Faux Pas – ‘Pretend Tough’ (Aoi Remix) (mp3)

Flying Scribble – ‘Walk The Line’ (Faux Pas Remix) (mp3)

Some new remixes by/of Faux Pas aka Tim Shields. The first track is featured on Faux Pas’s Vanderbilt EP, which features the titular track as well as remixes like the above and another by CRUMBS etc. The bottom track is Flying Scribble’s latest single, which Faux Pas leant his deft touch to. Okay? Break.

www.myspace.com/iamfauxpas

When you’re a kid growing up in the country, you are not only forced, but encouraged to make your own fun. Games with the electric fence, riding your pushbikes off jumps into dams and all sorts of other unsafe but stimulating activities. It’s kind of the same in Brisbane. Our liquor licencing laws are screwy and venue owners are scared, so D.I.Y. venues pop up across the city like field mushrooms.

With the city lacking a Sticky Institute or Format zine store, the Brisbane zine scene is also like the metaphorical mushroom field – and not just because it is fueled by the city’s bullshit. *boom tish*

SO: the Papercuts Collective are having a triple zine launch and zine fair at Bleeding Heart Gallery in the city. Bianca Valentino’s “Conversations with Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue” (featuring interviews with Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins and more)  Staples’ travel zine “Whenever I see a bearded hobo on the street, I’ll think of you and smile” and Matt Limmer’s art will be launched tomorrow night, with a zine fair at the same location on Friday night. My zines will also be there if you’d like to come and say hi or tell me I’m shit at life.

www.papercutscollective.tumblr.com

I won’t lie and pretend I listen to community radio that much – or any radio for that matter. I don’t own a radio.* On the odd occasion when I’m forced to drive I might listen to the radio, and I try to stream SoundLab every week, but in general it’s not something I’m prone to doing.

I found the above clip on Monster Monster’s Myspace. Because Myspace is the future.

www.myspace.com/musicmonstermonster

* I know my laptop can act as a radio. But my radio can’t act as a laptop. I choose not to support this uneven relationship.

This has been floating around for a while. Saw it on POA a while back and loved it, and I figure enough time has passed to get away with stealing their content. Enjoy.

My Disco – ‘Turn’ (mp3)

Time for Australian bloggers/blog-readers to get excited. New My Disco tunes are a-coming. ‘Turn’ is the lead single from the forthcoming album Little Joy, to be released Friday the 15th of October – only 6.5 weeks away.

‘Turn’ is based an enchanting and energetic percussion pattern that’s punctuated by moments of trademarked guitar stabs. The guitar work and vocals on display here are still firmly rooted in ‘minamilst punk,’ but the whole thing barely contains a moment of discordance. In fact, it’s a relatively beautiful song – not exactly the first word that springs to mind when you think of My Disco. And not that I ever could/would accuse these dudes of bending to hipster trends, but there’s definitely a bit of an in vogue tribal vibe to ‘Turn.’

It works. It’s a great introduction to their next album, showcasing their strengths as synthesised into a 3.5 minute pop song palatable for those who may not be familiar with/didn’t totes dig their old stuff.

www.myspace.com/mydiscomydisco

It’s no wonder people aren’t rushing out to buy bog-standard glossy jewel case CDs. Sometimes some creative and aesthetically pleasing packaging can be the difference between your CD gathering dust on the shelf and your work of art being exchanged for cash monies.

After the cut are some of the more interesting CDs that have found their way onto my desk in the last few months. If you’re in a band and have a CD that you think I’d like the look and/or sound of, email me at sophie [at] whothehell [dot] net for my postal address.

Bixby Canyon – ‘Arndale’ demo

Bixby Canyon are a very very young band from Brisbane. They were giving out these babies in exchange for your email address and permission to be added to their mailing list. They made 100 of these demos, all of them individually cut, typed, folded, stamped and glued by the band and assorted ring-ins. Sounds painful and tedious. I think the inkjet-printed CD is a bit much (the colours! the teenage angst!), but never mind – you can download the music from their Bandcamp site.

