Who The Hell melbourne Archives

LISTEN: Batpiss – ‘Burn Below’

January 15, 2014, Ryan Saar, No Comment

There are plenty of punk bands out there with revolting names; Saliva, Cumstain, Begging For Incest. But hey, those bands kinda suck. Breaking the vile name, shit band category are Melbourne locals Batpiss. Kicking around in Collingwood since around 2011, Batpiss have honed their craft of sluggish oblivion into something that would make Buzz Osborne from the Melvins blush. Although the band released a self-titled cassette in 2012 via Popular Favourites Records, the true gnash of their sound is most apparent on last year’s debut LP, Nuclear Winter.

Starting with a gyrating riff accompanied by a close imitation of Black Flag’s ‘My War’, Batpiss’ ‘Burn Below’ is a punch to the face. It starts with gnashing guitar and buckling bass/drum combinations all come to a halt halfway through the track. It’s only a brief moment of respite though. The band are intent on ploughing through with the incendiary goal to blow out your brain cells – and they’re close.

Batpiss will turn heads, rip off those same heads, stamp them into a bloody mess all over the stage. More please.

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WATCH: Fractures – ‘Embers’

January 15, 2014, Sam Weber, No Comment

$fractures$

Mark Zito aka. Fractures has had an interesting ride since releasing his track ‘Twisted’ at the end of 2012. Apparently, irony spares no expense – Fractures actually fractured his neck (SRSLY) after a fainting incident at the breakfast table last year. While this sounds like the foundations of some beguiling press story, cracking vertebrae is no laughing matter. Zito was forced to cancel his upcoming tour and spent most of last year harmonizing in an Orthotic halo. Zito’s now made a full recovery, with Fractures selling out a headline show at the Workers Club back in November. Champ.

This recent acoustic video of Fractures’ track ‘Embers’ was filmed at the Queen Vic Markets in West Melbourne. It’s a mile different from the recording, Fracture’s vocal and sparse arrangement is worth your ears.

Catch Fractures at one of the dates below:

25th Jan – The Toff, Melbourne w/ Yeo

1st Feb – Brighton Up Bar w/Goldsmith

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LISTEN: Sarsha Simone ‘Gold’ EP

December 30, 2013, Alan Weedon, No Comment

I feel there could be a turf war between Melbourne and Sydney soul soon. Down here, we’ve got a knack for big brass; as Saskwatch, Clairy Browne, and The Cactus Channel have gone on to reflect the city’s penchant for gritty live shows. And in true form, Sydney’s hit back with something slick. That person behind it all is Sarsha Simone.

Previously front woman of Dojo Cuts—a revivalist funk outfit—Simone has brought out the Gold EP: five tracks that serve up a mix of neo-soul, hip-hop, and contemporary RnB. But, Simone’s voice is hard to place. It’s raspy in part, but it’s smooth as well — almost like Winehouse’s raw voice on her debut Frank. You can her this more clearly on Jazz Soul Scent, Simone’s recent collaboration with French artist DJ Moar. And, in the vein of your neo-RnB revivalists, she can rap to boot. This could raise ire in others, but she seems to rap in a style that’s akin to spoken word poetry on tracks like ‘All Night’. And of course, you could look to the likes of Candice Monique for further comparisons.

The EP ticks all the boxes of the RnB tragic. Gold presents themes of lust, sensuality, and sultry nights out in language of the genre. You’ve got your usual dose of heavy bass, with Simone directly addressing you on tracks like ‘Move’. And while it’s safe to say that Hiatus Kaiyote has broken the ceiling for local neo-soul, this EP doesn’t seem to following its direct path. On ‘Gold’, the EP ramps up the electronica, with vocal lines distorted and melodies that break out of RnB’s DNA.

But, ‘Goin On’ seems to be the front-runner. With a bass line that subtly references funk, this track illustrates why future soul has become as big as it is now. This reminds me of ‘Everytime’, a track from British producer Eric Lau, precisely because production takes a back seat to vocal agility. Here, Simone’s voice is allowed to fully branch out as you’re enveloped in her vibrato.

On the whole, Gold is a tight release that knows how to play to its strengths. Considering the sheer amount of acts that have spawned from the neo-soul trip, Simone’s yet another welcome addition to a scene that’s hitting its stride.

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LISTEN: Banoffee – ‘Reign Down’

December 10, 2013, Annie, No Comment

We introduced you to Banoffee back in July, when she released her brilliant first single, ‘Ninja’. Since then she’s been thriving, with a video for ‘Reign Down’ premiering on the Fader and appearing on a host of other international sites. It even showed up on SaintHeron.com, the website affiliated with Solange’s Saint Records, home to progressive R’n’B talent like Sampha, Kelela and Cassie.

‘Reign Down’ was produced by Oscar Key Sung and features the pitched-down vocal loops, dance floor-inspired synth arpeggios and sharp high hats familiar from his most recent output. Like ‘Ninja’, which closed with the lines ‘You thought you could kill me now/ Well, honey, I’d like to see how/ I’m a fuckin’ ninja now’, ‘Reign Down’ is a kind of Martha Brown-certified course in assertiveness and resolve. In her own words:

‘Reign Down’ was written in quite a pivotal period in my life, where I realised that not much ever eventuated with taking action. For me, it is about being in a place that you might be comfortable, even if its not particularly enjoyable – and choosing to take the grittier option in search of a better outcome. Whether it’s a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a destructive way of living or whatever, ‘Reign Down’ is kind of like a ‘screw you universe, I’m going to rule at doing things my way’ sort of song. If I was Mariah I’d be singing ‘Shake It Off’. Wish I was Mariah.’

Check out the video – which features outbreaks of quaint dance moves at some low-key Collingwood sites – below.

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PREMIERE: I’lls – ‘To All The Blurred’ (Rat & Co Remix)

November 29, 2013, Melissa Tan, No Comment

On the back of amazing remixes this week, (hear Nick Zinner’s remix of a Rainbow Chan track), here’s another. You should already know anything Rat & Co touches turns to gold. Combine that with I’lls‘ spirit fingers and the output is something real special. Rat & Co’s ‘To The Blurred’ remix is a rework of the track that appeared on I’lls incredible EP A Warm Reception earlier this year. The pair have added a sharper beat to I’lls lush pile of carbonated fuzz and dilated feelings. This one sounds like a long, comtemplative wander in metropolis. This track will be released on a Yes Please compilation in early December featuring remixes of I’lls A Warm Reception EP by electronic artists like Naysayer & Gilsun, Tincture, Wabz and Ktsche.

Rat & Co – Facebook / Soundcloud

I’lls – Facebook / Soundcloud

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LISTEN: Sunbeam Sound Machine – ‘Cosmic Love Affair’

November 26, 2013, Annie, No Comment

Sunbeam Sound Machine is Nick Sowersby, a young guy who’s been playing in bands around Melbourne since he was in short trousers. His debut release, double EP One/Sunbeam Sound Machine, is coming out through Dot Dash/Remote Control Records on 29 November.

First single ‘Cosmic Love Affair’ is psychedelic pop in the original sense – woozy and detached, it gives you the odd sensation of having stepped into someone else’s waking dream. The song staggers along, half asleep, as Sowersby’s multi-tracked vocal floats in: ‘Everyone changed / I stayed the same / Everything’s gonna be different from now’. Escapist and dissociative, this is sure to provide some lovely summertime listening.