New Music

INTRODUCING: Milwaukee Banks

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Before this year, I don’t think I’d ever heard an Australian hip hop track that I liked. More accurately: before this year, I don’t think I’d heard an Australian hip hop track to which I did not take active aversion. There was a passing tween phase where I listened to a lot of friendly, melodic hip hop like De La Soul and Jurassic 5, but generally the stuff that appealed to me was lean, lo fi and tough as shit. The garish samples and relentless optimism of groups like Hilltop Hoods made me feel a bit like puking.

In July, Melbourne’s Brothers Hand Mirror dropped the Picture Tape EP. ‘We Don’t Hide’, featuring HTML Flowers‘ odd flow and quiet lines on friendship, and Oscar Key Sung‘s honeyed refrain, became one of my favourite tracks of the year. In September, Dream Damage put out Psycho Shower Scene by POWER MOVES – a collaboration between Austin Buckett (Golden Blonde) and Thomas William. The EP’s tortured beats recalled some of the standout underground Southern rap of the previous year.

Then there was Milwaukee Banks, with beats by Adrian ‘Edo’ Rafter (Flight Tonight) and words by the happily named Dylan Thomas (Polo Club). For no particular reason their name’s a nod to both the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Tyra Banks of America’s Next Top Model (and, more importantly, in my opinion, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). The vapour-logged synths and rolling snares of first single ‘Pluto Bounce’ have an unsettling effect that brings to mind the words ‘horror-core’, while heavily treated vocals and lopsided rhythms point to the influence of UK bass. The lyrics are understated – there are nights out, girls to impress and a broken ankle in jelly bean coloured socks – which in the Australian context, is kind of refreshing.

A video for ‘Pluto Bounce’ came out last week. It was filmed around Wonthaggi and Hayfield in Victoria, on 16mm infrared film (and if you’re not sure what that means, just watch and it will become apparent).

 

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LISTEN: Banoffee – ‘Reign Down’

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We introduced you to Banoffee back in July, when she released her brilliant first single, ‘Ninja’. Since then she’s been thriving, with a video for ‘Reign Down’ premiering on the Fader and appearing on a host of other international sites. It even showed up on SaintHeron.com, the website affiliated with Solange’s Saint Records, home to progressive R’n’B talent like Sampha, Kelela and Cassie.

‘Reign Down’ was produced by Oscar Key Sung and features the pitched-down vocal loops, dance floor-inspired synth arpeggios and sharp high hats familiar from his most recent output. Like ‘Ninja’, which closed with the lines ‘You thought you could kill me now/ Well, honey, I’d like to see how/ I’m a fuckin’ ninja now’, ‘Reign Down’ is a kind of Martha Brown-certified course in assertiveness and resolve. In her own words:

‘Reign Down’ was written in quite a pivotal period in my life, where I realised that not much ever eventuated with taking action. For me, it is about being in a place that you might be comfortable, even if its not particularly enjoyable – and choosing to take the grittier option in search of a better outcome. Whether it’s a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a destructive way of living or whatever, ‘Reign Down’ is kind of like a ‘screw you universe, I’m going to rule at doing things my way’ sort of song. If I was Mariah I’d be singing ‘Shake It Off’. Wish I was Mariah.’

Check out the video – which features outbreaks of quaint dance moves at some low-key Collingwood sites – below.

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LISTEN: Naked Maja – ‘Disillusion’

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Disillusion

Naked Maja are an ambient four piece from Brisbane. The band’s first EP was a curious shoegaze pop jaunt which built strange downbeat gems out of sparse synth and distorted vocals. ‘Disillusion’ is their latest offering. First track ‘#59’ comes at your ears with a straight-up rock guitar that’s both heavy and sharp at the same time. There’s an atmosphere of dark cynicism that permeates through the rest of this strange, sinister record. The band take a step back on ‘Soft Edge’, while glitchy percussion eases you into standout track ‘Disillusion’. ‘Mind Not Thinking’ earns the experimental tag that the band has evolved into with this record too. This is a listening experience that’ll leave you feeling unsettled and oddly moved.

 

If you’re into the devastating combo of babes, bright colours and optical illusions check out the video for ‘#59’.

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PREMIERE: I’lls – ‘To All The Blurred’ (Rat & Co Remix)

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i'lls-rat&co

On the back of amazing remixes this week, (hear Nick Zinner’s remix of a Rainbow Chan track), here’s another. You should already know anything Rat & Co touches turns to gold. Combine that with I’lls‘ spirit fingers and the output is something real special. Rat & Co’s ‘To The Blurred’ remix is a rework of the track that appeared on I’lls incredible EP A Warm Reception earlier this year. The pair have added a sharper beat to I’lls lush pile of carbonated fuzz and dilated feelings. This one sounds like a long, comtemplative wander in metropolis. This track will be released on a Yes Please compilation in early December featuring remixes of I’lls A Warm Reception EP by electronic artists like Naysayer & Gilsun, Tincture, Wabz and Ktsche.

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I’lls – Facebook / Soundcloud

 

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LOOK: HOY On Tour

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Graffiti

Hoy recently capped off a national tour with The Basics (good to have you back guys). The trio recently finished working on their debut album Aquaslum which will making the rounds in February next year if all goes to plan. Felicity, Cecelia & Liam took some photos on the road for us.

Also below, you’ll find the new video for Hoy’s new track ‘Brigitte Bardot’ which was filmed in the old Newstead Butter Factory and features more than one allowed Godard reference. The band are launching the new track tonight at the Northcote Social Club with Minibikes, and tomorrow night at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine with Tim Richmond.

Sunny Tassie breakbast

Sunburnt in Launceston….

Cupping the Goulburn Ram

Cupping the Goulbourn Ram. Post Canberra surrealism.

Fresh on Charles Vego Dinner

Fresh on Charles dinner. Soul food.

Post show Jam with the Basics

Post show jam with The Basics. Kris Schroeder taking us through some classics…

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LISTEN: The Phoncurves – ‘Heartstrings’

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Sometimes when I get sent press releases that describe a band as the ‘darlings; of a particular scene, I like to set my laptop on fire and throw it out the window.

Luckily, in the case of excellent Brisbane two-piece The Phoncurves, I restrained myself and listened to the song. The duo’s latest single ‘Heartstrings’ is actually pretty sweet. Abbie Roberts and Naomi Burrell’s voices are the most immediately striking; their harmonies are open and resonant – filling up all the space in what appears to be a seemingly simple acoustic pop song. But multiple listens reveal a depth in their songwriting. This is a track that swings and moves in waves; it’s well-structured and smart while still being soft on the surface….

‘Heartstrings’ is the first single off The Phoncurves second EP to be released early next year. Catch the duo heading out on these dates in December:

Thur, 5 December – SYDNEY @ Factory Floor

Fri, 6 December – MELBOURNE @ Victoria Hotel

Sat, 7 December – BRISBANE @ South Side Tea Room

 

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LISTEN: Sunbeam Sound Machine – ‘Cosmic Love Affair’

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Sunbeam Sound Machine is Nick Sowersby, a young guy who’s been playing in bands around Melbourne since he was in short trousers. His debut release, double EP One/Sunbeam Sound Machine, is coming out through Dot Dash/Remote Control Records on 29 November.

First single ‘Cosmic Love Affair’ is psychedelic pop in the original sense – woozy and detached, it gives you the odd sensation of having stepped into someone else’s waking dream. The song staggers along, half asleep, as Sowersby’s multi-tracked vocal floats in: ‘Everyone changed / I stayed the same / Everything’s gonna be different from now’. Escapist and dissociative, this is sure to provide some lovely summertime listening.

 

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