Monthly Archives For September 2006

Witch Hats

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witchhats.jpg

Witch Hats – ‘Jock The Untold’

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About ten years ago, I reckon I would have absolutely hated this band. But I guess that just goes to show how much your taste in music can change… Recently signing with In-Fidelity, Melbourne band Witch Hats have finally found a label to unleash their blood-curdling and at times, really quite scary, music on the world. Or at least Australia for the time being anyway. With evident Birthday Party and Pixies influences, the band have an EP coming out soon, including great tracks such as Jock The Untold and Pepperman. I can’t imagine Kris Buscombe’s vocals appealing to everyone, but even so, there’s so much else going on with the rest of the band to keep you more than satisfied. And apparently their live shows are a spectacular riot worth witnessing.

witchhats.com.au
www.myspace.com/witchhats

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Quarter Acre

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Quarter Acre

Quarter Acre – ‘Casual vs Fulltimer’ (mp3)

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That promo photo should tell you everything – Quarter Acre are an odd three-piece. Try to find info on them and it can prove an arduous task. Here’s what I know: the band formed back in 2000 and realised their first EP Live From The Traffic Islands in 2003, which you can actually download from the Wash Records website. They then released their debut full-length album this year which is called Bored So I… Kicked The Shit Out Of Him (though the cute cover with coloured pencils has it listed only as Bored So I…) Singer/drummer Andrew Burgess is/was a member of a band called The Drugs who, to be completely honest, I know pretty much nothing about.

Bored So I… is an album that I loved the first time I heard it, and basically haven’t listened to it since. Which is odd. I think I loved it so much the first time that I’m scared I’m not going to love it as much the second time. It’s a short record that clocks in at just over 36 minutes, but has such a fantastic musical diversity. It’s constantly shifting, always keeping you interested. It ranges from Pixies-esque rock numbers to alt-country and cute pop numbers. It’s a rough record, with Andrew’s vocals being slightly lower in the mix compared with many other albums – plus he doesn’t have a great voice, but it has a vulnerability to it that makes it endearing. His lyrics are of the same nature – his tales of suburbia are innocent and honest. I’ve never seen these guys live, and they seem to run under the radar of most music media outlets in Australia, which is a surprise because I would of thought that there’d be a lot of fans of Bored So I…

http://www.quarteracre.info
http://www.myspace.com/quarteracrekids

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Damn Arms

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Damn Arms

Damn Arms – ‘Test Pattern’

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Three out of four members of Damn Arms were in a previous band called Snap! Crakk!, before they replaced some members and picked up the pace of their songs upon the name change. Much of their sound lingers on that electro tinged new-rave sound, though that’s probably not a fair description because they were there before NME decided to push this new sub genre revival. The name came from the Matt Groening animated series Futurama, when the main character Fry exclaimed ‘I could fit [into the drain] if I didn’t have these damn arms!’ You probably have to be a fan of the series to get it. The band have had a few tours through Europe, and even got on the road with the now imploded Test-Icicles. I believe they are heading out to the UK soon early next year after they recorded their new album with producer Lindsay Gravina of Birdland Studios in Melbourne.

damnarms.com
www.myspace.com/damnarms

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