Tagged By Sydney

LISTEN: VCS

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VCS-2

 

If you’re looking for something to get you in the mood, here’s a collection of luscious slow-jams, courtesy of Sydney R&B electro outfit VCS. At the helm of it all is Vinay Seeth (vocals), and he’s recruited his bro Sareth who helps out with production, along with a whole mixed-bag of guest artists.

Channeling The Weeknd with those old school R&B beats, these guys bring it all back, yet revitalise the nostalgia with a post-dubstep shake-up (see: ‘The Tempest’). ‘Is It Over Yet?’ and ‘Runaway’ are immediate winners, the latter’s distant glassy tones melding in so sweetly with Vinay’s soulful vocals. What really makes ‘H.E.R.’ another standout track in my books is the last 50 seconds: in a split moment the song completely shifts into a frenzying concoction of synths and percussion. It will simply blow your mind.

All these tracks plus more are featured on VCS’ debut Awake, and it’s available online for a price of your choice.

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LISTEN: Unity Floors – ‘Nice Fit’

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Unity Floors are a band I’d probably move to Sydney for. They’ve been kicking around for a few years, but it’s all happy happy Pop Frenzy signing week to these dudes. If you’re not familiar with UF, think back to the time when Shogun’s treacle first slid through your lobes and into the part of your soul flung out on a stained mattress in the armpit of suburbia. Can’t wait for this LP.

Unity Floors are launching their LP this Saturday (12th) at The Old Fitzroy Hotel in Sydney with Chook Race and Adults.

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LISTEN: The Canyoneersmen

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Professing to the world I love alt-country is probably as useless as calling an Uncle Tupelo listening party for my 20something pals who only have time for slacker pop and wearing shit beanies anyway. After spending some time in Austin during SXSW earlier in the year, I did on numerous occasions, overindulge in more than my share of alt-country by default. Americana obviously left an impression on The Canyoneersmen too. The guys from Newcastle recently pulled together their collective memory of a roadtrip across the US for new EP Serpico’s Garden.

The Canyoneersmen is the songwriting wagon for Newcastle’s Jay Sullivan. Along with “sometimes lover” Frances Bully and Patrick Sullivan (drums and djembe, respectively), the band have already put out four EPs.

Don’t be fooled by Frances flipping the bird in her Mariah Carey+horses tshirt on the cover art… she’s really a sweet girl. Frances’ vocals are the perfect offset to to Jay’s zealous vocal squawk. Really recommend you have a listen to their older stuff too – Jay has all the chutzpah of Liddiard’s imaginary little bro backing on The Drones Gala Mill or something. Wooden panelbeaters, burger wrappers and other Newcastle via Nashville offcuts over at the Canyoneersmen bandcamp.

For your bonus viewing – a glorious, glorious track they released last year.

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LOOK: Alpine @ Oxford Act Factory

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Melbourne’s Alpine stop over into Sydney to play two sold out shows for their debut album tour, A is For Alpine. Known for that video where a sea of models start making out with their hands, Alpine proved that they did not need frolicking models, nor hands, to grab the crowds attention with their synthy, ear pleasing tunes.

Check out Alpine here, http://www.alpineband.com

Also, be sure to check out them out at one of their upcoming shows. Tour dates can be found here.

More photos after the jump..
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Edward Deer – ‘Washed Ashore’

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Edward Deer – ‘Washed Ashore’ (mp3)

Edward Deer is a Sydney guy that has a record called ‘About Monsters’, due to be released this September through Laughing Outlaw Records. The first single taken from it is the reflective number ‘Washed Ashore’. An acoustic guitar and loops is how Deer feels most comfortable and with these pipes, why not. It allows him to tease us with tales of hope and love as he strums his way into our hearts.

Deer has some shows in July:

Thurs July 19 – The Annandale’s ‘Staff Picks’ night (w/ The Dreamboats)

Sat July 21 – SOSUME @ The Standard, Surry Hills (w/ Bell Weather Department & Thieves)

Check his page here – http://www.facebook.com/edwarddeermusic

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Battleships – ‘Your Words’

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Battleships – ‘Your Words’ (mp3)

The battleships presser talks about a band that comes along every now and then, with the sound of something fresh and promising. Sydney band Battleships know folks love that shit. The truth is they’ve just picked up where Art of Fighting and Sparkadia left off but I’m sure they’ll continue to receive plenty of radio airplay. It’s the follow up to ‘In Retrospect’ that I’m plugging. ‘Your Words’ has an authentic sound of building drums and guitar, sweet vocals and the emotion of love and hope that makes you feel… something. Sharpen up the grooming and get a band pic that doesn’t look like someone lost their keys and I’m sure they’ll build as much hype as Cloud Control.

‘Connect’ with the band here – http://www.facebook.com/battleshipsband

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Lyyar – ‘Afterall’

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Lyyar – ‘Afterall’ – mp3

Lyyar, pronounced ‘lee-ar’ have released their debut ep Outside, Elsewhere. This is the first track off what is a post prog rocky, dark winding, wave of dirty guitars with heavy bass and solid drumming. It gets darker and heavier, then takes a slight pych detour and back again. They really step it up in the last minute of the ep but overall I prefer the loose mish-mash of the first track. These guys would def be worth seeing play live.

You can check it out on their bandcamp and mail away for vinyl too – http://lyyar.bandcamp.com/

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