Scribe – ‘Say It Again’

From the man who reckons not many, if any, flow like him, comes the decidely Jay Z influenced ‘Say It Again’ from Scribe‘s album Rhymebook. It’s hard for Pacific rappers to simultaneously not sound too local, but not sound like an aping American gangster wannabe. Scribe manages to straddle that fine line incredibly well, so maybe he’s right – not many dudes I know flow like him.

http://www.myspace.com/scribedirtyrecords

Plastic Palace Alice – ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’

I always think of Plastic Palace Alice as being the Melbourne equivalent to Sydney’s The Seabellies, just with a grander love for Lou Reed. Plastic Palace Alice have always had such great potential, and the Arcade Fire-fronted-by-Bowie ‘Empire Falls’ always did it for me.

But I feel as though they’ve taken a step backwards with their new song ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’. Rob McDowell’s vocals aren’t strong enough to lead a song that doesn’t have enough interesting instrumentation. It does its thing but doesn’t really leave you wanting to hit the play button again.

It’s the first single from The Great Depression, the band’s debut full-length album. While this song may not be the strongest, I still have faith in what’s to come.

http://www.myspace.com/plasticpalacealiceband

Dukes Of Windsor – ‘It’s A War’

So they made their name thanks to a (vomit) TV Rock remix, but can Dukes of Windsor recreate that success on their own? Hmm…

‘It’s a War’ is the first taste of their new album. Sounds like they’re aiming squarely at the dance market, but it was produced by the same guys that helmed Refused’s seminal hardcore album The Shape of Punk to Come. Can you say “WTF?”

And does anyone else think that Jack Weaving sounds like Korn’s Jonathan Davis? I think it’s his vocals that turn me off a bit, plus their songs never seem to do anything all that exciting. This one’s OK, but doesn’t do all that much for me. Maybe it’ll grow on me the more I listen to it. There’s some nice melodies in parts, but I just wish it packed more of a dancefloor punch.

http://www.dukesofwindsor.com.au
http://www.myspace.com/dukesofwindsor

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Bright Grey’

OK, so The Phoenix Foundation have a lot to thank The Flaming Lips for, but seriously, have a listen to their sound album Pegasus and you’ll see this New Zealand six-piece can stand on their own. They’ve been on the receiving end of many plaudits from the music press, released three albums and scored the film Eagle vs Shark. So they’re doing pretty well for themselves.

Their latest record, Happy Ending, follows the Flaming Lips blueprint of pop more closely than their previous efforts, but they do it with a lot less weirdness. There’s a definite throwback to the psychedelica movement in their music, which lends it a sense of ethereality and escapism. Ahhhh……

http://www.thephoenixfoundation.co.nz
http://www.myspace.com/thephoenixfoundationnz

Trial Kennedy – ‘Neighbours’

Where’ve you been hiding your mad skillz, Trial Kennedy? Lost amongst a sea of post-punk bands and the Boomtown Records sound, this is the first song of theirs that’s really burst out of the speakers; a veritable anthem of a song that rocks from start to finish and never lets you go. I guess that’s what going to Atlanta to record your album does for you. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.

http://www.myspace.com/trialkennedy

Man Ray – ‘Catch Me’

MAN RAY should have won the Sydney heat of the Australian V Festival’s ‘Garage to V’ competition. Not that the winners (Cassette Kids) aren’t worthy; it’s just that these guys are a bit worthier. Listen to ‘Catch Me’ from their first two track demo, and try to argue otherwise. Seriously, I’ll wait.

http://www.myspace.com/wearemanray

Gabriella Cilmi – ‘Sweet About Me’

Here comes the trend shift. Phil Spector and his Wall of Sound, the music of Motown, the jazz of Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone… these are the starting points for the new musical fad that’s slowly emerging thanks to the likes of Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and eager DJs sampling sweet soul music.

Sure, musicians are time-travelling vikings, pillaging decades until there’s nothing left and then zooming off to the next untouched era – but we could be taking lead from worse periods of time (Boy Bands anyone?) Gabriella Cilmi (pronounced “Chill-me”… seriously) is Warner Music’s secret weapon that they’re gonna be hoping rockets into the stratosphere (because labels are struggling, you know). Many will compare her to Amy Winehouse (sans the coke, booze and dawn undies run), which is fair enough, but she was discovered when she was only 13, years before Wino ran head-first onto tabloid mags and Perezhilton.com.

Now sixteen (hello jailbait), Cilmi’s moved from her home town of Melbourne and is basing herself out of London. She’s on tour at the moment with the Sugababes and recently shared the tour bus with Parisian’s Nouvelle Vague. Her debut album, Lessons To Be Learned, will be out later this year but for now, here’s the first song off the record called ‘Sweet About Me’.

http://www.myspace.com/gabriellacilmi