Liam Finn – ‘Gather To The Chapel’

The fact that Liam Finn looks like Michael J Fox from Teen Wolf may help hide the family resemblance, but his lineage is given away in the first line of ‘Gather to the Chapel’ (“Your photo hung over the altar“). Those unmistakable tones and harmonies can only come from the Finns. Yes, Liam Finn is the son of one of our generation’s greatest songwriters, Neil Finn.

Originally making a name for himself in the rocking Betchadupa, Liam’s now stepping out on his own with his debut solo record I’ll Be Lightning in which the multi-talented Finn played every instrument! He’s definitely inherited some of his old man’s skill, and maybe more. His music is like mixing ’90s indie bands with Beatles song structures and harmonies. It has a folk-rock aesthetic but he builds upon it with some imaginative instrumentation.

http://www.liamfinn.tv
http://www.myspace.com/theliamfinn

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The Late-Night Sound – ‘Silver Dreamers’ (mp3)

Incest in the Sydney music scene continues with The Late-Night Sound. Featuring Liam Judson from Belles Will Ring, Lauren Crew and Mark Waite-Pullan from Sister Jane and Joe Driver from too many bands to mention, The Late-Night Sound are much like their name: evoking images of hazy, smoke-filled rooms and alcohol-fuelled nights.

There’s a big ’60s influence in their sound, particularly in the vocal harmonies in the chorus. There’s also a nod to acts like The Velvet Underground, early Stones, as well as Phil Spector’s wall of sound. The lo-fi production gives it added authenticity. They’ve only recently reared their head, so keep an eye out for them in ’08.

http://www.myspace.com/thelatenightsound

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The McClymonts – ‘Don’t Tie My Hands’

Whatever McClymonts song is here is irrelevant really, it’s purely arbitrary. Though I could twattle on about how this is our first country music post on Who The Hell, this entry’s only purpose is to include a photo of these three hottie siblings as this band could be the best all-girl menage e toi this country’s music scene has to offer (unless they’ve lathered on the Photoshop effects, to which my expectations have been extremely unrealistically heightened).

They’re the golden children of the Aussie country music scene and I’m not gonna lie, I’m not much of a country music fan. Hey, they do it and they do it very well, but seriously, The McClymonts sound more like the Dixie Chicks than even the Dixie Chicks do.

The exaggerated Amer-ee-cayn country accents, soft vocal harmonies, fiddle, mandolin, lap steel and brushed drums are all indictive of the blueprint of American bluegrass/country music. It’s a shame Aussie arts have to bleach out the Australian touch in their music to appeal to the American market and to those who believe that “this” is what country music should sound like.

Still, it’s good to see you can still have sibling sex appeal without the incestual innuendo…

http://www.myspace.com/themcclymonts

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Mammal – ‘Slaves’

Rarely has an artist got it so right live, but so wrong in the studio. With the various acts that Ezekiel Ox – the vocalist with only one speed: ludicrous speed – has fronted, their live shows have always been testosterone-driven sweat-fests of rock ‘n’ roll bravado. Full Scale, or more succinctly Ox, knew how to whip a crowd into a frenzy. It’s no wonder they picked up a deal in the U.S. of A. But it’s also no surprise it didn’t work either – and the disintegration of the band has been put into writing by former bass player Rob Kaay.

Picking up the pieces, dusting himself off and getting right back on the horse, Ox found himself a new batch of musicians and together they called themselves Mammal. The first positive thing they did was shed the undercurrent of ’80s theatrics that weaved throughout Full Scale and annoyed the crap out of me everytime I heard one of their overblown riffs.

But what they kept was the intensity – and needless to say, it’s a hard task following these Melbournites when you’re playing with them. But again the music lacked what the live show gave the punters. The songs were OK, but the performance made them awesome. Take away the performance, and the songs are lukewarm at best. It’s probably why Mammal’s first release was a live album.

It’s taken a while, but I think Ezekiel Ox and co. are finally at the turning point. ‘Slaves’ has a punk/funk rock aesthetic with enough intelligence to sustain a 3 minute listening session without needing the band to run riot in front of you. So kudos Mammal for showing me it’s not only showmanship up your sleeve, but the promise that something greater lies ahead.

http://www.mammaltheband.com
http://www.myspace.com/mammaltheband

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Sia – ‘Day Too Soon (Lifelike remix)’

As promised in last week’s Sia post (and I don’t like to break promises), here’s her latest tune ‘Day Too Soon’ remixed by Parisian artist Lifelike. It’s got that French electro/house feel dripping off every reverb-soaked snare shot and phased synth chord, but how he’s heard the original and then come up with this is really something impressive.

http://www.myspace.com/siamusic
http://www.myspace.com/lifelikevulture

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The Red Paintings – ‘We Belong In the Sea’

Known more for their outlandish costumes, interactive stage shows and grandiose publicity stunts, you may be surprised to find out that the eclectic (sorry, I know that’s the most overused term in journalism) Brisbane outfit The Red Paintings do in fact make music. They’ve just unveiled a decidedly subdued and stripped-back new single, ‘We Belong in the Sea’, just in time for Christmas.

After a run of mediocre EPs, Trash McSweeney and co. return with a sound more suited to their skills, rather than them trying to be an alternative rock band. The song survives solely on piano, cello and Trash’s fragile vocals, and when the drums kick in softly towards the end of the song it’s a nice payoff for the listener.

Always an interesting experience live, those in Brisbane can head along to the band’s Dr. Suess-themed The Grinch Who Stole Christmas show at The Tivoli Theatre on December 22. There’s an all-ages and an over-18s show. Sweet.

http://www.theredpaintings.com
http://www.myspace.com/theredpaintings

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Sia – ‘I Go To Sleep’

Australia’s sultry expat Sia has, like many Aussie musicians, found more sucecss abroad than on home turf. It’s been a while since she released her own solo LP – the last being Colour the Small One in 2004 – but January 2008 will see her release her fourth solo record Some People Have REAL Problems.

The first single off the album is ‘Day Too Soon’ and there’s a sweet remix of that tune I’ll post up soon, but ‘I Go To Sleep’ is another taste from the forthcoming record and sees Sia chanelling Chrissie Amphlett in this lush reimagining of the Pretenders hit. Stirring strings and a soft piano melody are the perfect accompaniment to Sia’s distinctive husky, jazz vocal tones. Its dreamy, slow-paced aesthetic recalls much of the material off Colour the Small One and is quite faithful to the original, with the strings replacing the harpsichord and muted trumpet of The Pretenders version.

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

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