Monthly Archives For February 2014

PREMIERE: Emma Russack – ‘You Shouldn’t’

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emma-russack-

After spending the last two years touring on-off across Scandanavia and Europe (and developing a penchant for snus and Henrik Ibsen), Emma Russack is back with a new single.‘You Shouldn’t’ is the first track from her new LP You Changed Me.

2012‘s Sounds Of Our City and her earlier Peasants EP introduced us to Russack’s plenary lyrics and earthy alto. Russack, Alec Marshall (who Russack plays alongside in Hot Palms), Cameron Potts and Jake Phillips recorded the new album in rural Yowrie, south of Russack’s hometown of Narooma in just four days. More hands helped to bring record together in Cairns, including Jordan Ireland of The Middle East on backing vocals.

‘You Shouldn’t’ is either a meditative on regret or a smug note-to-self. Russack’s lyrics are frank, even obvious at times – but there’s something both strange and familiar about her delivery, almost like an old friend singing barefoot in your lounge room. That warm wah-guitar chimes in and out like photographer’s bokeh – and there’s enough two by two on drums for a slow dance with a former flame.

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You Changed Me is out via Spunk on April 4th, but if you already like what you hear, the record is available for pre-order here.

Emma Russack is playing a handful of local shows this week in diverse places…including a bowling club with Cass McCombs and WTH faves Shining Bird & The Ocean Party, and a house somewhere in Coledale. Details are below.

Feb 4th – Scarborough Wombarra Bowling Club, NSW (w/ Cass McCombs, Shining Bird & The Ocean Party)

Feb 8th – House show, Coledale, NSW (w/ Bree Tranter). Email whydontyoubelieveme@gmail.com for full details.

Feb 23rd – Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC

 

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INTRODUCING: Territory

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Territory - Territory EP - cover

Here’s something close to my heart: this EP was forwarded to me with the words ‘Dolewave from your hometown’. Of course, Territory (despite the nomenclature) recently moved from Canberra to Sydney – and apparently they’re forming bonds with the inner-city set, one of these elegiac tracks going by the name of ‘Cleveland Street’.

The attachment to place is one of the most endearing things about the Territory EP. The short set is rounded off with a delicate instrumental called ‘Narrabundah’, and the cover art depicts one of those generously proportioned backyards that characterise this stretch of the capital’s inner south, with its vintage telephone poles, bleached back fences and non-committal winter sun.

Territory make dolewave feel pretty agile, with gorgeous riffs that would give Matt Mondanile a run for his money.  Opening tracks ‘Distant Night’ and ‘Raincoat’ are the sharpest, but each song is lovely – kind of like dozing on a Sunday midmorning, feeling fairly pleased with your lot even though there’s another week and a bit till your next Centrelink payment comes through.

Stream the whole EP below.

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