Castles Sunk Below The Sea – Self-titled EP

I’ve posted about Castles a couple of times and was hoping I wouldn’t be disappointed by their EP. I’m not disappointed by the flow of the EP and I’m definitely not disappointed by the physical EP itself, even if the handwriting font is a bit illegible. The band give their thanks in the liner notes at least twice (pretty grateful, huh?) and it’s just a good-looking piece of digipak. You can get your own copy at the band’s BigCartel site.

Epithets – Self-titled album

More landscapes, I know, I know, just humour me.
Nick Smethurst has poured a (metaphorical) big chunk of himself into making this album, and it shows. Die-cut cardboard and foam packaging for the CD and detailed lyric sheet is classy and understated, as well as showcasing the sweet, earnest thankyous and performance credits. With only 500 individually numbered pieces in circulation, you can get your own at the Epithets Bandcamp site.

The Boat

Tin Sparrow are a Sydney collective fronted by singer/songwriter Matt Amery. ‘The Boat’ is the first single from the band, who have done a fantastic job in bringing Matts songs to life, creating a lushly layered sound which reveals more on every listen (the harpsichord line is reminiscent of a film score that I can’t quite put my finger on..). And despite the dense production, there is still an engaging vocal delivery at the heart of the song. Recorded in Melbourne at Dragon Fly Studios, and recently signed a publishing deal with Sebastian and Wolfgang, keep an eye out for this Tin Sparrow playing near YOU!

Tin Sparrow are another group to emerge from Macquarie University’s music department, alongside Boy&Bear, Made in Japan, and ArtVsScience. Find the label page on FB (Universe-City Music).

Peace.

Philadelphia Grand Jury – ‘Save Our Town’ (mp3)

Here’s an exclusive of the brand new single ‘Save Our Town’ from the Philly Jays. The track will be released on Side A of a limited edition 7″ vinyl release, and on Side B, the newly recorded version of their cover of Jay-Z’s 99 Problems.

The band are in the middle of a 35 date tour of the UK, but will be returning to Aus in Nov for a string of 26 shows (their biggest tour to date). Joining them will be WTH faves Howl and Bearhug who’ve just come off a run of dates supporting Broken Social Scene.

PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY ‘ Save Our Town’ tour dates:

Supported by HOWL & BEARHUG (Bearhug all shows except *)

THU 4 NOV – Republic Bar, HOBART *

FRI 6 NOV – Hotel New York, LAUNCESTON *

SAT 6 NOV – Corner Hotel, MELBOURNE

THU 11 NOV – Hotel Gearin, BLUE MOUNTAINS

FRI 12 NOV – Cambridge Hotel, NEWCASTLE

SAT 13 NOV – Metro Theatre, SYDNEY (ALL AGES)

THU 18 NOV – Beach Hotel, BYRON BAY

FRI 19 NOV – Hi Fi, BRISBANE

SAT 20 NOV – Full Noise, TOWNSVILLE (PGJ ONLY)

THU 25 NOV – Beachcomber Hotel ,CENTRAL COAST

FRI 26 NOV – ANU Bar, CANBERRA

SAT 27 NOV – Newton’s Nation, BATHURST (PGJ ONLY)

SUN 28 NOV – Fitzroy Hotel, WINDSOR

WED 1 DEC – High Road, RIVERTON

THU 2 DEC – Prince of Wales, BUNBURY *

FRI 3 DEC – Capitol, PERTH *

SAT 4 DEC – Settlers, MARGARET RIVER *

SUN 5 DEC – Newport Hotel, FREMANTLE *

WED 8 DEC - Level One, GEELONG

THU 9 DEC – Karova Lounge, BALLARAT

FRI 10 DEC – The Gov, ADELAIDE

SAT 11 DEC – Sandbar, MILDURA

THU 16 DEC – Caringbah Bizzos, CARINGBAH

FRI 17 DEC – Mona Vale Hotel, MONA VALE

SAT 18 DEC – Grand Hotel, WOLLONGONG

FRI 19 DEC – Pyramid Rock Festival, PHILLIP ISLAND

Daniel Lee Kendall – ‘Lost in the Moment’ (mp3)

