November can mean one of two things for the music community. 1) It’s only a month until Christmas, a phenomenon which will cause Michael Buble to emerge from his hovel to terrorise shopping centre playlists once again, and 2) it’s Aus Music Month, which not only means that there’s a stack of new local music out each week, but that we get to reflect on the very best of it.
We’ve put together a playlist compiling some of the best new music of the month so far. Enjoy!
Hollow Coves, Coastline
Brisbane based Hollow Coves wind things back to a time of simple beauty and peace with their atmospheric, uplifting folk. Similar to the floatiness of Dustin Tebbutt or early Georgia Fair, Coastline proclaims intentions of “moving away” to a place of sun, laughter, and happiness. Not one to listen to when the feels of 3:30 roll around in the workplace, but perfect for the excitement and beauty of an adventure.
San Mei, Rewind
The alt-rock songstress first rose to our attention with the grainy Revel, and the synth-driven Rewind shows that this new young-gun has no intentions of slowing down. A driving dance beat kicks things off with an ambient, dark riff before opening up into a sweeping half-time chorus. A dynamic, exciting tune from a singer yet to release her first EP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wKLksJNB2U
Kllo, Walls To Build (Mall Grab Remix)
A soulful, moody re-work of Kllo’s wonderful original, the upcoming Mall Grab playfully mixes up the tempo and vocal delivery of the original cut, adding a bluesy keys line above the vocals, accompanied by a bass line straight out of an acid-jazz club. The remixtakes the bouncy feeling of the original and crafts it into something darker and more reflective. Perfect for the late-night playlist.
Holy Holy, Elevator
The band’s 2015 debut When The Storms Would Come was one of the most mature, well-crafted releases of the year. If new single Elevator is anything to go by, it sounds like the band is backing it up with another sensational release. The track slowly ascends to the heavens with a joyous guitar solo erupting out of the chorus, providing the song with the fuel needed to shoot onwards to a triumphant finish. Paint, the band’s new album, is set for release February 24, and the band is currently in the middle of a huge national tour.
Sa. May, Booty Calls feat. B Wise
Hailing from the Northern Beaches, the electronic producer/singer experiments with the world of reggae and hip-hop with this moody new release. A strong feature from B Wise gives the song a much-needed boost in the verse, and the melody of the chorus is infectious. A successful blend of styles from the young musician.
https://soundcloud.com/sa-may/booty-calls-feat-b-wise
The Jensens, Everybody Talks
The simplicity of good alt-rock will always have a special place in my heart, and this newest cut from The Jensens ticks all the boxes. It has a fun melody, a catchy chorus, a mysterious bridge and most importantly, isn’t too hard to follow. A summer festival-ready tune for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugSbVCLmJiY
ESESE, SVGAR
From the opening hits of the kick drum, it’s clear that this one isn’t gonna suit a DF with more than 2 people on it. The sensual track has a seriously strong Anderson .Paak vibe to it, and that’s no bad thing. The horns in the second verse turn up the heat on the track, and all it needs is a stronger beat to kick in. Unfortunately, this doesn’t eventuate, but a strong song is still a strong song.
Holly Throsby, What Do You Say
It’s been five long years since we’ve heard any new music from Holly Throsby, but thankfully half a decade of silence hasn’t dampened the creative flair of this songstress. What Do You Say is a beautiful duet with Mark Kozelek, touching on the themes of reconciliation and the effect of time on a relationship. The song itself is based around a simple acoustic riff which swells with the lyrics but never spills over, with the calm dynamic providing the perfect backdrop to the heartbreaking lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi3KAa-xC7c
Alex The Astronaut, Already Home
Former Sydneysider turned New Yorker Alex The Astronaut returns to the airwaves with this laid back, reflective song. The song reminisces on the unchangeable aspect of life, with the singer lamenting the fact that there are “Billionaires for presidents and parking fines at hospitals,” whilst noting in a bemused tone that “kids in their school uniforms get off at the same time as me, I offer them my good luck…hope they’re happy when they are sleepy.” Sometimes life is just strange, and this song captures it perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHrmwEGskJY
Isabel, Stay
2016 has seen a resurrection of neo-soul of sorts, and Australia is placing itself right in the mix. This cut from Brisbane songstress Isabel fuses some more electronic elements with the genre, and the result is a unique and exciting song that somehow grooves yet tenderly floats all at once. Exciting things coming up for this new singer.
