Smarter Than The Average Bear – ‘It’s Not A Tumor’

FYI, I have no idea whether this is a joke and I have no idea whether this is good, but as I listen to this on repeat it just feels like the perfect antithetical comedown to three days of music industry seminars. (Not that BigSound wasn’t fun – checked out some rad bands, rad speakers and scored some free lunch/drinks).

Anyway, if you like repetitive electro-punk that samples ill-advised Arnie forays in comedy then this is the song for you!

Ernest Ellis – ‘Heading For The Cold’

According to the press release, Ernest Ellis went out to a farm in the Blue Mountains with just a mobile studio and an engineer to record what will be his debut album, Hunting. It sounds a bit like the narrative behind Bon Iver’s album, and ‘Heading For The Cold’ also sounds a bit like Bon Iver – not to be reductive or anything. That same sense of intimacy rubs against wide open spaces and soaring, multi-tracked vocals, making this far from your typical singer-songwriter stuff.

Ellis isn’t a shallow impersonator, there’s definitely an unique stamp on this track (and most of the others I’ve heard so far) that can’t be readily compared to other ‘nu-folkies.’ A good song with good production that is hopefully indicative of what we can expect from him early next year. Check it.

www.myspace.com/ernestellis

The Good China – “All Nothing” (mp3)

When Communism actually works…

I don’t know how they’ve done it (writing music with 3 people is difficult enough!), but these 8 peculiar Melburnians have produced a top-notch single with ‘All Nothing’. The tracks arrangement and production is great, with a plethora of instruments being played, but actually being used with purpose. Drawing from influences like Death Cab, Broken Social Scene, and Architecture in Helsinki (the latter two possibly an inspiration for the cult sized band!), TGC have had some airtime on Triple J, and are currently touring the east coast. Check out this indie-pop-orchestra if they visit your hood for a recital.

http://www.myspace.com/thegoodchinaband

Parades – ‘Dead Nationale’ (mp3)

In my humble opinion these guys have to be one of Sydney’s best kept secrets but I don’t think they will be for long. PARADES!

To be honest I’m not even sure how long these guys have been around, or how many shows they’ve played, or who they’ve played with, or even what each member plays but holy fuck they can write a song!

Dead Nationale opens with cleverly used guitars that are strategically placed to delicately compliment the driving drum beat that pushes the song continuously forward. As the song continues the easing and near-haunting harmonies of the bands male and female vocalists reveal themselves, as the song flows on it builds into an epic mash of guitars and wails.

Parades are playing at the Zoo as part of the Big Sound Conference in Brisbane this Wednesday – get down!

www.myspace.com/parades