Monthly Archives For July 2012

Spender – 'Magic Man'

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Spender – ‘Magic Man’ (mp3)

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On good occasions, you stumble across distinct voices that belong to neurotic dancing machines and all those great. Tom Spender is Spender. Thoughtful arrangements on this track and a happy tide of lightness that makes me want to barrel roll in my undies like the Dominican kid in the photo above (taken by Spender). And my, is that chorus is grand.

I hear Luke Steele feeling a little saccharine, I hear ELO, I hear digestible greatness. Listen up.

(ps. while you’re here, best checking out this fun acoustic session Spender recorded in Ubud, Bali – http://vimeo.com/35630410)

www.spender.com.au

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The Immigrant – ‘Better of Me’

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The Immigrant – ‘Better of Me’ (mp3)

Some new beats for your Monday brought to us by The Immigrant. The production on the Reset ep is impressive and comes from extensive hard work in the studio when he spent time over in Europe. ‘Better of Me’ is the more reserved cut from the Reset ep and features deep bass with a darker tone yet still very dance worthy – think Beni. The Immigrant is Jon Henderson, who must’ve been drinking something imported back in the highlands of Bowral because he has produced an accomplished debut ep.

Download it for an email exchange here – http://theimmigrant.com.au/index.php

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Hunting Grounds 'In Hindsight' Showcase @ Luwow

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I constantly see the word ‘mature’ pop up in reviews of this album. What does that even mean? Seems to allude to reviewers feeling the need to pinpoint the rite of passage when a band starts using minor chords and decides to mull over philosophy and heartbreak instead of school and teenage loins. It’s probably a general cop-out for boring. However, last night’s showcase at Luwow proved otherwise. Hunting Grounds still have all their energy in tow, even if the keyboard jams and throaty yells have been polished down for now. They might have been making EPs for forever and even the album title suggests so, but this is still their first album. I’ve watched Power of The Zookeepers, Howl, Hunting Grounds make music for a long while, and while Ballarat may have been good breeding grounds for swampy basslines back in the day, if ‘mature’ is what these guys need to export themselves to other places, then good going.

In Hindsight is out now through Red Cat Sounds/ MGM.

(more…)

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Pop Singles – ‘Overcast’

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Pop Singles ‘ (mp3)

Yeah so I’m in love hey. Not necessarily with Pop Singles, more so with my own youth and how familiar it feels after listening to this crackling vinyl release by Pop Singles. When I was a bored kid I’d ride my motorbike over to my buddies, buy a record and laze away the day in his garage. As we stared at the smoky shafts of sunlight, zoning out to the hopeless despair of Nirvana’s unplugged, we didn’t need more in life. Pop Singles have released their debut LP on Vacant Valley, titled ‘All Gone’. It’s a record that sounds honest, beautiful and warm but at the same time completely hopeless and desolate. Oh fuck yeah.

You can feel the reality and smell the dank. This kind of nonchalance could only emanate from uncertain youth, beauty and heaps of talent. Their live shows are no nonsense; don’t give a fuck, 45 mins of nostalgic pleasure. Comforting post-punk of a time gone by. Like hearing ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ for the first time. Stirring memory of misadventures, Pop Singles have a dark spunk that’s rare amongst lo-fi acts. A sound fashioned from shadowy guitar, deep clear bass vibrations and snappy drums united by vocals that conjure the emotions of a hazy experience you’ve probably never had. Pop Singles may think all this ain’t no thing but their sound is in fact, the real deal.

Get down to one of the ‘All Gone’ launch shows to see for yourself –

JULY 27 – The Tote (Melbourne)
W/ Dane Certificate + Constant Light + The Enclosures

JULY 28 – Good God (Sydney)
W/ Dead Farmers + Fighting League +
No Art + Danger Beach + Cat Cat +
Knee Chin + Family + Housewives

AUG 10 – Grand Poobah (Hobart)
W/ Drunk Elk + Go Genre Everything (Melb)

AUG 11 – The Metro (Adelaide)
W/ Fake Tan + Dogs Are Better Than Cats

AUG 14 – Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)
W/ Per Purpose (7″ launch) + Knee Chin (7″ launch) + Nite Fields

AUG 16 – Terrace Bar (Newcastle)
W/ Housewives (Syd) + Polyfox and the Union of the Most Ghosts + Hell Setzer

AUG 17 – Brighton Up Bar (Sydney)
W/ Family + TBC

AUG 18 – Phoenix (Canberra)
W/ Cat Cat (melb) + TV Colours + Biscuits

AUG 24 – The Empress (Melbourne)
W/ Grand Prismatic + Little Killing + Autoportraits

Keep up to date with Pop Singles here – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pop-Singles

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Polo Club – ‘She Will Never Know’

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‘She Will Never Know’ is the title track from the new EP from Polo Club. This clip was released earlier this year but I couldn’t resist the East 17/ new wave swoon. The other hit will be ‘See You Again’, a more dance based single that reflects the live energy of Polo Club. Catch them on their ‘She Will Never Know’ EP Tour.

Dates:

Fri 10 AUG: Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
Sat 11th AUG: Great Northern, Byron Bay (tbc) Fri 17 AUG: The Bended Elbow, Geelong (tbc) Sat 18 AUG: The Toff, Melbourne City
FRI AUG 24: FBI Social, Sydney
SAT AUG 25: Oxford Arts, Sydney
FRI AUG 31: Can’t Say, Melbourne
FRI Sept 21: MUM @ World Bar, Sydney

Check their page here – http://www.facebook.com/PoloClub

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Hunz – ‘Owl Highway’

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Hunz – ‘Owl Highway’ (mp3)

‘Owl Highway’ is lifted from the Penny Time EP by Brisbane producer Hunz. WTH first posted about Hunz back in 2008 and since both Matt and Soph have added to the record, now it’s my turn. ‘Owl Highway’ will be released on the forthcoming Hunz/Mr. Maps split 7″ out in July on lofly recordings. This track is really cool. In fact the whole EP is pretty sweet. Hunz created these tracks for an iPhone skating game so what was essentially a soundtrack has been released as a seven track EP. Featuring the typical 8 bit gamer sound but with an emotional progression making these tunes unique and addictive. Sure, there is a nostalgic gaming quality to the vintage sound but their is also a narrative that draws you in and holds interest. Check out the two bands on the split 7″ playing here:

Hunz + Mr. Maps Split 7” Launch

Presented by Judith Wrigth Centre & Lofly

Friday 20 July, 8pm

Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane

and pre-order the 7″ here: http://loflyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hunz-mr-maps-split-7

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Steering By Stars – ‘Shallow Breath’

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Steering By Stars – ‘Shallow Breath’ (mp3)

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Steering by Stars are a moody four piece from Adelaide who are currently working on their second record. They have a new single ‘Ties That Bind’ and we picked up this additional track ‘Shallow Breath’ from their soundcloud. I like the dark brood in this single, especially the dramatic vocals. Feels 80’s but with a more edgey punch. Excellent track.

They are launching their new single ‘Ties That Bind’ on Friday August 10th at the Estonian Club in Adelaide.

Check their page here – http://www.facebook.com/steeringbystars

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