It’s been a while since that contagious cowbell on ‘We Don’t Walk’ writhed it’s way into the ears of the nation in 2006. The guys from The Paper Scissors are back, and have finally delivered the clip for ‘Lung Sum’ from their forthcoming second full-length album ‘In Loving Memory’ which is due for a release early next year. Just saw these guys play on Friday night in Melbs and while the new material is more emotive, their live stints are punchier than ever. They’ll be hitting up Bris, Byron Bay, Toowoomba, Syd and Perth over the next few months as part of a national tour, so make sure you check out myspace for full tour deets.

www.myspace.com/thepaperscissors

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The Medics – ‘Griffin’

I always have time for The Medics, as evidenced by my frequency of blog posts about them in the past couple of years. Now relocated from Cairns to Brisbane, the boys have spent time gigging, drinking and honing their songs – just regular young band stuff, really.

A live demo of ‘Griffin’ was floating around the band’s various social networking profiles earlier this year, and this studio recording cuts the fat without losing any of the song’s punch. It’s a good teaser for their (hopefully) forthcoming album next year.

You can grab a copy of ‘Griffin’ in exchange for your email address at www.themedicsmusic.bandcamp.com .

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A couple of sweet jams and old-skool hazy vids to accompany from Cyst Impaled – the solo project of Collarbones’ Travis Cook. Presumably the Collarbones album is done and will be released soon since he clearly has time to indulge individual pursuits like that. (Not that there’s anything wrong with this pursuit – but, you know, kinda hanging out for that album).

Cyst Impaled – Infinite Smile from Travis Cook on Vimeo.

Cyst Impaled – Spectral Bus from Travis Cook on Vimeo.

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Straight Arrows – ‘Bad Temper’ (mp3)

Early bird catches the worm and the late bird… misses out on mad blog hits.

Would normally give this a miss since it’s been covered extensively elsewhere, but the tune is A) fucking rad and B) the album from which it’s pulled will be released by Rice Is Nice, aka (one of) Australia’s coolest label(s).

Get into it.

www.myspace.com/thestraightarrows

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Hi guys. A bunch of us Sydney bloggers are teaming up to throw a fundraiser party for this play at the new Goodgod: Anna Robi and the House of Dogs. It’s a pretty good lineup, so if you’re around come out!

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Kimbra – ‘Settle Down’ (mp3)

We’ve given a lot of love to Washington over the past couple of years, and while we don’t bemoan her success at all I think even her most ardent pre-2010 fans have to admit that Australia is approaching Washington saturation point. I still haven’t figured out what this means for other female ‘indie’ pop singers. Some peeps people will probably be exhausted by librarian-chic, female-led, JJJ-ready tunes, while others are probably still at the point where they’re ready to lap up anything with a female larynx wrapped around it (get yr mind out of the gutter).

I’ve probably already done Kimbra a disservice by conflating her with M-Wash. I was mostly trying to pre-empt a comparison between the two than trying to cement one myself. Both are young, Australian, female pop solo artists, but these are just superficial similarities. Stylistically, they’re quite distinct. Kimbra’s ‘Settle Down’ is a song that is more playful and electronic in its arrangement than anything on ‘I Believe You, Liar,’ and her work on Miami Horror standout ‘I Look To You’ is further proof of her versatility and electro potential.

Enter Penguin Prison, here to lend a hand with catapulting Kimbra onto the dancefloor. I foresee good things for Kimbra – starting with her name on the final announcement for this year’s Meredith festival. Those lucky enough to be going must let me know how she holds up in the ampitheatre.

www.myspace.com/kimbramusic

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