Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Prudence Rees-Lee Does It Her Way with “Emmanuelle”

Prudence Rees-Lee shows she’s not afraid of bucking current musical trends with her sultry debut single “Emanuelle.”

Perhaps it’s not surprising that this unusual song has an exotic feel to it. The Melbourne University music graduate spent more time studying in Berlin before visiting the Ashrams of South India and the UFO landing sites of the Mojave Desert.

The track channels Serge Gainsbourg and pays tribute both to Sylvia Kristel’s erotic cinema icon and the religious figure Immanuel-Hebrew! If you’re intrigued by all that, make sure you check out Prudence’s debut album Court Music from the Planet of Love, which should hit stores in April.

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Planet Love Sound Go Bold with “MIddle of Nowhere”

Melbourne expats Planet Love Sound dare to do it differently with their latest track “Middle of Nowhere.”

I’m honestly still trying to work out whether I love this song from the Berlin-based Aussies or not. It’s a bit like an avante garde piece of artwork in that way. It’s challenging, and I know I probably don’t understand it completely. But I’ve got a healthy respect for it nonetheless.

The film clip’s also left me scratching my head. I love its drama and colour, but I can’t say I really get it though. It’s worth noting that it features some mud-covered nudity too, so you might want to wait until you leave the office until you check it out.

“Middle of Nowhere” comes from Part Two, Planet Love Sound’s latest EP and a companion piece to their former EP Part One. It’s available now via Planet Love Sound’s website and iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tokyo Denmark Sweden Win Me Over

What a difference the right song makes. When I first heard from Tokyo Denmark Sweden, I dismissed them pretty quickly. I just couldn’t connect to their last single “Lights Off” at all. But they’ve won me over with their newie “When it Breaks.”

This is a dreamy melodic gem, with the right amount of retro charm. It’s perfect for this warm weather we’ve all been enjoying. I’m not sure a song’s made me do such a dramatic 180!

Tokyo Denmark Sweden will support the release of “When it Breaks” with a tour of the East Coast, which kicks off their hometown of Sydney tomorrow.

7 December 2012 – Mum @ The World Bar, Sydney
13 December 2012 – Lambda Lambda Lambda @ Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
31 December 2012 – Peats Ridge Festival, Peats Ridge
11 January 2012 – Beresford Hotel, Sydney (FREE)
1 February 2012 – The Espy, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mia Dyson Sings About Forced Adoptions in “Jesse”

Those stellar singles just keep coming from Mia Dyson’s latest album The Moment. The newest is “Jesse,” a gut-wrenching song which shines a light on forced adoptions. Mia was moved to write the song after a fan, Lesley Pearse, poured her heart out after a show.

“Lesley’s story had a profound effect on me,” said Dyson. “As an unwed mother in the early 70s, she was sent to live out her pregnancy away from family and friends, told she was an unfit parent and coerced by social workers into signing papers to hand her baby over under immense pressure,” Mia explained.

“The idea that this was not just a one-off, but a systemic atrocity that has affected both mothers and their children for decades after really shocked me,” said Dyson. “I was driven to write Jesse as I think that understanding and sharing their story is the best tribute we can give to these brave women as we move towards a national apology in 2013.”

I’m so impressed with the way Mia has tapped into the soul of this story. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’d lived it herself. This is one of those songs that really makes you sit up and pay attention.

Mia will support the release of “Jesse” with the following shows.

9 December 2012 – Courthouse Arts, Geelong
10 January 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
11 January 2013 – Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
12 January 2013 – Woombye Hotel, Sunshine Coast
25 January 2013 – Portsea Hotel, Portsea
17 February 2013 – Riverboat Festival, Echuca

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Staffords Rock Out with New Single

Melbourne rock act The Staffords have created a real gem in their sophomore single “Love Your Job.”

This song is unashamedly catchy with just the right amount of rock edge. You just see if you’re not singing along to the chorus by the end of it! The B-side “All Your Dead Heroes” is another crowd pleaser. You can hear both tunes now on The Staffords’ Bandcamp page.

These tracks have all the mainstream appeal of something coming from a major label, so I was impressed to read the band’s independent and self-managed. Clearly they’ve got a real ear for the kind of music that makes people happy. However the dark cynicism showcased in their lyrics ensure they’re not just another cookie-cutter pop-rock act.

Hometown fans can catch The Staffords playing the new single and other tracks at The Cornish Arms in Brunswick on December 15. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time before we see them travelling around the rest of the country!

Image source: The Staffords Bandcamp page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Full Tote Odds Go Retro

Full Tote Odds step back in time with the video for “Adrenaline,” the latest single from their debut album Place Your Bets.

The Adelaide outfit are proud of their hip hop sound, but they’ve given it a soulful edge with this fun film clip. With its irresistible vocal hook and persistent guitar line, it wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a real 60s variety show!

If you like what you hear, make sure you check out the rest of Place Your Bets which is in stores now.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cordrazine Announce Rare Melbourne Show

Cordrazine fans have never had it easy. The band’s debut album shot its way into the top ten back in 1997, around the same time the group disbanded.

A little more than a decade later, frontman Hamish Cowan found a new crew and released the band’s long awaited follow-up Always Coming Down. They played three shows to support the release, and then Hamish went AWOL.

You can hardly blame the guy. After suffering an accident at work and the breakdown of his marriage, he escaped to Europe. He worked as a lifeguard at a Bulgarian summer camp, became passionate about running triathlons, and found a new home in Edinburgh.

It seems the hiatus has done Hamish some good, because he’s returning home for one very special show at the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on December 20. This is the first gig Cordrazine have played in two years, so it’s a must-attend for fans. The band has also just released the video for the album’s title track that they shot way back in February of last year. It’s a timely reminder of just how talented this band is.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ginger & The Ghost Release Stunning New Single

Ginger & The Ghost have really impressed me with “One Type of Dark,” the first single lifted from their forthcoming EP.

The title really clues you in to what kind of track this is. It’s brooding and moody, the kind of song that takes me back to my days as an angsty teenager listening to too much Tori Amos. It’s not simply a gloomy song though. There’s a lovely interplay of light and shade, with the steady minimalist finger-picking rhythm juxtaposed with pounding percussion. You rarely hear songs with this much drama.

Ginger says it’s a song about her “inner child’s imagination. As she leaves a subconscious dream state in bed, she floats out of the window and into thoughts of otherworldly places. Questions with infinite possibilities are asked while visions of herself play out fantastical adventures across far away galaxies. It’s a celebration of our imagination and the importance of keeping it.”

Whatever it is, it’s beautiful. Don’t you agree?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Christo Jones Impresses with “Anyway”

Sydney solo act Christo Jones makes a big impression with his debut single “Anyway.”

This is such a rich, lush song created with Christo’s unique towering rig which features guitars, keyboards, samplers, and pedals. I love the way he literally builds his music, adding layer upon layer. His eclectic influences also make his music something really different. “Anyway” starts off with an African tribal chant and closes with a gentle Irish waltz. Who else is making music like this?

It’s so exciting to uncover an artist who’s truly shaking things up. Expect to hear big things from Christo Jones.

Image used with permission from Tiny Monster

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Northmost Making Homegrown Music

Northmost are a band doing it their way. The housemates from the New South Wales North Coast recorded their debut single “One More” in their own home studio, and shot the video in their backyard.

Understandably without the backing of a big production house, things are a little rough around the edges. However Northmost show a real pop-rock sensibility that’s infectious. According to their YouTube page they “have a lot more music coming soon,” so watch this space!