Pnau – ‘Wild Strawberries’

This Sydney based electronic duo have been around for a few years now. We’ve mentioned them several times in other posts but this is the first that they have come with new material since this blog started. Pnau is Nick Littlemore and Pete Mayes, both have been busy with side projects Teenager (with Pip Brown of Ladyhawke) and The Hate Game respectively as well as producing for other bands.

The famous anecdote they are most known for is when their 1999 album Sambanova was pulled from store shelves for uncleared samples one week before they won an Aria award, preventing anyone interested in buying. It was re-released through a bigger label in 2000 and in 2003 they released their follow up Again.

I am unsure of what the upcoming album will be called but it will be out in November and has been in the works for two years and was co produced by Sam Littlemore and DJ Feadz of Uffie fame.

www.myspace.com/pnaupnau

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Ladyhawke – ‘Paris is Burning’ (mp3)

Wow! I love Pip’s voice, what a natural gift for melody and fun times. The last we heard from her she was on a world wide writing trip, this track is evidence that the global trek of inspiration has been a fruitful exercise. Cannot wait till for more material and to see her live.

www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

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The City Lights – ‘Everyone Out’

A six-strong band from Sydney, The City Lights play the familiar Sydney sounding indie rock record. This is because the band contain members from Youth Group, Rocket Science and Peabody, and was recorded in Big Jesus Burger studios in Surry Hills. After touring their last record in Spain they got all inspired with the country and have named this new album El Sol. ‘Everyone Out’ is their first single from the album.

www.myspace.com/thecitylightsmusic

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The Hot Lies – ‘Emergency! Emergency!’

Adelaide based emorockers The Hot Lies are preparing to launch their debut album and this single is the first from that release. As you can expect from a band that has spent a lot of time touring a succesful EP, their song sounds slicker than their previous recordings, but maybe not as intense. A somewhat perplexing choice for B-side is a cover of Cindy Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’. I saw them once at the Manning Bar in Sydney as part of a massive all ages emofest. I was told me that they take time once a week to practice their stage choreography so they can rock in sync, can someone confirm this?

www.myspace.com/thehotlies

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Ned Collette – ‘The Country With A Smile’

Victorian singer/songwriter Ned Collette got to support Joanna Newsom when she toured here recently and after seeing him she asked him to join her Europe/UK tour. He then got on to other shows, supported Camera Obscura and played a few solo shows before coming back to Melbourne to record his second album at home (reportedly on top of a Chinese restaurant). The new album titled Future Suture will be out on late September, this is his first single. He sounds a lot older than he looks.

www.myspace.com/nedcollette

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photo by Sir Wheatley

Muscles – ‘Sweaty’

Last Friday I went to an industry shindig at the new Lee Jeans store/art gallery on Chapel St in South Yarra. I was told the free booze might dry up early so when I turned up true enough seasoned early birds scenesters were already downing Jamiesons and dry. Funny thing is about 7 or 8 of them were wearing flanel jackets/shirts, a true sign that grunge fashion is making real headway into a comeback. Grunge music however isn’t that successful at coming back because the soundtrack for the party was provided by Ajax and Jamie Doom of the ravy Bang Gang crew, one time whothehell.net poster Levins (DJ Sleater Brockman) and trance revivalist Muscles. ‘Sweaty’ was the first song that he played. The only copy I have of the song is a cheap sounding myspace rip but if you turn it up you can really tell that this man is on a mission to remind all of us how good it is to be peaking. On top of worldwide buzz and an upcoming debut album, he has been announced as support for the Daft Punk Australian tour in December!

To spice things up the organisers of the party arranged some wildlife attractions in the form of snakes including a big Phyton, creepy crawlers and a baby Alligator to be held and cuddled in the crowd. Would Steve Irwin have approved of this party trick? I would like to throw this prickly question to a new favourite blog Movestill, started up by former whothehell.net blogger Sophie Braham and her FBi posse in Sydney: DJ Anna Lunoe, celebrity confidant Nina, radio star Michaella and superfunster Neha (recently returned from exile). Check it: movestill.blogspot.com

www.myspace.com/musclesmusic

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Dappled Cities – ‘Fire Fire Fire’ Live

Looks live I’ve been missing out because this track is a few weeks old already, but US site Daytrotter.com has the band in their studio recently recording a few tracks straight to tape, four of which are downloadable. Their short set was recorded in Illinois when the band toured with Tokyo Police Club. Great to hear that more people in America are discovering the Dappled magic.

www.daytrotter.com

www.myspace.com/dappledcitiesfly

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