Posts By Melissa Tan

SEQUENCE: Lower Spectrum

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Photos by James Whineray

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When sound artists aren’t soundtracking the future / pulling knobs they’re busy doing other normcore shit like walking their dogs and putting dried fruit into plastic bags at Kalula’sLower Spectrum (Ned Beckley) went for a walk with photographer James Whineray around Fremantle the other week. Special appearances from Comida Do Sol, Benny, James, Lucy, Pesto the dog and Booyeembara Park.

Lower Spectrum is Triple J Unearthed’s Feature Artist all this week. Listen to more of Ned’s spectral work here, or order the latest EP, ‘Traces’ on vinyl or CD over at his Bandcamp profile.

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(View full photo set below.)

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MAP October 2014

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Our submission for MAP this month features minor spandex indulgence from The Twoks. Don’t forget to check out our Soundcloud for our monthly MAPcast podcasts.

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 21-track compilation through Dropbox here.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
UbikaFahrenheit

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Hard rock guitars, solid bass and drums plus strong female vocals are the formula behind Ubika. Fahrenheit is the first single from their latest album, Amigos Del Bosque, and it’s inspired by Ray Bradbury’s novel. The song has a video directed by Diego Stickar, which you can watch here.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
The TwoksFirst Light

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The Twoks are a Melbourne two-piece comprising Xani Kolac on violin and vocals, and Mark Leahy on drums. Initially the solo instrumental project of Kolac, who studied jazz and improvisation at Victorian College of the Arts, the duo is now renowned on the local live circuit for their unpredictable sets which feature Kolac on loop station and a smorgasbord of effects. On The Twoks’ latest release, First Light EP – which boasts crisp production from Tony Buchen (The Preatures) – Kolac’s improvisations have been whittled down to concise retro-pop tunes in the vein of Pat Benatar or Kate Bush.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
BaleiaBreu

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Breu is one of the strongest songs from Baleia’s debut album, released last year. They first caught the attention of the indie press in Brazil with a jazzy cover of Justin Timberlake but in their album they show a handful of influences, resulting in experimental indie-rock that dabbles in baroque pop and folk.

Hear the full compilation below.

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Rock 4 Renewables: Nun of the Tongue

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Nunofthetongue
Leigh Ewbank, former Damn Terran drummer and Yes2Renewables campaigner interviewed Melbourne trio Nun of the Tongue, ahead of tomorrow’s Rock4Renewables fundraiser. All proceeds from tomorrow’s show at the Gasometer go to support Y2R’s continued work campaigning for climate change action.
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Name + instrument: Oscar (guitar, vocals).
In three words, how would you describe your band? Lo-fi, trashy fun.
Any tours, notable gigs or record releases lately? We just launched our debut 7″ EP last month at Bar Open, titled Burger Porn Real Estate.

 
Why do you support renewable energy? 
Electricity is one of the most important aspects of modern day life. Finding a self-sustainable energy source is one of the most important tasks as a species.
 
There’s an election coming up in Victoria, do you have a message for Victorian politicians on renewable energy and climate change? 
It would just be to look at the facts and decide through that. Creating a renewable energy infrastructure would create jobs and cut c02 emissions. It’s all about what the science says.
 
Your band is a renewable energy source. What is it? 
Wind power. From our butts onto Tony Abbott’s face.
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Rock4Renewables’ fundraiser happens at the Gasometer Hotel in Melbourne tomorrow from 4PM until late.
Bands include Nun of the Tongue, Jess Ribiero & the Bone Collectors, Empat Lima, Alysia Manceau, DJ Emma Peel, Knave Knixx + more. 
More details at the FB event page. 

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EXCLUSIVE: The Dead Heir – ‘Cooked’ EP

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Dead Heir

Here’s your first taste of Cooked, the new EP from Melbourne six piece The Dead Heir. The band recorded with Joey Walker from King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard, which probably justifies the splintered guitar intros, tandem vocal biking and why it takes more than six people to make a psych song. As per usual legacy, these are still the slack-eyed, major-minor poems about nothing parading as something. Case in point, and all in good fun.

The Dead Heir launch the Cooked EP at The Toff In Town on Thursday October 9 with special guests, The Citradels & The Infants. Buy the EP over at Bandcamp.

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WTH PRESENTS: Rock 4 Renewables Fundraiser

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Our old pals in parliament have been making their usual slew of embarrassing, socially divisive calls lately – including a lack of support for climate change action. A bunch of local Melbourne bands are having none of it, and are getting together to raise funds for the cause this weekend. All proceeds from the ‘Rock 4 Renewables’ fundraiser will go to assist Yes 2 Renewables‘ campaign for renewable energy.

The initiative, lead by Leigh Ewbank (former Damn Terran drummer) has already made a mark in the community; challenging anti wind farm campaigners in Canberra – and more recently, helping the Anglesea community fight to close a polluting coal power plant operating just 500 meters from a primary school. For more information on Yes 2 Renewables’ work, head on over here.

Good lineup, great cause. More details at the FB event page.

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PREMIERE: Gordi – ‘Nothing’s As It Seems’

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Gordi is vocalist Sophie Payten. ‘Nothing’s As It Seems’ is the new track from the Sydney based musician / medicine student. ‘Nothing’s As It Seems’ might appear polished, but if not for the hushed instrumental, it could easily carry on just entirely carried by Gordi’s vocal. Lyrically, it’s not overly ambitious – but Gordi’s pastoral nuances don’t call for it. The low-key arrangement keeps the folktronica twee-preening to a minimum. The track is still ethereal without being flail-your-guts-out emotive. (PS. I’ll be waiting for the Enya mash-up.)

Gordi plays Spring St Social in Bondi tonight and Goodgod Small Club on Wednesday October 22. Head here for a full run of show dates.

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