Putting your old folks on your cover, what a salute. If I had a dad who looked this stoked to be standing in a scrub patch and a mum who should have considered running for parliament (one inspirational t-shirt at a time), I probably would too. Anyone who grew up in Australia with ethnic Asian parents will probably empathize with a long withstanding history of long-shot scenic panorama snaps, ill-fitting bucket hats and dad trying to assimilate by wearing Australian beer merch out in public. Mum worked for Fosters Group in the 80’s, so I know what it was like to be the dinkum ethnic in prep class with a pencilcase full of lager branded corporate stationery.

Anyway, the offspring of the chummy couple on the cover is Zone Out – the bedroom project of Melb based Ashley Bundang. She’s previously released some other more textural, electronic based stuff under White Australians, but Zone Out is a lot janglier and pared back. While the simple, repetitive harmonies and crunchy treble guitar shelves this track against the slacker manifesto coming out of Melb, Zone Out’s got a cool tone to her voice…which makes humming about everyday stuff much more sweet.

You can grab the EP over here. (I think the EP was mixed by the dude wearing the ‘Slim Dusty’ tshirt at this Mining Boom gig, so all the more reasons to do so). Zone Out is playing her first show Thurs 18th of October at the Gasometer Hotel w/ Autoportraits, Mining Boom and André.

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Zone Out – ‘Everyday’

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Here’s a new track from our favourite beat-maestro, Guerre. Taken off his Revels 12″, ‘Cannibal’ is a down-tempo track which steers softly-spoken vocals throughout. In parts, it broods with subtle melancholy, only to be left unresolved. Restrained is what this track really is. It simmers, teasing you with the possibility of the beat dropping – and it doesn’t. Space is key here. Even, dare I say…trip-hop.

Guerre, a contemporary of the beat makers emanating of Melbourne and Sydney, has forged a welcome presence on the scene, with a recent collaboration with Collarbones raising his profile quite a bit. His  latest 12″ is just another case of keeping our blog favourites close to our hearts. Get on it.

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Guerre – ‘Cannibal‘

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Jay Watson used to drum in Tame Impala. He’s shifted to key/vox duties, but also spends rest of his time donning copious amounts of denim and manning the wah-pedal for Pond. His side project GUM has been kicking around for a while, but ‘Delorean Highway’ is the first track to be released. It’s a given for beatmakers to go solo, but GUM is just another venture to sprout forth from the promiscuous psych-punchbowl of Perth bros playing in bands for bros (Tame Impala / Pond /Allbrook & Avery / Mink Mussel Creek / Dee Dee Drums / Space Lime Peacock/ Shiny Joe Ryan… yeah yeah).

There’s going to still be a large handful of people who are going to dig on GUM just out of curiosity or perhaps fan-referred value. However, I did hope that any sort of Tame Impala side project from drummer guy here would have opted out of Kevin Parker’s slow-burning cosmic whaff in exchange for something a bit different (ie. Jono Boulet‘s ‘powerviolence’ band, Snakeface). Watson’s vocals are more gruff here, and while it does still sound like a slowed down chunk of Tame, I’m still digging this. ‘Delorean Highway’ reminds me a little of this cover Tame Impala did a few years ago.

That percussion plucked straight out of Psychocandy lends it the spaciousness it vies for…but besides that, it’s a little flat until the cosmic juggernaut reels out later on. Anything past the two minute flag does well for an ascent in the Tardis. Gum’s record is going to be released early next year. All ears.

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