure whether the object of lead singer Novac Bull’s affection should be flattered or scared!
Either way, the song’s a sassy little number. It’s unashamedly pop, but there’s an unusual dark edge to it. I also love the big band feel the retro brass instrumentation brings. If this song’s any indication, we’re in for great things when Boom! Bap! Pow! Release their album So Heavy in the middle of 2013.