Seja Vogel – ‘Sing Me The Song Like You Said’

Uber-label Rice Is Nice  recently signed Brisbane’s Seja Vogel of Sekiden and Regurgitator (c. 2006) to their already-impressive stable of artists (Seekae, Talons, Spod, Richard In Your Mind et al). In keeping with her synth-playing roles in those bands, Seja has produced an album of songs based almost exclusively around her vocals and synth playing that display not only a proficiency at playing the instrument but at also wringing effective sounds out of it.

I’ve seen Seja live and must admit that I’m still getting used the whole ‘play along to an iPod’ style of performance. But hey, it took me a while to warm to the idea of samplers as an instrument so I’ll probably come around. Regardless, the songs were rad, her vocals were near flawless and there was even synchronised dancing (with ex-Rational Academy’s Meredith McHughe).

Looking forward to checking out this album. In ‘Sing Me The Song Like You Said,’  Seja has not only captured a cool tune but totally nailed the production as well (assuming she did the production, which is unconfirmed). Check the eerie vocal breakdown a minute in – can’t go past that old ‘tear it down, build it up’ trick. Sweet stuff.

www.myspace.com/sejamusic

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No Through Road - ‘You Better Run’

‘Girls Are The Devil’ is the latest single off one of my fav albums of 2009, No Through Road’s Winner. Truth be told, it’s not my personal highlight on the record but I can see where they’re coming from in putting this one out. It’s a pretty smooth number that makes a decent case for radio coverage while retaining bits of their chugging slacker charm. Still a good tune, but it ain’t no ‘Party To Survive.’

I’m actually a big fan of b-side ‘You Better Run,’ a more restrained number that mixes the caution of the title with Matt Banham’s lackadaisical vocals.

www.myspace.com/nothroughroad

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Elrazor – ‘Second Coming’

I don’t often put metal up on the blog. It’s partially because I’m scared Matt and Jerry will kick me off if I do it too often, but mostly because a lot of Aussie hard rock and metal bands aren’t very good.

While Melbourne’s Elrazor aren’t breaking any new ground in the genre, they do the Pantera/Iron Maiden/Metallica vein of metal well and tightly. They have everything – harmonised riffs, pinch harmonics, tasteful double kicks and shredding over palm muted chugging.

They’re currently #2 on the Triple J Unearthed metal chart – make of that what you will.

www.myspace.com/elrazor

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Emma and Alec – ‘Civilisations’ (mp3)

Emma Russack has been seeing a bit of love on this site lately, with whothehell enthusiastically jumping on her post-Lola Flash solo EP. As if to further boost her swelling profile, she’s joined forces with fellow former Lola Flash member Alec Marshall to release a self-titles EP under the inventive moniker of Emma and Alec.

‘Civilisations’ is a slow, minimal track, focusing mainly on Russack’s beautiful floating vocals that aren’t unlike a lot of the chillwave stuff coming out of the US at the moment. This shit can only be purchases on CD-Rs available at Emma and Alec shows (possibly at Emma solo shows, not sure though). So get along to one of those if you like what you hear.

www.myspace.com/emmaandalec

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The Medics - ‘Sinking Ship’

The Medics - ‘Amongst The Corn Field’

I have no end of good things to say about Cairns band The Medics (I posted about them last year too), so I’ll keep this brief and try to gush as little as possible.

The Medics have spent the last nine months touring the country, playing shows and festivals and getting  good at playing live. I mean, really good.

After a fantastic showcase at Brisbane’s BigSound conference in October (sucked in to all of you who were too busy talking over Washington’s set and demolishing Dew Process’ bar tab to see them), Leanne DeSouza came out of semi-retirement to manage them. Her previous clients include George and Kate Miller-Heidke, so the boys are in good hands.

Their new EP This Boat We Call Love was produced by Mark Myers from The Middle East and is a contender for my favourite album artwork of the year. It’s folkier than their previous effort but definitely more cohesive.

They’re playing shows in Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast this weekend, starting with a gig at Club 299 tonight. Go and see them.

www.myspace.com/themedicsband1

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CRUMBS - ‘Fantasy in Public’ (mp3)

CRUMBS - ‘Dribbles’ (mp3)

CRUMBS is the moniker under which Melbourne drummer Max Kohane (Agents of Abhorrence, Cut Sick, Pivixki) releases his dabbles in electronic beats. His pedigree as a drummer shines through, with a strong emphasis on rhythm and syncopation permeating the samples and kicks featured on his recently released Pieces and Portions, Vol. 1 EP – which you can download for free here.

Apparently he has lent his beat-making skills to the likes of Brain Children and Macromantics, and Mikey Young (of Eddy Currant and Brain Children) is credited with having a hand in the aforementioned CRUMBS release. The tracks featured thereon aren’t traditionally-structured songs; they’re grooves and loops that subtely evolve and shift over two or three minutes before bleeding into the next track. Some might call them transitional songs or ‘unfinished,’ but there’s enough going on as if to entertain a half-attentive listener. For a guy who claims to just “dabble” in this stuff (as his email said), Kohane sure has enough skill to suggest that maybe devoting more time to production would be a good move.

www.myspace.com/crumbsproduction

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Update: Here are the winning entries for our Sony promotion.

We wanted you to tell us what your LEAST favourite Australian album of the year was and why – it could be anything from Seekae (not likely) to Jessica Mauboy. Our three winners chose Stan Walker, The Getaway Plan, and Quiet Child (though this dude’s review seems to indicate that he actually liked it after all). After the jump we’ve included the re-reviews of their least favourite albums as heard, this time, through the aforementioned Sony headphones. Some entertaining stuff there.

(Note: No one at whothehell.net has tried or used these products nor received any payment for this promo. We were approached by Sony and thought it would be nice to get some giveaways for our loyal readers. The reviews below are presented as sent to us, unedited, and without direction.)

(more…)

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