Happy Valentine’s Day!

It’s Valentine’s Day. Yes it’s a Hallmark holiday, and it was a day I used to loathe as a single teen so desperate to be in love. But as a happily married adult, I think there’s something pretty sweet about a day designed to celebrate love.

My husband and I don’t make a big deal about Valentine’s Day. We buy a joint gift every year, a Wii game or a cookbook, something that will encourage us to spend some extra time together. Sometimes we eat out but with it falling mid-week I’m on cooking duty this year. Add a nice bottle of wine and you’ve got the recipe for a pretty special night in, Valentine’s Day or not.

And there’s likely to be music. I’m not sure whether it’ll make its way to the stereo tonight, but with love in the air I thought I’d post “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. It’s one of those very honest love songs that doesn’t resort to cheesy lines or clichés. Whether you’re in love or still waiting for that special person, enjoy! And to my own darling boy, happy Valentine’s day!

Chance Waters Drops Alias for “Infinity”

After five years of hiding behind the name Phatchance, Sydney hip hop act Chance Waters is ditching the moniker. It’s only fitting that Chance is performing under his own name now, because his new single “Infinity” is one of the most honest urban tracks I’ve heard in some time.

The song is so beautiful, with lush strings and some incredibly moving lyrics. Make sure you listen to those words to really appreciate what “Infinity” is all about. The tune, which drops today, comes from the forthcoming album of the same name.

Briscoe Ease Us Into the Week with “Animal”

Former Kid Confucius drummer Bart Denaro has moved on with his brand new outfit Briscoe. The Sydney-based six-piece are giving us a taste of their sound with the cruisy new single “Animal.”

The track doesn’t officially drop until February 16, but this film clip lets us listen to it early. It’s a gorgeous slow-burning number which is perfect for post-hangover Sundays. And there’s a cat in it, which we all know makes any internet video much cooler. “Animal” is the first cut to come from Briscoe’s debut album Friends Ago, which will hit stores in May.

If you like what you hear you can catch Briscoe on their single launch tour, which kicks off in their home town this week. See them at the following East Coast venues this month and the next.

16 February 2012 – GoodGod Small Club, Sydney (with The Ray Mann Three)
18 February 2012 – Phoenix Bar, Canberra (with Waterford and Tales In Space)
3 March 2012 – The Great Northern, Newcastle (with The Fearless Vampire Killers and The Owls)

Dallas Frasca Back with “All My Love”

It’s been a long time coming, but Dallas Frasca is almost ready to release her sophomore album Sound Painter.

I remember being blown away by Dallas when I saw her play at a Hunter Valley blues festival way back in 2008, and I’m thrilled to see the years haven’t mellowed her though. There’s a bit more polish to her raspy sound though, which may have come from working with acclaimed producer Andy Baldwin in New York.

Whatever it is, I’m impressed by our first taste of the album, the new single “All My Love.” It sounds great and the film clip looks much better than I’d expect for her $2.49 budget!

Andy Baldwin hasn’t polished all the edges from Dallas though. She chose to record the album with no click tracks to keep it raw and honest, with the sort of spontaneous sound that comes from a live performance. She worked with her band to smash out eleven songs in just seven days, with most numbers captured in their first or second take.

What you see is what you get with Dallas Frasca. If you want to see more of her make sure you catch her on her All My Love tour, which starts tomorrow in Adelaide. Her new album Sound Painter hits stores on April 1.

11 February 2012 – Jive, Adelaide
18 February 2012 – Cool Summer Fest, Mount Hotham
2 March 2012 – Basement 243, Brisbane
3 March 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
9 March 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
10 March 2012 – Trackside Festival, Wangaratta
11 March 2012 – Lake Mountain Festival, Marysville
18 March 2012 – Raw Festival, Mount Eliza
23 March 2012 – Junkyard, Maitland
24 March 2012 – The Square, Sydney
5-6 April 2012 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay
22 April 2012 – Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay

Children Collide Tour “Sword to a Gunfight” Single

With a brand new single “Sword to a Gunfight” burning up the airwaves, it seems the perfect time for Children Collide to announce another tour.

The single has a unique sound for the band, which frontman Johnny Mackay shed some light on.

