Young Lovers – ‘Talking in French’

You couldn’t ask for a more appropriate or fitting title to the debut single of Melbourne five piece Young Lovers than ‘Talking in French’ which is due for radio release in the coming months, with a debut E.P to follow shortly after. Though French maybe the language of lovers, this single will surly speak to the suitors of pop driven indie; romantic vocals, yet enough rhythm to shake up the dance floor. Though I found it quite similar, and might I dare add, not as immediately catchy as Starky, before you shrug of these romantics as yet another indie band, have a listen to the demo version of ‘Talking in French’ or catch them in live music haunts in and around Melbourne and let me know what you think.

www.myspace.com/wearetheyounglovers 

Tiptronik vs M.I.A. – ‘Uraqt’

Everyone loves a thumping bootleg mashup, and they don’t get much better, or illegal, than Tiptronik’s reworking of the M.I.A track ‘Uraqt’.  Rumour is M.I.A’s camp may be suing the Sydney duo because of this track.  So, in protest, we’re going to spread the love, exclusively on this blog!

So who are Tiptronik?  Well aside from being one of the most-hyped new acts on the Sydney electronic scene, they actually have a fairly well-known past.  Seshan Moodley makes up one half of the duo: he was a one-time member of rap/metal outfit Parkside Killers who supported Ice-T and The Beastie Boys.  The other 50% of Tiptronik is Ramesh Sathiah, who aside from being creative director at Song Zu also has a history in composition and production, having produced Grinspoon’s first EP. 

They’ve got a tonne of experience behind them, and they’re set to be the next big thing in the Sydney electro scene.  Check out their MySpace site for some more original material: you can get theirs track ‘Crash and Burn (nodoze)’ and ‘Away’ on iTunes but no doubt they’ll be an album sometime soon.  They’re also working on a track with Grinspoon vocalist Phil Jamieson too.  They’re making their liive debut in March so make sure you keep an eye and ear out for them.

http://www.myspace.com/tiptronikmusic

My Disco – ‘Calling Cure’

My Disco are an odd band.  Amazing, but nonetheless odd.  I never thought I’d wholeheartedly enjoy a band which such monotone vocals.  But it probably helps that they’re one of the most rhythmically-addictive bands I’ve seen or heard in qutie a while.

There’s no genre you could tag this Melbourne three-piece with that would encompass their sound.  “Progressive” captures their lack of song structure, but it conjures up images of 12 minute songs a la Tool.  And even then real prog rock is bands like King Crimson and Peter Gabriel-era Genesis.  “Minimalist” is true in the sense that their simple lineup and lack of effects is minimal, but it’s by no means minimalist in the sense of ambient beat-less electronic.  “Indie” may be closer to the mark because of My Disco’s infectious groove, but then bands like Dappled Cities Fly are indie.  Maybe we’ll still to rock.  Or maybe My Disco are impossible to describe using words.

Benjamin and Liam Andrews used to play in one of my favourite Australian bands, Clann Zu.  My Disco was a side project during the time of Clann Zu, and a number of rough 7″ and CD-R recordings used to be available.  Once Clann Zu kicked the bucket, My Disco became a full time project.  They’ve toured fairly extensively around the world so there’s a lot of My Disco fans around the world.  The band released their first CD album last year, entitled Cancer, and I managed to see them support Mogwai at The Metro Theatre in Sydney last July.  There was so much bass the roof was rattling.  Amazing.

P.S. Someone called these guys “math rock”.  Way off!

http://www.mydisco.com.au
http://www.myspace.com/mdband

Mercy Arms – ‘Kept Low’

Cast your live music memories back to last year and you might remember the band that was hand picked by American dreams The Strokes to support them on a sold out Australia tour. A band I’m already very fond of, Sydney’s Mercy Arms [not The Mercy Arms] will be releasing! After a road trip south to Adelaide to record with producers from Sound Works Studios, Thom, Kiren, Julian and Ashley are back in town with a yet to be titled E.P for release just in time for their festival debut at V-Festival, with dates in Sydney and Brisbane. I have been lucky enough to hear a preview of this release and can report it is a five track musical journey along a path of dance floor favourites, large stadium chorus, catchy guitar leads with a delicately ambient ending.

I am particularly bias towards the quality song writing, but thank god there is finally a small taste of Mercy Arms you can take home, and from what I gather, it’s just going to leave you anxious for more. It’s without a doubt going to be a big year for this quartet, so here is the demo version of ‘Kept Low’, the first single from Sydney’s own Major label lads.

www.myspace.com/mercyarms

Ladyhawke – ‘Back Of The Van’

I’ve been hunting down this song for ages and finally got it from a friend who emailed it to me a few days ago. It’s one of the catchiest tune I’ve heard in ages and though it is shamelessly retro, it has a timeless mood and melody to it that I know you will enjoy. As mentioned previously Ladyhawke aka Pip is from Sydney and she plays guitar for Teenager. Rumours are she has a deal in the works with a major and is currently going round the world on a writing trip…whatever that means.

www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

photo by boudist.com

Belles Will Ring – ‘Mad Love’

We’ve blogged them before, but this single has scored Belles Will Ring national airplay on Triple J. It is taken out of a three track EP that will lead to an album soon, entitled Mood Patterns. This song takes the same path of the revivalist mod pop of their previous material, but with a bit more beat and build up.

www.myspace.com/belleswillring

The Instant – ‘Drifting Westward’

Here’s the new single of Notes & Errata, the brilliant debut album by The Instant.  Yes, who would of thought a plus 10 minute song would actually be a single! 

Though the album’s been out for a while, the band are officially launching it tonight in Sydney at Boobytrap (Melt Bar: 12 Kellett St, Kings Cross), with support from Warhorse, Pivot DJs and I’m sure there’s more, but it’s early in the morning and I’m still not functioning at full capacity.  But since I can’t go to the gig tonight, you must go instead!  Yes – you!

http://www.myspace.com/theinstantmusic