Patrick James is one of my favourite Aussie singer-songwriters, so when I saw he’d covered The Church’s Under the Milky Way I just had to share it with you.
It’s a tender respectful rendition that should please music purists and encourage more people to check out the talented Aussie.
What do you think of Patrick’s take on The Church?
Image used with permission from Title Track
Sydney’s Little May are offering a sneak peek of their forthcoming debut album with the release of new single “Home.” The song speaks of the longing that this band must feel for familiarity when they’re jetsetting around the world.
“Home’ was one of the first songs we recorded with Aaron [Brooking Dessner of The National]. It’s an old song, revisited,” Little May explained. “It had been written three years prior, from a place where a sense of belonging was being constantly chased. I think we will always associate this song, and this whole album, with Hudson and the time we all spent there.”
The clip’s also very cool. It was recorded in Future Past Studios, in Hudson, New York. The building was one a 19th century church, but it’s now thoroughly modern with a CCTV network allowing producers in the basement control room to watch and communicate with the musicians in the studio upstairs. I love the way the studio footage is paired with images of New York neighbourhoods.
It seems like Little May’s debut album has been a long time coming. Are you excited for this release?
If you want to hear some fantastic music and support a great cause, get to The Gasometer in Melbourne later this month for The Thin Green Line Foundation’s World Ranger Day fundraiser, Declan Kelly Presents Dieseln’Dub.
Declan Kelly will perform alongside soul singer Emma Donovan, soul-hip hop act Radical Song, Kingtide’s Tony Hughes, and gutsy vocalist Pat Powell. Support for the shows comes from Watussi’s Oscar Jimenez and the Amaru Tribe and Yolngu Boys’ Yirrmal Marika.
The shows support the work of The Thin Green Line Foundation, which supports park rangers in their efforts to protect endangered species and threatened ecosystems. You can learn more in the video.
There’s an evening show on July 24 and an afternoon one the following day. Tickets cost $50 for general admission or $120 for the VIP tix which include priority seating, food and drinks, and waiter service.
Katie Noonan’s musical evolution has been nothing short of stunning. I always eagerly anticipate her album releases because I’m never sure just what I’m going to get, but I’m confident it’ll be beautiful.
She’s about to begin her latest chapter with the release of Transmutant on July 24, an ethereal collection of songs which takes Katie back to fronting a band. With her new outfit Vanguard she creates exciting soundscapes which pair beautifully with her heavenly voice.
Katie’s Vanguard will take Transmutant on the road later this year with shows in intimate venues around the country. Tickets are on sale now.
15 October 2015 – Grand Hotel, Mornington
16 October 2015 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
17 & 18 October 2015 – Melbourne Festival, Melbourne
22 October 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
23 October 2015 – The Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
24 October 2015 – Spicers Hidden Vale, Grandchester
25 October 2015 – Majestic Theatre, Pomona
28 October 2015 – Fremantle Town Hall, Fremantle
29 October 2015 – The Gov, Adelaide
30 & 31 October 2015 – John Painter Hall @ AIM, Sydney
5 November 2015 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
6 November 2015 – Street Theatre, Canberra
8 November 2015 – Spicers Vineyard Estate, Hunter Valley
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Vigilantes have enlisted the help of some of their favourite artists to make the video for their new single, “Elasticity.” Art vs Science, Andy Bull, and Pluto Jonze all appear in the retro-inspired clip, which was shot over three nights around Redfern, Surry Hills, and the Sydney CBD.
“Elasticity” is perfect Sunday fare. It’s danceable, reminding us that there’s still some life in the weekend yet, without being too high-energy.
What do you think of it?
I’ve been a bit lax on reporting Aussie chart news of late. I missed writing about when Grace topped the charts, and when her brother Conrad Sewell followed suit. But as John Farnham clocked up his ninth number one album with Two Strong Hearts, I figured I really needed to make the time. Farnsy’s now scored number ones (whether singles or albums) every decade for the last six decades. And let’s not forget about his partner in crime, Olivia Newton-John, who’s now scored her third number one on the albums charts.
Empires, the latest album from Hillsong United, is still going strong. The modern church’s latest effort is at number five, six weeks after its debut.
Blacktown deathcore band Thy Art is Murder will also be happy with their first ever top ten appearance. Their third album, Holy War, sits at number seven on debut.
Conrad and Grace might have slipped away from the number one spots but they’re still making their presence felt on the singles chart. Conrad’s single “Start Again” has slipped slightly to number three while Grace’s cover of “You Don’t Own Me” has fallen to number eight.
Here are the complete top tens for the week!