“I was paddling down the river somewhere between Primal Scream & Boney M and ended up falling out of the boat into a time-travelling disco space-punk song which I still think is hilarious,” he explained. Well that clears that up!

The shows will give fans a sneak peek at Children Collide’s new album, Monument, which will hit stores in April. The single builds on the band’s post-punk roots and develops them into something the band has dubbed an “aural theme park.”

“There’s one or two ghost trains, a few rollercoasters and even a couple of tea-cup rides. It’s always hard to describe these things from the inside but the sound and production feels very here and now to me”

Tickets go on sale tomorrow from the venues for the upcoming shows.

9 March 2012 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
10 March 2012 – Pelly Bar, Frankston
11 March 2012 – Breath of Life, Launceston
15 March 2012 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
16 March 2012 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast
17 March 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 March 2012 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
22 March 2012 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
23 March 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
24 March 2012 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
29 March 2012 – The Gov, Adelaide
30 March 2012 – Capitol, Perth
31 March 2012 – Players Bar, Mandurah
1 April 2012 – Mojos, Fremantle
12 April 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
13 April 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Crucial Music

Pajama Club Almost Impress with “TNT for Two”

I haven’t been the greatest fan of Neil Finn’s latest venture Pajama Club. However I always find myself coming back to the band’s music, trying to find the genius that I know has to be in there. This is the guy who gave us Crowded House and Split Enz after all!

I wouldn’t say I’m hearing genius in their latest single “TNT for Two,” but there are certainly glimpses of it. The song may be their most accessible yet, especially stripped back as it is in this live recording at Round Head Studios.

Can you dig it?

Download Arundel’s New Electronica EP for Free

We’ve all heard of those new age restaurants that ask diners to pay what they think their meal is worth. Now Brisbane electronica act Arundel is encouraging us to do the same with his music.

Arundel is so excited to release his second EP Olive Caves, he wants as many people to hear it as possible. So he’s inviting us to download it from his Bandcamp website. Consequently we can enjoy the music for free or choose to donate some money to fund additional projects if we’re so moved.

“Essentially, the collaborators and I make music for people like you to hear, and we don’t want anything to get in the way of that,” Arundel explained.

I particularly like the lead track “A Deep Freeze,” but there’s a lot to appreciate about this EP. It redefines what I think of as electronica with its rock influences and lyrical content, and that alone makes it worth a listen.

The Inland Sea’s Hot New Single

The Inland Sea are continuing to impress me with their latest single “The Only One” The track is a big rambunctious bluesy number that transports me back to a simpler time in music. See if you can resist clapping your hands along to this one.

“The Only One” comes from Inland Sea’s sophomore EP Fortune, which is out now through Plus One Records. If you like what you hear make sure you catch the band playing the Gold Coast’s Big Day Out on January 22 and The Soundlounge at Currumbin on January 25.

For This Cause Rock Oceania

Brisbane rock band For This Cause is embarking on a truly Oceanic tour this month. The lads will play shows in New Zealand next week before returning home to Australia and then winging their way to Indonesia and Malaysia. Looks like they’ll clock up a few frequent flyer miles!

Things are definitely on the up for this band. The video for their new single “Sirens” has been viewed by more than 12000 fans in the last month. They’ve also just signed with Japanese record label Zestone. Surely world domination is next on the cards!

But for now the rockers will have to be content with wowing fans closer to home. Catch For This Cause at the following shows this month and beyond.

25 January 2012 – Zeal, Henderson, NZ
26 January 2012 – HBC Primal, Orewa, NZ
27 & 28 January 2012 – Parachute Music Festival, Auckland, NZ
4 February 2012 – Shout It Out Festival, Perth
19 February 2012 – Tuggeranong Alliance, Canberra
23 February 2012 – LiveO Music, Singapore
24 February 2012 – Scape Lab, Singapore (with A Skylit Drive)
25 February 2012 – Green Kemang, Jakarta, Indonesia (with A Skylit Drive)
2 March 2012 – Rumah Api, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3 March 2012 – Auditorium Taman Budaya, Kuala Terrengganu,
Malaysia
4 March 2012 – Shalien Studio, Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia
10 March 10 – Forest Edge Music Festival, Victoria