The Paper Scissors – ‘The Bandit’

Based around a Hawaiian melody and staccato acoustic guitar, ‘The Bandit’ is the new single from The Paper Scissors. They’re going on tour with bluejuice, so check their MySpace for all the dates. Sure to be some awesome shows.

http://www.thepaperscissors.com
http://www.myspace.com/thepaperscissors

Pivot – ‘Didn’t I Furious’ (mp3)

A cacophony of Autechre-style monotone industrial samples and fuzzed-out, Sonic Youth lead guitar, one of Sydney’s most unique acts Pivot give us ‘Didn’t I Furious’, the first taste from their John McIntire-mixed release which Get Big, Little Kid is claiming to be called O Soundtrack My Heart.

Goodbye the gentle, wistful melodies infused throughout Make Me Love You – hello a world of aggressive beats, courtesy of the consummate Lawrence Pike, scattered electronics from the fingers of Dave Miller and Richard Pike’s omnipresent guitar work which melds angular melody with a unbridled fury.

Recently signed to esteemed Warp Records – home to some of the greatest genre-bending acts in the world like Boards of Canada, !!!, Aphex Twin, the aforementioned Autechre, Prefuse 73, Jamie Lidell, Maximo Park, Squarepusher and so many more luminaries – this could be the start of massive things for Pivot, and as one of my favourite Aussie outfits, I really hope it is. Earth, look out!!

http://www.pivotpivot.net
http://www.myspace.com/pivotpivot

Theatre Of Disco – ‘YOA (The Twelves Remix)’ (mp3)

Thanks BIGSTEREO for putting us onto this great remix by Brazil’s The Twelves of Theatre of Disco‘s track ‘YOA’. After a week of guitars, it was about time we put something up with synths and shit in it.

http://www.myspace.com/theatreofdisco

The Scare & Holiday Sidewinder – ‘Tragedy (live)’

Disappointingly, this isn’t a cover of the Bee Gees tune, or a cover of a cover of Steps’ rendition of ‘Tragedy’.Well, perhaps we should be thankful that it isn’t the latter. This is a live recording that features Bridezilla’s husky-toned frontgirl Holiday Sidewinder, though she’s practically non-existent on the recording. Maybe she’s just playing guitar?

http://www.myspace.com/thescare

Derwent River Star – ‘Bottles and Boats’ (mp3)

Wistful and serene, Sydney’s Derwent River Star conjure up many a beautiful sound on their latest EP, The Winter Dark. Much like the state brethren The Seabellies, Derwent River Star are one of those bands were every member is way too talented, playing a multitude of instruments. The lush textures of their music create a wonderfully atmospheric brand of folk-rock, and it’s great to hear the underused banjo rear its twangy head in their tune ‘Wanderlust’. But I think we’ll use their number ‘Bottles and Boats’ as an introductory song.

http://www.myspace.com/derwentriverstar

The Mime Set – ‘Northern Boy’

One of the most promising indie releases of ’08 so far, I’ve Only Ever Lived In Rivertowns is the multifaceted and diverse debut album from Melbourne indie-artsters The Mime Set. On a seven-track album that’s filled with mostly dark, austere, jangy-guitar driven numbers, overdriven opener ‘Northern Boy’ is one of the rockier numbers of the seven, recalling The Dirty Three and Polly Jean Harvey in her more aggressive moments. Frontwoman Sam Wareing’s tensile voice sits somewhere between Kristen Hersh and Chrissie Amphlett.

http://www.myspace.com/themimeset

Kora – ‘Burning’

I’m not sure if Darwin could explain it, but for some reason Kiwis have an innate sense of dub and reggae – think Salmonella Dub, Fat Freddys Drop, Katchafire and The Black Seeds. It’s even got its own Wikipedia entry!

Kora stand out from the pack because they infuse their music with a heavy dose of rock and funk; they’re the support act for the upcoming Cog album launch tour, which demonstrates this band’s major crossover appeal. It’s a great album for someone like me, who has more of a rock background but has always enjoyed dub music. It’s a very diverse record, traversing dance, dub, hip-hop, rock, soul and funk landscapes, always maintaing a wicked, infectious groove.

‘Burning’ is the opening “song” (barring the Lord of the Rings-esque cinematic epic ‘Intro’ on track 1) and a tune which I think best represents this album. I was going to put up the tounge-in-cheek tune ‘The Delivery Man’ because it’s just so damn funky, but I think I’ll put that one up later. If you’ve never heard Kora before, that song might not give you the right impression of the band. ‘Burning’ however is just so naturally groovy that you can’t help but bop with it.

http://www.kora.co.nz
http://www.myspace.com/koraroots