Perth electronic artist Angus Dawson has released a fantastic new video for his cool new single “Atticus Finch.”
When many of us think of electronic music, we think of studio wizardry, songs created by computers rather than real instruments. But Angus challenges our perceptions here, performing live in an abandoned quarry in Darlington. The dramatically rugged backdrop reinforces that this performance is as real as it gets. It’s a beautiful track with a dreamy sax line.
“Atticus Finch” comes from Angus’ Ellesmere Street EP. He’s currently in the middle of a tour to promote the EP. You can still catch him at the Worker’s Club in Melbourne on July 31 and Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Perth on August 5.
Sydney’s Sloan Peterson has put a spring in my step this Saturday with her defiant new single “Rats,” the second lifted from her self-titled EP. The track somehow has a gritty garage rock feel and a retro charm. I’m not even sure how that all works together, but Sloan pulls it off.
“‘Rats’ was written about low-lifes who wanna make something out of themselves, ratbags and teenagers who are on their own in a big city,” she explained in her press release. “I had a pretty rough couple of years between 13-16 living up in Brisbane, being involved with bad company, never attending school among other horrible situations, and this song speaks to how I was feeling after coming out of such a whirlwind, trying to start all over again in Sydney by myself at only 16.”
The Sloan Peterson EP is available from September 8 via Mirror Records. You can catch her live at Wollongong’s The Last Frost Festival on August 19 and Sounds of the Suburbs in Cronulla on September 3.
Like so many music lovers, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr G Yunupingu this morning. He was one of our most special musical artists, who is just 46 years made his mark, first with Yothu Yindi and then with his solo career.
He was born on Elcho Island, off north east Arnhemland. Despite being born blind, music was in his veins and he taught himself how to play the drums, keyboards, guitar, and didgeridoo. But it was his voice that I’ll remember most. Though I didn’t speak a word of his Yolngu language, I felt like I understood his music. He communicated with us all with something more than words.
Dr G Yunupingu went on to sell over half a million copies of his albums across the world. He played for everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Barack Obama. Yet he remained connected his community. He passed away yesterday in Darwin Hospital after a long battle with illness.
I want to share this video with you, his music with you. Take a moment just to stop and appreciate the legacy he left for us.
Melbourne soul pioneer and Bamboos founder Lance Ferguson has offered us a taste of his first solo album Raw Material with the release of the single “Back to You.”
The funky, feel good track is really the perfect showcase of what this album is all about. It samples “2+1,” which Lance recorded with his Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist. Lance loves working with samples, taking the original song and recutting it and recreating it until it’s something fresh. “Back to You” also sees Lance working with One Above, EMRSN, and Melbourne MC Mosé. This album might be technically a solo endeavour, but Lance does his best work when he’s bouncing off the creative energy of others.
The album is one of the more unique on the musical landscape. The creative process say Lance writing and recording twelve new songs. He pressed each one onto individual vinyl singles. He kept the first and sent the second to his favourite producers, encouraging them to sample the song they received and use it to start a new track. The first disc gives us the reworked versions, including six songs remastered by Lance. The second shows us the original recordings.
Holy Holy is one of those Aussie bands that doesn’t seem to put a foot wrong. Usually by the fourth single from an album some fatigue sets in, but that’s not the case with these guys. The new synth-heavy electro pop single “True Lovers” is something different from the band, but I’m digging it.
The single comes with a brand new clip directed by Aussie artist Erin Van Occi featuring footage from cinematographer Thom Neal.
Holy Holy is currently on tour around Australia. Many of these shows were sell outs, but if you’re lucky you’ll still find a ticket or two for the remaining gigs.
13 July 2017 – Mojos, Fremantle
14 July 2017 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
15 July 2017 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
Matt Joe Gow has reminded me just how much I love his music with the release of a new music video for “Bottle It Up, Pass It On.” This song was one of the many standouts of his 2016 album Seven Years. I love its Springsteenesque vibe, with its raw lyrics, quietly powerful vocals, and that Americana feel to the instrumentation. This is quality stuff.
Matt Joe Gow will play Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on July 22 and Geelong’s Pistol Pete’s Blues Bar in August (date TBC).
Tanzer has cast a spell over me with her truly original new single “Sleep.”
There isn’t a lot of music that’s as unique as this song. It defies convention. It’s like some kind of dark, trippy lullaby. I wasn’t sure I “got it” at first, and I’m still not sure I understand it completely but I’m drawn to it anyway. And Tanzer’s vocals, hushed and soothing at points, operatic at others, are undeniable. The film clip is also just as off-the-wall as the track.
