Posts By Melissa Tan

LISTEN: Kins – ‘Aimless’

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Bittersweet how this band skipped off to the UK before their debut EP Dancing Back and Forth In Whipped Cream even got the chance to warm up around the press or get anywhere near close to the radio play that it deserved here.

The Australian masses are reasonably facilitating about local stuff. Doesn’t mean I didn’t feel like slitting my wrists at major festival I recently attended while everyone fapped off to vanilla flavoured Scandinavian bands, dudes with triangles in their artwork and imported teenage ‘wunderkinds‘ who need to focus on the stuff teenagers should be into; like haiku and growing pubes.

There are a number of extremely supportive outlets which support local music and upcoming artists (hi fellow Oz music blogs, hi community radio, hi hardworking label start-ups, hi fReeZA, you know who you are etc..). Too often though, we’re quick to claim support when it should have been given in the first place. For artists hoping to achieve some level of ‘success’, Europe and the US has always, and will always be the land of milk and honey (+ legal weed, +crowds who actually dance). I know a few artists from overseas who’ve moved here in their plight to develop in a tighter ‘scene’, but in general those of the sort are few and far between.

While that might be the eternal case, let it be known, Australian bands…that somewhere, out there in the abyss of suburban Sydney – on a stained mattress in the Valley – or in a decrepit hole of a band room; SOMEONE LOVES YOUR MUSIC. Think about our feelings when you leave.

I’ve been following Kins closely since coming across ‘Bold Frown’ back in 2010. Originally a solo project for frontman Thom Savage (ex-Oh Mercy guitarist), Kins made the move to Brighton in the UK two years ago. Spots at the The Great Escape Festival and regular airplay on BBC 1 is all real great – but their new LP is more so.

Kins never had twee intentions. I doubt they made the move to cement their status as a hype band. When you listen to these guys, there’s often no distinct hook or a blatant chorus that keeps you the whole way through. It’s Thom Savage’s vagueness.

Kin’s new track ‘Aimless’ is just that. It’s a dreamy saunter and an angular dance. The track sounds like the personification of that endearing person everyone knows; the socially awkward person with a closet desire to throw violently outlandish moves on the dancefloor. It’s probably not that’s what the song is about. I’m pointing the finger at that chiming main hook and the faux-mariachi floating around though. All I can see is a Lou Taylor-Pucci type, maybe Steve Buscemi, flailing lithe limbs around in an aquarium lobby or something.

Thom’s distinct voice is the subtle hero of this track. While this spares a close ear to the unconvention of Local Natives, bits Alt-J and early Dappled Cities, I reckon Kins are unique in their own league. If I met Severely Underrrated Band and could stomp all over it’s passport, I would.

Wish we could keep them, but a band like this deserves better ears.

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PREMIERE: The Ocean Party

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We love these guys. Most bands don’t usually don’t make more than twice an appearance on this blog (so many new bands, so little time), but these guys have somehow found a way around that. Dave has a blatant man crush on everyone in this band – while The Ocean Party’s member spawn-out into other local acts like Velcro, Kins, I’lls, The Removalists, Pencil, Ciggie Witch and Mining Boom makes shirking away from Band Bias almost impossible.

Amidst this band’s thread of solo projects, side projects and gratuitous sharing of talents across acts that have, and still continue to make important contributions to local music, The Ocean Party is the constant fixture in the chaos. And in a way, their Brunswick sharehouse (which featured in our photo essay of the guys earlier this year) seems to have become a central meeting point, literally and lyrically.

The band’s new track ‘Split’ which we’re premiering today sums up the band. The song’s subject is about moving away, but it’s a bit of a homecoming really.

Much like the song title, the band has had it’s share of vagabond members traipsing off to the UK and New York before returning back to the band or leaving to work on other projects. The Ocean Party originally met in high school in Wagga Wagga, but didn’t become a band until years later when they all found themselves living in Melbourne. After drummer Ben Protasiewicz departed for Perth, Simon Lam joined when their debut record The Sun Rolled off the Hills was recorded. 

After the album tour, Simon left Australia for England with his other band Kins, while the band started penning their follow up, Social Clubs. Simon made a prodigal return, coming home to record the second album, before departing again to focus on his other project, I’lls. A few months later, Curtis Wakeling (Velcro) left for New York for six months, so Joe Foley (Aleks and the Ramps) joined on bass and Lachlan Denton’s younger brother Zac moved from Wagga as a drummer. Curtis eventually returned from NY, and after getting the songs together for the new album the band packed up the van and headed to Tarcutta in NSW to record new material.

‘Split’ was recorded on Lachlan and Zac’s grandparents farm. During recording, the band moved away from the traditional idea of Lachlan Denton being the lead singer. Instead, the band took a literal approach to the song title, with every member of the band writing and singing their own songs. Zac penned ‘Split’ after moving from Wagga to Melbourne. “At the time I was just 18 and living with the rest of the band who had time to spare and less responsibility” Zac says, dividing time time for music and working as a plasterer for “shit wages and a hard-arse boss”.

Suburban nuances, the whole slave-to-the-man mantra is the obvious common thread through all our local bands denoting that token pop jangle. The point is to make the end result appear a lot effortless than the track’s intention/subject matter – and these guys do it well. ‘Split’ is a gorgeous, leisurely jam that could easily fool Shazam for a Real Estate b-side, but it’s not a sound we’ll tire of soon. The band have honed a much cleaner sound here, but those rolling guitar hooks and wistful lyrics are still hanging out right where they left off. The Ocean Party’s modesty and unassuming nature is what makes them so damn likeable. Knowing the nature of this band, the guys will probably see through a few more lineup changes. As long as they stick around chugging along making tunes about chugging along, we’re content.

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PREMIERE: Audego – ‘Sleepy’

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If you’re in dire need of some 8 bit colour chroma to get your Thursday morning going, we’ve got you sorted.

Here’s a first look at the brand new video for ‘Sleepy’ from local producer/vocalist duo Audego – former TZU member Shehab Tariq (Paso Bionic) and vocalist Big Fella.

Don’t confuse Big Fella with some kind of skip-hop jaunt though. Under the nom-de-plume, ‘Big Fella’ is Tariq’s wife Caroyln. Together, they make trip-hop, breath-hop, whatever you want to file bedroom music under. Beth Gibbons and Mezzanine-era comparisons are sure to fly, but this duo have more grit. The pair released their debut album Abominable Galaxy last year and have been busy working on the follow up.

Trip-hop gets the comatose rep sometimes, but this clip is far from it. Created by Paul Andrew Rhodes of Negative Films, the concept of the clip was to “capture the mania of insomnia”. There are nods to Special Problem’s zoom-out style, and definitely no shortage of brilliant animation, seizure pixels, fast tracked 8 bit graphics as well as a cameo by Audego – in floating head form.

Audego’s second LP will be out later this year.

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WTH Mapcast // Podcast

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Podcasts are neat little things.

If you’ve been following the last 50 something editions of our global new music round up, Music Alliance Pact (MAP), you’ll understand that trying to digest Puerto Rican hip hop and Icelandic metal-core in one hit is the audio equivalent of drinking a whole gravy boat.

We’ve recruited new guy Robbie Ingrisano to host the WTH Mapcast, a 30min takeaway show of our favourite Music Alliance Pact tracks for the month.

For those 5 years late to the party – the Music Alliance Pact is a global round up of new music from 40 music blogs around the world each month. It’s been running since dear old 2008, when our pals at Scottish blog The Pop Cop invited us in to join. The idea was that each blogger would hand pick a song from the country he/she represented, and the complete collection of free mp3s would then be posted on all the blogs in the pact on the same day. The first ever MAP post took off in October 15th 2008 and five years later, the ‘pact’ has grown to span 40 countries and across blogs such as We Listen For You, The Guardian, Drowned In Sound and more.

There are a huge handful of MAP representatives in the past, posted while most were barely known inside of their own country. Notable MAP alumni include The xx, Ólafur Arnalds, Sleigh Bells, Toro Y Moi and our own Chet Faker, who we sent to glory via MAP back in 2011.