Daniel Lee Kendall – ‘The Point in This’ (mp3)

Plenty of good music springing up from the Central Coast and you can add Daniel Lee Kendall to that list. ‘The Point in This’ imparts amiable pop electronica that sits nicely under Kendall’s weightless vocals. Nick Drake nostalgia with Postal Service charms on the side, this tune makes for easy summer listening.

If you’re not familiar with DLK’s other stuff, make sure you have a listen to ‘Lost in the Moment’. An incredibly chipper tune with some dapper string samples/xylo arragements in the background, and cheery whistles thrown in for good measure. This track is a good example of understated, contagious pop you’ll want to make friends with.

Daniel Lee Kendall’s debut EP ‘Lost in the Moment’ is out October 1st via Redcat Sounds/MGM.

www.myspace.com/danielleekendall

Sony Music, Groupie Mag and Who The Hell are throwing a bash as part of the BIG SOUND 2010 festivities in Brisbane.

Glenn Richards (Augie March) will be showcasing material from his new ventures, as well as Sydney songsmiths Georgia Fair.

The event isn’t open to the general public, but we’re kind folk here at WTH and are giving away a handful of passes to the night.

Want in? Shoot your name and contact details to rsvp@whothehell.net by Tuesday 31st of Aug to go in the runnings. Yeeeeeba!

Fishing – ‘OOOO’ (mp3)

Fishing. One of those bands I’d seen mentioned and/or listed in other bands’ Myspace friends, but not a band I’d ever gone out of my way to listen to. My loss.

I first heard one of their songs when I was studying while listening to Life Aquatic (aka best new music blog outta this country). I quickly did the ol’ Apple + Tab and brought up ol’ Firefox to see who the artist of this sweet jam was. “Oh, right, those guys. Should probs check them out.” Into the drafts folder they went and then I forgot about them. Not long after that, they got playlisted over at Pitchfork. Not a bad effort for these Sydney beat-makers. “Must post about them,” I said again.

And here I am, over a month later, finally putting up the track long after it’s relevance has passed. Yes, I’m well late to the Fishing party. ‘OOOO’ is still a quality tune that I recommend you all listen to. All five of you who haven’t already heard it, that is.

www.myspace.com/fishinggg

kyü – ‘Pixophony’ (mp3)

Never mind the Bjork comparisons that trail them, nor that the opening wails of this song call to mind ‘Heart it Races’ – kyü are an exciting and inventive band. With some of the best voices in Australian music, Alyx Dennison and Freya Berkhout continue to use their larynges as instruments themselves. Unlike other bands going for that ‘tribal’ vibe, kyü pad out their vocals Padded out by some basic percussion, it’s music that mixes pop with tribal

‘Pixophony’ is their latest single and it’s pretty stunning. At under three minutes, it’s a short and sweet jam that revolves around the one idea, building it up and then petering out before it overstays its welcome. Unlike other bands going for that ‘tribal’ vibe, kyü pad out their vocals with nothing more than some sparse percussion, and it’s that confidence in their vocals and restraint in arrangement that makes to you pay attention.

‘Pixophony’ is taken from their forthcoming debut album, which is out September 18.

www.myspace.com/kyusounds

I Look To You from Miami Horror on Vimeo.

Click here to view the embedded video.

New video from Sydney three piece Tales In Space for ‘The Cause’ off the band’s debut EP.

www.myspace.com/talesinspace

The Kritzlers – ‘Head In The Ether’ (mp3)

You might remember the Kritzlers from when I first gushed over them nearly a year ago. Back then, they kinda sounded like late-80s Cure mised with late-90s Air. Since then they’ve remained pretty quiet, had members overseas, relocated to Melbourne. You know how it is.