Take a chance on this one. It’s really something special.
“Sleep” comes from Tanzer’s Four Love Songs by Tanzer EP, which is available for digital download or as a stunning red glittery heart-shaped vinyl album from Tanzer’s Bandcamp page.
Mondays are never kind at the best of times. But I’m having one of those Mondays that has me staring at my list of deadlines and thinking “Yeah, this cannot possibly get done.” If Monday is kicking your butt too, you’ll want to crank the Pierce Brothers‘ latest single.
“Take Me Out” is one of my favourite songs from The Pierce Brothers’ newie The Records Were Ours, a swampy, bluesy, foot-stomping track that has all the right ingredients to fire you up on this winter workday.
“We’ve been wanting to write a riff based blues track for a long time,” the Pierce Brothers said, “and ‘Take Me Out’ started with the riff first. We both got excited when we started it and we’re really happy with where we got it.”
The Pierce Brothers are just about the kick off their European tour. They’ll then head home for some shows before jetting off to the States. Where will you see them?
8 July 2017 – Cornbury Music Festival, Oxfordshire
9 July 2017 – Linton Music Festival, Ross-on-Wye
10 July 2017 – Thekla, Bristol
11 July 2017 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
13 July 2017 – Studio 2, Liverpool
14 July 2017 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
15 July 2017 – Zwarte Cross 2017, Lichtenvoorde
16 July 2017 – 4 Daagse, Nijmegen
22 July 2017 – Colours of Ostrava 2017, Ostrava
27 July 2017 – Dr Koncerthuset, Copenhagen
29 July 2019 – Stonerock Festival 2017, Bad Bentheim
6 August 2017 – Festival Esperanzah! 2017, Floreffe
11 August 2017 – Fairports Cropready Convention 2017, Banbury
25 August 2017 – Mojos, Fremantle
26 August 2017 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
31 August 2017 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
1 September 2017 – Uno Bandroom, Geelong
2 September 2017 – Studio Theatre, Darwin
7 September 2017 – The Northern, Byron Bay
8 September 2017 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
9 September 2017 – Solbar, Maroochydore
13 September 2017 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
14 September 2017 – The Grans, Mornington
15 September 2017 – 170 Russel, Melbourne
16 September 2017 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
22 September 2017 – The Warehouse, Newcastle
28 September 2017 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
29 September 2017 – Metropolis, Montreal
30 September 2017 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston
2 October 2017 – The Bowery Ballroom, New York
3 October 2017 – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn
5 October 2017 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia
6 October 2017 – 9:30 Club, Washington
7 October 2017 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
9 October 2017 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
10 October 2017 – Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
11 October 2017 – The recordBar, Kansas City
16 October 2017 – Ogden Theater, Denver
18 October 2017 – The Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
20 October 2017 – Fonda Theater, Hollywood
21 October 2017 – The Fillmore, San Francisco
23 October 2017 – Wonder Ballroom, Portland
24 October 2017 – Neptune Theater, Seattle
25 October 2017 – Commodore Theater, Vancouver
I’m feeling a little angsty this Saturday morning. I worked late last night and I’ve got so much on that I know I won’t get a chance to really enjoy my weekend the way they’re meant to be enjoyed. It’s not fun stuff either. Right now I’m wading my way through a rather depressing article on what a Trump presidency means for non-profit organisations in the United States. Moods like mine right now call for a song like “Coffee at Midnight” by Sydney trio Stand Atlantic.
With powerful vocals from frontwoman Bonnie Fraser and big crunchy chords, this is just the kind of attitude-filled number that I needed to hear right now. We’re likely to hear a lot more from the band too, because Stand Atlantic is the first Aussie act signed to Rude Records international roster.
“We are stoked and excited to welcome Stand Atlantic to the Rude Records family!” confirmed a Rude Records rep. “They are such talented young and ambitious artists, in addition to being super cool people. We are beyond thrilled that our paths have crossed and can’t wait to share their music with the world!”
Is “Coffee at Midnight” striking the right chord for your Saturday?
“At First Sight” is one of my favourite songs from the ‘80s. So I’m thrilled to see The Stems, the Perth band who brought it to you, are set to make a long-awaited return to the live scene this November.
The shows will celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Stems’ breakthrough debut First Sight Violets Are Blue, one of the best-selling albums of 1987 despite a lack of commercial airplay. Rediscover what made The Stems such an iconic Aussie act at the following shows.
9 November 2017 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
10 November 2017 – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
11 November 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide
17 November 2017 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
18 November 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane