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Tex Perkins & His Ladyboyz – ‘Hold The Line’ (mp3)

Whether it’s his work with Beasts of Bourbon, his collaboration with Tim Rogers or his most recent piss-take work with “the fifth-best covers band in the country” The Ladyboyz, Tex Perkins is yet to disappoint me.

In light of Tex Perkins and His Ladyboyz’ stellar rendition of “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar” on 2007’s No Man’s Woman compilation, they’ve released Number Ones and Number Twos, a collection of cover songs usually relegated to cover bands in RSLs and cruise ships worldwide.

Dodgy harmonies notwithstanding, Perkins and his Ladyboyz’ version of Toto’s “Hold The Line” is surprisingly faithful to the original. Check out the hilarious infomercial for Number Ones & Number Twos.

www.myspace.com/texperkins

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The Devoted Few – ‘Don’t Listen To Us’

When not touring as Sarah Blasko’s guitarist, Ben Fletcher likes to pay some attention to his other band, The Devoted Few. Their latest offering is ‘Baby, You’re A Vampire’ and it was released this month through Inertia. I haven’t heard it mentioned around the virtual watercoolers too much so perhaps it slid by under the radar but it’s worth seeking out.

Don’t Listen To Us isn’t the strongest track on the album but it is definitely the most immediate and exciting. Like the album title, it’s a little bit dark, a little bit rock’n’roll and a little bit sexy. With the hypnotic hi-hats boosted high in the mix,  a fuzzed out bass line over a pounding backbeat and a wash of reverbed guitar distortion filling the negative space, the track is a great piece of well-produced indie rock with a dance-inspired rhythm section.

Although slightly stylistically removed from the rest their oeuvre, which leans more toward quirky pop, Don’t Listen To Us has all the makings of a killer lead single from a band whose depths extend beyond the merely immediately-gratifying. I’m still listening to the album as a whole but it’s definitely a grower.

www.myspace.com/thedevotedfew

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Leader Cheetah – ‘Blood Lines’

Festival state four-piece Leader Cheetah are the less manic, more soulfully melodic reincarnation of now defunct Pharaohs. Their music is layered folk-rock twang meets brooding pop – think Neil Young’s moody younger brother in stormy weather.

‘Blood Lines’ reminds me of Interpol circa the jangling guitar, tonal shift Turn on the Bright Lights glory days. The vocals by singer Dan Crannitch are mind-addlingly beautiful and dark, especially when met with the surge of harmonies in the chorus.

Leader Cheetah are touring Australia in February as part of the Spunk Singles Club Tour, and their debut album The Sunspot Letters is out now on Spunk Records.

www.myspace.com/leadercheetah

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Lost Valentinos –  ‘Serio’ (mp3)

Sydney’s Lost Valentinos have gone through a major change since we first heard the promising Man With A Gun a few years ago. A change in line up, look, management, producer and sound have resulted in the curious sounds of Serio. Also taken from the upcoming album Cities of Gold produced by UK’s Ewan Pearson, I like this better than the first single The Bismarck. The remixes, the video and the UK tour are coming in due time of course, but for now enjoy this exclusive.

www.myspace.com/lostvalentinos

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megastick fanfare – ‘musing’s heartthrob’

megastick fanfare are a bunch of young multi-instrumentalists from Sydney. They play experimental psychedelic pop, occasionally in support of bands such as Cuthbert and The Nightwalkers, Seekae and Expatriate.

The band opens each show they play with a different ‘fanfare’, a piece of music unique to that night’s performance. I think it’s a pretty cool trick. While there is no denying this band is incredibly skilled and engaging ,the Vampire Weekend influence is inescapable  – I’ll be interested to see what they can do given a few more years of life and touring experience.

megastick fanfare are playing a few shows in Sydney in the next month or so, including Hopetoun on February 20 as part of the Spunk! Records Singles launch and a headline slot at MUM on March 13 . Check out their MySpace for more details.

www.myspace.com/megastickfanfare

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