But they’re back with a new jam. And now they’ve progressed to sound like early 90s Cure. You know, when The Cure albums sucked but there was still one or two good songs on there so you probably bought/recently re-”acquired” them anyway. Unlike previous Kritzlers tune ‘Scarlet Sometimes’ (which is itself a Cure reference), ‘Head In The Ether’ is way more guitar based (as though their proverbial Roger O’Donnell had also left the band), mixing extended, chorused guitar noodling over hip hop-lite beats. And, you know, instrumental.

Maybe I’m overstating the whole Cure thing. Let me know. ‘Head In The Ether’ doesn’t get me quite as wet as ‘Scarlet Sometimes,’ but it’s still a classy jam.

www.myspace.com/thekritzlers

Guerre/Top Girls – ‘Waiting’ (mp3)

Super fresssh jam here from Guerre, one of the best new acts in Australia the world. I just really dig what this dude does. I’ve been seeing his stuff start to pop up international blogs too, and hopefully his collab with OS buzzband Top Girls will see him get some more much-deserved attention.

‘Waiting’ is a collaboration and the single from an upcoming split release with Top Girls. It’s a pretty dope track made up of all the stuff we already like about Guerre and Top Girls – cinemascope-worthy synth pads, heaps of reverb, restrained beats, and thin, floating vocals. Unlike other Guerre tracks, which are often written, recorded and uploaded within a few hours, you can hear the attention to detail that these guys have applied to ‘Waiting.’ It’s a stronger track for it.

Guerre recently said on his blog that he was going to start spending more time on individual tracks and work toward a cohesive release. ‘Waiting’ won’t be on that release, but it definitely a good sign of things to come. Keep an eye on his site for this details on how to grab this split release.

In other Guerre news, check out his chilled cover of Beyonce’s ‘Halo’ right here.

For those who will loot, pillage and bite off someone’s arm for a freebie, this is good news. Bad news for those who can’t decode phonetics, but still good news in all!

Suited-up Melbourne natives The Basics are back with their self titled fourth album ‘/ðə’bæzɪtʃ/’ (pronounced, “the baz-itch”).

Since the guys agree with Claire Bowditch that the music is indeed, bigger than the money – they are flogging their new album for the gratuitous sum of nothing.

The follow up to 2009’s ‘Keep Your Friends Close’, this record was recorded in front of a live audience at Northcote’s Social Club earlier this year and was mixed at Abbey Road Studios in London.

The entire record will be available from FreeBasicsAlbum.com on the 20th of August.

www.FreeBasicsAlbum.com

www.thebasics.com.au

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brilliant clip for ‘Trans Ending’ from Sydney/Newcastle outfit Seabellies, directed and produced by Tom Noakes (the brain behind The Scare’s ‘Could Be Bad’ clip).

The track is taken from their debut album ‘Limbo Lake’ which is being released in two days (20th Aug). Sounds promising.

www.seabellies.com

www.myspace.com/theseabellies

We all love DZ, yeah? Cool, I thought so. Well in that case you’d already be aware that they’re doing some gigs to help fund their trip to New York later this year.

Those dates are included after the jump for your perusal. More important is that we have a double pass to their gig at The Zoo on Friday August 27th. Brisbane readers rejoice! All you have to do is email rsvp@whothehell.net with the subject ‘DZ PARRRTY’ sometime before next Wednesday to go into the running. Get on it.

DZ TOUR DATES

Aug 21
Shark Bar
Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA

Aug 23
Stylewars Snowboarding Jam
Falls Creek, VIC, AUSTRALIA

Aug 27
The Zoo w/ Velociraptor + Sleepwalks
Brisbane, QLD, AUSTRALIA

Aug 28
Clubhouse
Toowoomba, QLD, AUSTRALIA

Sep 10
Purple Sneakers @ Miss Libertine
Melbourne, VIC, AUSTRALIA

Sep 11
Spectrum
Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA

www.myspace.com/dzparty