teenagersintokyo – ‘Robocat (G.L.O.V.E.S remix)’

The ladies (and gentlemen) of teenagersintokyo are exiting the country to base themselves out of London to work on their debut album for Backyard Records. To say good bye they are throwing a farewell gig on Thursday 14th March 2009 at Surry Hill’s Hopetoun Hotel, supported by Chambers and Smoking Vaults. They are also giving away free copies of unreleased remixes by Sydney’s Seekae and Melbourne’s G.L.O.V.E.S, featured here.

myspace.com/teenagersintokyo

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Flying Foxes – Lost In Low Cloud

‘Lost In Low Cloud’ is the self-referencing debut single from Flying Foxes. Replete with a military beat, yelping vocals, and Jonny Marr-like guitar work, the song is brings some whimsy to otherwise jaunty indie pop . The whole thing is over in just two and half minutes but chances are the bouncing chorus melody and glockenspiel line will bring back for another listen.

It won’t take much of your time (unless you get hooked) and it can be all yours over at www.flyingfoxes.tv/downloads/ at the cost of just an email address.

www.myspace.com/flyingfoxes

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Howling Bells – ‘Treasure Hunt’

Sydney’s Howling Bells have returned with a very confident sounding second album Radio Wars. The opener Treasure Hunt is a tidy cut of indie rock gem with Juanita Stein’s distinctive vocals leading the way through the rest of this sophomore collection. They have achieved the double whammy of radioplay in their hometown this week, scoring albums of the week with both local tastemaker FBi Radio and national broadcaster Triple J. I’m glad this album is a step up from their debut, where I wasn’t really into most songs except for Low Happening. After one listen through the album I would hazard a guess that this will fare better with both critics and fans.

www.myspace.com/howlingbells

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Skinny Jean - ‘Anhedonia’

To view the correct video, click on the article link above.

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Touch Typist – ‘Late of Light’ (mp3)

Touch Typist are a three-strong electro-acoustic tour de force hailing from my home turf Melbourne. Their self-described ‘pop noise’ melds heart-melting saccharine melodies with experimental Battles-esque noise ambushes, over the top of some glittering snyth soundscapes.

‘Late of Light’ is but a taster ahead of an eagerly anticipated 2009 record debut.

www.myspace.com/acityasleep

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Melodyssey – ‘All Your Way’

The Australian melodic rock scene is a crowded place to be. The Butterfly Effect, Cog, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Sleep Parade and dozens of lesser bands are headlining shows and pumping out music that dudes can sink piss to, but also enjoy with their girlfriend.

Melodyssey are a hard rock band from the Sunshine Coast who formed and released their debut album Distance and Regret in the earlier part of this decade, long before the genre became overcrowded. “All Your Way” from their latest release The Two Windows sees vocalist Lance Howard’s slightly disconcerting alto pierce through a grinding mesh of guitars and drums, like a more mature version of nu-metal.

The band isn’t touring much now that drummer Luke Williams is a permanent member of Dead Letter Circus, but you should buy their album The Two Windows. It’s really good.

www.myspace.com/melodyssey

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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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