Top 10 Albums
1. Two Strong Hearts – John Farnham and Olivia Newtown-John
2. Title – Meghan Trainor
3. X – Ed Sheeran
4. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence & The Machine
5. Empires – Hillsong United
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. Holy War – Thy Art is Murder
8. Unbreakable Smile – Tori Kelly
9. In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
10. Freedom – Refused
Top 10 Singles
1. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
2. “Fight Song” – Rachel Platten
3. “Start Again” – Conrad Sewell
4. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
5. “Shut Up & Dance” – Walk the Moon
6. “Headlights” – Robin Schulz feat. Ilsey
7. “Bad Blood” – Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
8. “You Don’t Own Me” – Grace feat G-Eazy
9. “Black Magic” – Little Mix
10. “Powerful” – Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley
Kira Puru seems to have done plenty during her time in the music industry. She fronted her own band, Kira Puru & The Bruise, she worked with the likes of Paul Mac and M-Phazes, she sang the theme for Redfern Now, and she even found time to appear on RocKwiz a few times. Yet until recently, she’d never released a solo single.
It was worth the wait though. “All Dulled Out” is a poignant reflection on heartache. It’s thankfully been a long time I’ve felt that painful emotion, but this number took me right back there.
“All Dulled Out” is the first track lifted from Kira Puru’s forthcoming EP.
Has it really been 10 years since Lior released Autumn Flow? Every time I spot an anniversary tour announcement like this I become incredibly conscious of my age! It really does seem like only yesterday that I first heard “This Old Love” and became instantly besotted.
If that clip’s got you feeling nostalgic, you’ll be interested to know that Lior will rerelease his debut album with previously unreleased tracks to mark the milestone. He’s also announced a string of theatre shows where he’ll play Autumn Flow from start to finish as well as other choice cuts from his back catalogue.
Tickets are available now from Metropolis Touring for the following shows.
9 October 2015 – Anitas Theatre, Thirroul
10 October 2015 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
16 October 2015 – Athenaeum, Melbourne
24 October 2015 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
30 October 2015 – Astor Theatre, Perth
31 October 2015 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
Friday should be all about feel-good music in my opinion. The weekend’s so close that you can taste it, and the days ahead are full of possibilities. It’s the perfect time to listen to “We’re OK,” the rocking new single from Hobart’s Empire Park.
There’s a dark undercurrent to the lyrics here but the sound is infectiously uplifting. It feels like summer with its surf-rock inspired lead line and singalong chorus.
Seriously, I’ve listened to this song about four times in a row. Time for number five I think. Loving it!
Melbourne rock act The Getaway Plan are back with their third album Dark Horses. It comes five years after their last LP, and it seems they’ve channelled all of their time away from the studio beautifully. This is a big album and just what those fans who so generously donated to their crowdfunding campaign wanted to hear.
It opens so strongly with the epic rock of the single “Landscapes.” It’s a danger in a way opening an album up with a single I think. By putting something so strong up front, I always question whether the rest of the album might be filled with weaker filler tracks. We soon get our answer though.
“F(r)iend” kicks in where “Landscapes” left off, with big guitar riffs, emotional pleading vocals, and an epic rock song. There are a lot of big rock songs here. It’s what The Getaway Plan are famous for, and what the fans want to hear. While I enjoy those tracks, it’s the ones that veer off the tried and true path that give Dark Horses balance. I love the bluesy groove that underpins “Castles in the Air” and “Dark Horses.” “Last Words” feels very commercial without being cliched. “Dreamy Parallels” is the most beautiful ballad, or at least it starts out that way before The Getaway Plan turns it on its head. “Baby Bird Effigy” is another of those songs that takes so many twists and turns. It’s bold and brave, with movements taking us from laidback piano ballad to searing rock song and back again.
Bold and brave are the two adjectives that came to mind when I listened to this album. Crowdfunding an album isn’t new, but there’s a danger that a band’s going to try too hard to please the people who put up the money. In doing so, there’s a real possibility that they won’t take enough risks. I think The Getaway Plan strike the balance beautifully. Dark Horses is a triumph, a credit to the band and just what those generous crowdfunders ordered.
Dark Horses is in stores today. The Getaway Plan will support its release with the following shows later this year.
3 September 2015 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
4 September 2015 – Baker Street, Gosford
5 September 2015 – Studio Six, Sutherland
10 September 2015 – Wollonong Uni, Wollongong
12 September 2015 – Transit Bar, Canberra
18 September 2015 – The Gapview Hotel, Alice Springs
19 September 2015 – Railway Club, Darwin
23 September 2015 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
24 September 2015 – Magnums, Airline Beach
25 September 2015 – Villa Noosa, Noosaville
26 September 2015 – Parkwood Tavern, Gold Coast
1 October 2015 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
2 October 2015 – Wooly Mammoth, Brisbane
3 October 2015 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
16 October 2015 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
17 October 2015 – Riverview Hotel, Tarwin Lower
29 October 2015 – Werribee Plaza Hotel, Werribee
30 October 2015 – Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights
31 October 2015 – Workers Club, Geelong
6 November 2015 – Club 54, Launceston
7 November 2015 – Republic Bar, Hobart
12 November 2015 – Inferno, Traralgon
13 November 2015 – Hallam Hotel, Hallam
14 November 2015 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
18 November 2015 – Leisure Inn, Rockingham
19 November 2015 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
20 November 2015 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
21 November 2015 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle
22 November 2015 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough
27 November 2015 – Whaler’s Hotel, Warrnambool
28 November 2015 – Fowler’s Live, Adelaide
Image used with permission from Deathproof PR