Boy & Bear’s latest album Harlequin Dream is still doing great business in the charts. Perhaps that’s because this Aussie act is just so consistent. There’s no second–single syndrome going on with the latest cut “Three Headed Woman”. Perhaps it’s just because it’s new and shiny, but I think I like this track better than the first single “Under a Southern Sun”.
It was always going to take something to top that icy first film clip too, but this slow motion masterpiece might have just done it. Why does everything look so much cooler in slow mo? I don’t know, but this is one polished piece of video.
The Melbourne rockers formerly known as The Toot Toot Toots are back with a brand new name and a great new single. They’ve released their latest track “Badlove” under their new moniker Twin Beasts.
It’s a bit rough around the edges, but I think that’s one of the things I love most about it. It wears its heart on its sleeve, warts and all.
The song is the title track from the band’s follow-up to their debut album Outlaws. Its creation saw Twin Beasts in lockdown for a month with ARIA-nominated producer Burke Reid (The Drones, Oh Mercy, Gerling), focusing on their craft and the themes of love, lust, and infatuation. The album won’t hit stores until early 2014, but this song should help tide fans over.
After taking out a global LiveNation band competition and opening for Fall Out Boy abroad, EMPRA are stepping things up as headliners. The Melbourne band has just released their second EP Strange Condition, which features this killer title track “Strange Condition”.
The number sounds like it’s ready for the radio. It’s got a great rock feel with enough of a pop sensibility to make it instantly accessible. It might just be the thing to put EMPRA in the spotlight, which is a good thing for the band’s founder Sanny Veloo.
Sanny originally came from Singapore, where he was a member of the band Boredphucks. The conservative Singapore people didn’t take to the band’s on-stage swearing, and when it caused a riot at a local music festival Sanny and his bandmates were banned from performing anywhere in the country.
Determined to live out his musical dreams, Sanny packed his bags for the home of AC/DC, Melbourne. There he found Matt Agius, Mat Gault, and Matt Cattanach on an internet forum and EMPRA was born.
Strange Condition showcases a band that’s matured significantly since the release of their debut self-titled EP. It sees them breaking free of their influences and finding their own sound.
You can see how far EMPRA’s come when they take their live show around the country later this month.
21 & 22 September 2013 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
29 September 2013 – The Rosemount Hotel, Perth
4 October 2013 – Newmarket Hotel, Bendigo
5 October 2013 – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
10 October 2013 – The Annandale Hotel, Annandale
Rosie Catalano shows the beauty of simplicity with her stunning new single “Hearts”. Fellow Sydney singer-songwriter Jack Carty offers guest vocals on the dreamy number, which comes from Rosie’s sophomore EP, Dreams Are Just Movies.
Rosie must be in a generous mood, because she’s offering the song as a free download for a limited time. She seems to be good at giving back, because the song was actually written as a reward for a pledger who supported the Kickstarter campaign for her first debut EP way back in 2010.
Dreams Are Just Movies is another crowd-funded release, which we can expect to see in shelves in October.
I’d always assumed that being Japanese was a prerequisite for creating J-Pop. I mean, that’s the J part, right? But the press releases are insisting differently, hailing the identical twin sisters of RubyIce as pioneers of the genre Down Under. They’re stepping out of the Asian Pop underground scene and heading into the mainstream with the release of their new single “Can’t Nobody”.
All that energy was a bit jarring as first, but as the track unfolded I found it infectious. It’s little wonder really, as the song was penned by legendary K-Pop producer Teddy Park. The flame-haired Canberra sisters Courtney and Brittany definitely do their part to make the number come alive too.
“Recording ‘Can’t Nobody’ was the absolute experience of a lifetime for us,” they said in a press statement. “This song is about not giving up, and not allowing people’s false ideas to destroy your dreams. It’s all about standing tall, holding your head high and living your dream”.
“Can’t Nobody” is officially released on September 6. RubyIce will launch the single at the free KWave Festival at Melbourne’s Federation Square on September 7.
Eskimo Joe smashed records when they appealed to their fans to fund their new album Wastelands through a crowd-funding campaign. Now those fans get a chance to see what their money’s bought with the release of the first single “Got What You Need”.
This synth-laden number is a real departure from the rock sound we’re used to. However Kav Temperley’s awesome vocals and the catchy melody should be enough to help fans embrace this new direction. Honestly I’m still making up my mind about “Got What You Need”, but I think it might be a bit of a grower.
When Eskimo Joe fans pre-order the Wastelands album, which hits stores on September 20, they’ll receive a free copy of “Got What You Need”. Alternatively the single is available as a standalone track.
Image used with permission from Alpha Entertainment
Hoy are offering us a sneak peek at their forthcoming debut album Aquaslum with the release of the lead single “Get Some Sleep”. It’s a haunting, folky ballad that should get underneath your skin from the first listen.
All that atmosphere might come from Hoy’s unconventional approach to recording. Rather than heading to a studio, the Melbourne trio chose to lay down their tracks in a Gothic church. I guess that means we can expect more magical numbers when Hoy release Aquaslum early next year.
Sibylla and Beth Stephen, better known as The Little Stevies, are back with a brand new single and an album to come. The joyous “Diamonds for Your Tea” is the title track for their third album, which is scheduled to hit stores on October 3.
If you love the song, make sure you head to The Little Stevies’ website. These lovely ladies are giving a free digital copy of the song to anyone who signs up to their e-mail list.
As they’re being so generous, you might want to give something back. The Little Stevies are encouraging anyone who loves their sound to pre-order their new album through their Pozzible campaign. With seven days to go, the sisters are less than a thousand dollars shy of their target. This money will help them promote the heck out of this release and ensure it ends up in as many music lovers’ hands as possible.
“Alligator Skin” is one of the most stellar rock songs I’ve heard in some time. It’s not exactly setting the charts on fire, but hopefully that will all change when the band behind the song, New Zealand’s Villainy, hit our shores next month.
Villainy will get in front of plenty of Aussies during their stay with shows for Big Sound and support slots with Kingswood and Jackson Firebird. Fans can expect something pretty special when these guys hit the stage. It took them just a couple of months on the live circuit to land the support slot for Incubus. They’ve also supported the likes of The Offspring and Billy Talent back home. They enjoyed rave reviews for their recent headline national tour of New Zealand.
Villainy will play the lead single and other tracks from their forthcoming album Mode. Set. Clear. at the following shows.
11 September 2013 – Big Sound New Zealand Party @ Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
12 September 2013 – Big Sound Showcase @ The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
13 September 2013 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast (supporting Kingswood)
14 September 2013 – Great Northern, Byron Bay (supporting Kingswood)
18 September 2013 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne (supporting Jackson Firebird)
19 September 2013 – The Espy Front Bar, Melbourne
20 September 2013 – Spectrum, Sydney
When ARIA-nominated producer Jan Skubisewski recruited Dan Sultan to provide guest vocals for his debut single as solo act Way of the Eagle, the result was always bound to be musical magic.
The song that came out of their work together is “Rattlesnake”, a Triple J favorite that takes us right to the cantinas of Nevada. It’s sultry and bluesy, with a dash of mariachi thrown in.
Way of the Eagle will launch this sexy single with the following shows in the major capitals.
12 September 2013 — The Zoo, Brisbane
20 September 2013 — Upstairs Beresford, Sydney (FREE)
27 September 2013 — Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Positive Feedback