Here’s a new track from our favourite beat-maestro, Guerre. Taken off his Revels 12″, ‘Cannibal’ is a down-tempo track which steers softly-spoken vocals throughout. In parts, it broods with subtle melancholy, only to be left unresolved. Restrained is what this track really is. It simmers, teasing you with the possibility of the beat dropping – and it doesn’t. Space is key here. Even, dare I say…trip-hop.

Guerre, a contemporary of the beat makers emanating of Melbourne and Sydney, has forged a welcome presence on the scene, with a recent collaboration with Collarbones raising his profile quite a bit. His  latest 12″ is just another case of keeping our blog favourites close to our hearts. Get on it.

_____

Guerre – ‘Cannibal‘

Bandcamp

Jay Watson used to drum in Tame Impala. He’s shifted to key/vox duties, but also spends rest of his time donning copious amounts of denim and manning the wah-pedal for Pond. His side project GUM has been kicking around for a while, but ‘Delorean Highway’ is the first track to be released. It’s a given for beatmakers to go solo, but GUM is just another venture to sprout forth from the promiscuous psych-punchbowl of Perth bros playing in bands for bros (Tame Impala / Pond /Allbrook & Avery / Mink Mussel Creek / Dee Dee Drums / Space Lime Peacock/ Shiny Joe Ryan… yeah yeah).

There’s going to still be a large handful of people who are going to dig on GUM just out of curiosity or perhaps fan-referred value. However, I did hope that any sort of Tame Impala side project from drummer guy here would have opted out of Kevin Parker’s slow-burning cosmic whaff in exchange for something a bit different (ie. Jono Boulet‘s ‘powerviolence’ band, Snakeface). Watson’s vocals are more gruff here, and while it does still sound like a slowed down chunk of Tame, I’m still digging this. ‘Delorean Highway’ reminds me a little of this cover Tame Impala did a few years ago.

That percussion plucked straight out of Psychocandy lends it the spaciousness it vies for…but besides that, it’s a little flat until the cosmic juggernaut reels out later on. Anything past the two minute flag does well for an ascent in the Tardis. Gum’s record is going to be released early next year. All ears.

Facebook

Cogel first came to our attention a few months back with their track ‘Felusine’.

The Sydney band have teamed up with director Tim Gibbs for their new video, and it’s pretty impressive stuff (apart from reinstating my trivial fear of 3D head moulds). Gibbs’ idea does well at wringing out every ounce of melodrama possible – and there are definitely some beautiful moments which capture the brunt of all the emotive dynamo going on here. It all starts off reasonably mild, but there’s no short supply of frames past the 1:58 mark which makes this one go down with other slightly creepy/arresting, but surely memorable clips (this +definitely this).

The band’s EP Nowhere Near will be released next month, with the launch happening Nov 2nd at the Beresford with the Bell Weather Department.

www.cogelband.com

Cogel Facebook

Ahh. Atluk. It’s time you two got acquainted.

A five piece based out of Melbourne, the band produce the most beautiful folk I’ve heard this year. Australiana is one genre-specific vein that they fall into. Think Sally Seltmann, Sarah Blasko (without the melodrama), and hints of The Waifs, and you’ve got a basic picture of their sound. Chuck in some quaint boy girl vocals – ala Belle and Sebastian – and you’re presented with something special. Vocals are their strong suit.

It’s also worth mentioning that Atluk aren’t shy of accentuating their Australian vocals. They’re quintessentially Australian, and that’s not a bad thing in this case. It’s natural, they doesn’t sound tokenistic – it just clicks. All power to them. Just don’t mention Angus and Julia Stone.

If you’re in Melbourne, they launch their debut EP this coming Saturday at 1000 £ Bend.

‘Woody’

Glad all these lo-fi larks are getting out of their bedrooms and projecting their multi-instrumental talents above and beyond into the great outdoors. Velcro (Curtis Wakeling) is chaperoning himself around Brooklyn as I write this, while today’s music news says Bored Nothing (Fergus Miller) is gearing up for his ‘best of’ (four editions of home recordings..plus a few), AKA his first proper release through Spunk in early November.

Sean Anthony is another guy who’s up in the league. The Perth native has released stuff under his own name, plays in Braves and in this side project Sunny.

‘Explain’ is everything you’d expect from the low saturation kaleido-art on the cover. Says Sunny: ‘seems like there’s always someone on my mind, when I lose interest I’ll go back to you…’. And it sure is the light, un-committal ode it promises to be.  The tune flags a novelty chorus, xylo for twee-cred and a memorable melody once you’re done wading through knee deep reverb – not a bad thing if you dig your pre-summertime beach jams. This is a keeper.

Facebook  /  Bandcamp

_______

Sunny – ‘Explain’