Kim Salmon & The Surrealists – ‘Turn Turn’ (mp3)

Kim Salmon is no n00b on the the Australian music scene, having started The Scientists in the late ’70s and also this band, The Surrealists, 22 years ago. Despite his age, ‘Turn Turn’ maintains a sense of chaos generally associated with a much younger set. It’s is a minimalist outing driven mainly by rattling percussion and a repetitive bass groove, with some distorted guitar thrown in to add colour. Basically, it leaves plenty of room for the vocals to dominate, with Salmon screaming into each of your ears like a man possessed (or, occasionally, like a frightened woman). It’s short and not exactly sweet, but the wild yet nuanced vocals invite and reward repeated listens.

Van She – ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ (proper track) (mp3)

A few weeks ago Matt posted a radio rip of Van She’s newie Don’t Fear The Reaper. We’ve just been sent the proper version of this track, a cover of Blue Oyster Cult song they did for Bacardi B-Live music program which is one of the more decent music sponsorships out there. Let us know what you think.

www.myspace.com/vanshe

Cloud Control – ‘Gold Canary’ (Danimals remix) (mp3)

You heard it first here folks, the amazingly talented Danimals have remixed one of favourite tracks of the moment Cloud Control‘s ‘Gold Canary’!

www.myspace.com/cloudcontrol
www.myspace.com/jontidanimals

Mt Augustus – ‘The Warmest Winter’ (mp3)

Brisbane based label Incremental Records and their studio have been associated with a lot of great Brisbane bands recently, including DZ, No Anchor, Little Scout, and The John Steele Singers. The label is having their Xmas party this Friday (ie. tomorrow) night at Brisbane’s Club House (the Empire Corner Bar) and it features one of the label’s flagship acts, Mt Augustus, alongside Velociraptor, Lion Island, Ambitious Lovers, and No Anchor.

Mt Augustus are a trio whose music extends from the folk-pop of the above track to some more ‘out there’ stuff. The band have made a name for themselves in Brisbane because they play a shitload of shows. ‘The Warmest Winter’ is from their sophomore EP released earlier this year, but they’ve got a debut album in the works for early 2010. It’s shaping up to be a bit different – if you’re in Brisbane and keen to see where this band are heading then get yourself down to the Club House tomorrow night. It’s free!

www.myspace.com/mtaugustus

Willows – ‘You Said You’d Leave, But Our Houses Are Still Haunted’ (mp3)

Describing music is hard enough at the best of times, let alone when I’m put up to the task for a band like Willows.

Filing them under the catch-all sub-genres of “post-rock”, “post-hardcore” or “post-metal” seems inadequate, even though their music displays elements of all the above – quiet, clean delayed bits like Explosions in the Sky, sludgy power chords like Neurosis and ISIS and the atmospherics of A Perfect Circle.

Well, I tried my best. Just click the little triangle up there, or cosy up to them at the next gig they play. Watch out for flying guitar headstocks.

www.myspace.com/willowsaustralia