Back to the new guy – Robbie has a background in community radio & network television, did his thesis on Italian TV in the 60’s, jettisons to Europe every summer to eat good stuff and speaks Spanish or something. He’s a worldly kinda guy, so trust his taste in tunes. Mapcast will drops monthly to coincide with the MAP post of the month. The podcast will available as a free download from our new Soundcloud account.

Salud.
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MAPCAST // JULY

MAPCAST // JUNE

 

View previous Music Alliance Pact posts here.

 

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EXCLUSIVE: Hollow Everdaze Album Stream

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No one likes repeating themselves. I often do, with good intention though. I keep harping on about how excellent these guys are. And this album proves that point even further.

Melbourne via Bacchus March band Hollow Everdaze are releasing their self titled debut on August 2nd, and we’ve got an exclusive album stream you can fawn over below. 

The album was recorded at Birdland Studios and produced by Lindsay Gravina (Hungry Ghost, Cosmic Psychos and Rowland S Howard).

For the critics…I don’t think these guys are a ‘psych’ band at all, they’re a lot more malleable than that. The band have perfected the art of rehashing standoffish, slacker-drag alt-pop, translating the sound into something that’s a little more poignant than paranoid. Sometimes Splashh, sometimes early Alex Turner vibes, sometimes moody Psychocandy type stare-downs. Those who are familiar with the band’s previous singles like ‘Ships, ‘Selfish’ and ‘Handsome Sums’ will know that there’s two sides to their sound. This album shows that off that in it’s entirety, shifting from lazy garage tracks (‘It Will Never Really Sing’), driving harmonies (‘Excitation’) to starry-eyed waltzes (‘Ships’, ‘Still Raining’).

While there’s a certain rainy day weariness lingering around this record, that feeling seems to stem more from the band’s sharp wallflower observations/lyricism than anything. It might have taken 6 years to put out an LP, but Hollow Everdaze have saved us the best dregs. Impressive stuff.

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Following on from the band’s recent residency at The Tote and their upcoming Unknown Mortal Ochestra support slot, Hollow Everdaze will be hitting the road throughout August. Eye On Eye label mates Contrast are tagging along, so it should be an awesome jaunt. Tour dates after the jump.

 

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WHOTHE HELL PRESENTS: Fifth Floor Warehouse Party ft. The Murlocs

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Anyone who has a decent appreciation for local music understands the importance of a shoddy venue. If the walls aren’t peeling, the toilet seat isn’t unhinged and the floor doesn’t sound like velcro when you trod on it, it’s probably not worth your time. This might be though. Along with the folk from Mess & Noise and Inpress, we’re proud to present the first installment of a warehouse party series by Fifth Floor.

Not many of us live on Lena Dunham’s party budget so don’t expect a mechanical bull or…this. Fifth Floor however, have put together a solid line up of bands, Baby Janis and the country’s finest projection artists to make your eyes pop.

The party will be held at a “secret” location on Saturday August 3rd with a venue announcement closer to the date. Headlining the bill are our favourites The Murlocs and joining them are Flyying Colours, Strangers From Now On (who played our last party), The Octopus Ride, Dan Trolley and Premium Fantasy. There will be plenty of visual art and projections happening too (because, Brunswick) – courtesy of Thomas Russell aka. Astral Projection & Zonkvision. If that’s not enough of a social lubricant for you, then you ought to stay home. 

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First batch of tickets have sold out but another round have recently been released.

Buy tickets via Oztix here. Full details on the Facebook event page.

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PREMIERE: Damn Terran – ‘Lost’

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Damn Terran are first and foremost, a live band. That’s their currency, and they’re not compromising that for anything else.

Their new track ‘Lost’ is essentially…Damn Terran. What else did you expect? There’s no mulling around here. ‘Lost’ is a pulsating post-grunge number – wrought by layers of drone-like guitar and the usual splattering of guttural vocal exchanges between Lachlan Ewbank and Ali E (Heavy Beach, Little Athletics, mag publisher, lady crush). The thing I love best about this track is that there’s hardly filler – it’s indicative and true to what you’ll get in a live setting from these guys. The ink blowing video accompanying the track by Grant Joslin is hell neat too.

Damn Terran have been recording their self-titled debut with the excellent Nao Anzai, with the 20th of September set in as a launch date. Get around it.

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