Sydney-based hip hoppers LHA have just released their debut album Split Decision. The disc was a real labour of love for the duo made up of Aussie MC Adikkal and Korean born producer LeeHahn. They wrote and produced the entire thing, so you know it’s got their stamp all over it.
The twosome takes their hip hop back to basics. They believe that a song should move your heart and your feet, and their sound has a real soulful bent that is so appealing. The new single “This Is Your Life,” the second to be lifted from the disc, gives you a great idea what LHA are all about. This is really polished and powerful stuff. Look for Split Decision in good music stores now.
With this year’s X Factor live shows kicking off tonight I figured it time I started to blog about the reality singing quest. I’ve caught bits and pieces up until this point, but with the competition heating up I’m starting to get switched on to the action. Once the judges treated us to a medley of their own hits it was down to business.
Tonight’s theme was Judges Choice, which was a smart move in my books. Let’s face it, few of the acts really know anything about anything at this point, so it makes sense to have the more experienced judges pulling the strings for now.
Reece Mastin kicked things off with 30 Seconds to Mars’ “Closer to the Edge.” He was one of my early favourites, but I must admit I was a little disappointed by his performance. The opening verse was really shaky, and while the chorus started to soar I didn’t get the big stadium confidence from him that I think this song needs. I’m hopeful he can grow from here, as it must be tough to be the first performer out of the gates. The judges seemed to love it, so maybe it lost something in the translation to TV.
Ronan kicked off his groups with Three Wishez. Their take on Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” was a real performance, spectacular and well put together. The vocals were a bit shaky from Sophia in places, but I really appreciated the entertainment value. There’s definitely room for this band to grow into a very slick unit.
Andrew Wishart headed up Nat’s team with The Script’s “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.” This performance gave me the connection I’ve been longing for all night. There’s something so authentic about this guy, so believable, and I love the little sweet spots in his voice. It wasn’t perfect, but I really liked what he did with this song.
Gotye’s made it five in a row after retaining the top spot on the ARIA Singles Charts again this week. In doing so “Somebody That I Used to Know” has enjoyed the longest stay at the top of any Aussie single since Gabrielle Cilmi clocked up five weeks with “Sweet About Me” in 2001. The last act to better the feat was Savage Garden who spent eight weeks on top in 1997 with “Truly Madly Deeply.” Can Gotye better the Brisbane duo?
The single’s success has also helped Gotye’s album Making Mirrors jump back to number two this week, up one spot from last week. He’s sharing time in the top 10 with fellow Aussies Pete Murray, who sits at number six with Blue Sky Blue, and Icehouse who’ve slipped only a couple of spots to number seven with White Heat: 30 Hits.
Pajama Club, the self-titled album from Neil Finn and his wife Sharon’s new musical venture, hits stores today.
The music we’ve heard is a real departure from the works of Split Enz and Crowded House, and that’s rubbed a few folks up the wrong way. However this video gives us a bit more of an insight into what we’re in for.
Neil and Sharon take us through the disc track by track, explaining the stories behind the songs they’ve created. I must admit, these snippets still aren’t floating my boat but I’m intrigued by the creative process behind them.
Perth indie duo Voltaire Twins have released their new single “Anamalia” and its more than a little creepy accompanying film clip.
This upbeat melodic electro gem gives us out first taste of the band’s forthcoming second EP Romulus, which is due to hit record store shelves in early October.
If the song floats your boat make sure you head to the band’s Facebook page. They’re giving away a free download of the track, plus a bunch of remixes, to anyone who “likes” it!
As London rebuilds, Australian Idol alum Jacob Butler has paid tribute to the city which has influenced his sound with his new single “UKOK?”
The film clip features footage of the chaos we saw the riot-gripped city experiencing just weeks ago, and some royal wedding footage for good measure! The video is an ideal backdrop for this single, which sees Jacob rocking much harder than he did in his last release “Coma.”
“UKOK?” is the lead track from Jacob’s much anticipated debut album Reason, which we should see in stores later this year. If you can’t wait that long you can download the song from iTunes.
Ben Salter headed to his local railway station to record the film clip for his brand new single “The Coward.” The location isn’t very rock and roll, but it’s perfect for this song which deals with approachable universal topics like mental health, share housing, and love. The track’s the first single from Ben’s new released solo debut The Cat, but it was actually written ten years ago. I guess it’s better released late than never!
And here I was thinking that country girls were made of sugar and spice, and all things nice. Jasmine Rae’s proving they can be just as bitchy as their big city counterparts with her naughty new single “I Faked It.” And according to some recent research, she’s not alone!
Jasmine’s single sees her fighting back after a nasty break-up with some frank home truths. It seems it’s a tale that could have been told by many country girls, as research commissioned to coincide with the single’s release says rural ladies are 10% more likely to fake it than city slickers! Two-thirds of country lasses say they’ve faked it in the past, and one in three say they do on a regular basis. What does that say about all the country men?
The single’s probably not going to win fans amongst the blokes, but I predict it could become a bit of a girl power anthem!
John Butler and his missus Mama Kin have teamed up for this gorgeous duet, “Losing You.” Sales of the digital release of the single will help the Broome Community No Gas campaign continue to fight the clearing of land at James Price Point in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
The track was recorded in John’s Fremantle studio, while the clip sees the loved up couple sitting on the banks of the Hudson River. I always love an acoustic tune, and this one is up there with the best.
I always knew the preservation of the Kimberley region was a cause John Butler felt strongly about, but it wasn’t until I saw him live last year that it really hit home to me. Listening to him speak about this part of the world that he’s so passionate about, that is one of Australia’s last remaining paradises, is infectious. The power of his words hasn’t left me, so I’ll definitely be adding the track to my iTunes. You can too by clicking this link.
Mike Noga and Gareth Liddiard might be busy doing their solo things at the moment, but it won’t be too long until we see The Drones back in action. This beloved Aussie band will hit the road this October to support their live DVD, A Thousand Mistakes.
The DVD features an intimate live session of rarely played tunes from The Drones’ illustrious career, a full length show recorded at Melbourne’s East Brunswick Club in 2010, and a bonus disc of live footage captured around the world between 2005 and 2010. It’ll come packaged with a limited edition record for vinylphiles. Look for it all in stores on September 16.
The Drones will be joined on the shows by their upcoming shows by their friend, the fabulous Adalita. Tickets go on sale on August 11.