Image: The Jensens, supplied
It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball-stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Iman – Naive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUaXUEMeOC0
First up this week is the latest single from London singer-songwriter Iman. Naive is the first new material of 2016 for Iman, and she’s thundered out of the gate on this track. Huge, echoic vocals and a chorus that hooks you irretrievably, Iman’s voice is fiery and just seems effortlessly smooth. Naive is like late-90s RnB set to 21st century production. Stellar in other words.
The video was co-directed and co-edited by Iman herself and is a damn good first effort. Simple, artistic and full of movement, the video plants the focus exactly where it should be: square on the singer. Look out for more of Iman in 2016.
Alex The Astronaut – Half Of 21st Street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D2z7zbbtm8&feature=youtu.be
You would assume someone going by the name Alex The Astronaut would lead a life full of adventures, and you’d be correct in this case. At just 20 years of age, she’s already lived in Sydney, London and now Long Island, New York; where she is on a soccer scholarship, studying maths and physics and also somehow finding the time to be a burgeoning musical artist. There’s no way she sleeps though.
Half Of 21st Street is her debut single and is a ripper. A simple acoustic riff anchors the song, surrounded by a cacophony of different noises that add layer after layer to the song, its clever lyrics delving into a love story made stronger by her confident voice. The tempo picking up to play the song out was a fantastic touch too.
The video was filmed around New York City and will have anyone who has ever been wistful to return, the scenes in Washington Square Park (where you’ll see Alex The Astronaut showing off some of those soccer tricks) in particular.
Sky’s the limit for Alex The Astronaut from here.
LANKS – Golden Age
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OJMyl23GVI
Melbourne multi-instrumentalist producer LANKS has gotten all kinds of creative this week on the video for latest single Golden Age. A punchy backbeat and some stabby synths, the song crests and falls beautifully while steered along by LANKS’ vocals showing off a wide range.
If the song doesn’t ensnare you, the video it’s accompanied by surely will. Points to LANKS again for creativity and dedication, rigging himself upside down in his living room for over three hours because really all of your blood belongs in your head and consciousness is overrated anyway.
Catch LANKS on his East Coast tour launching Golden Age when it kicks off in April.
Sex On Toast – Doubt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xAopnsc05Q
The Weekly Video Roundup awards for both Largest Group and Best Band Name go straight to Melbourne 10(!)-piece Sex On Toast this week and their latest single Doubt. It’s one of the most unique songs and videos I’ve seen so far this year, elements of everyone from Queen to Brian Wilson to Journey with a solid background of jazzy noise, the chorus will make you want to leap out of your seat.
The video only makes it better, with Sex On Toast enjoying all kinds of Caddyshack-esque hijinks on the golf course. ‘Zany’ is definitely the operative word here.
If you’re digging what you’re hearing (and seeing) and you happen to be in Melbourne then you can catch Sex On Toast all throughout the remainder of March as they enjoy a residency at the Gasometer.
The Last Shadow Puppets – Aviation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd1Xc6-6VVg
If you’ve not heard of The Last Shadow Puppets as a group before then you’ve definitely heard of them as part of their individual efforts. Like a British (and one Los Angeleno) indie rock version of The Avengers, members include Alex Turner (of Arctic Monkeys fame), Miles Kane (of The Rascals fame), producer James Ford (of Simian Mobile Disco fame) and Zach Dawes (of Mini Mansions fame). They released their debut album The Age Of The Understatement back in 2008 and went through a period of inactivity until last year, when they announced a new album was on the way in 2016.
Aviation is the third single from that upcoming record (titled Everything You’ve Come To Expect) and there’s an air of almost gothic darkness about it, with a very The Smiths-y guitar riff and backbeat coupled with Turner’s unmistakeable voice and some atmospheric strings. The video complements it well, shot on a sunny beach while Turner and Kane appear to have run afoul of a mob boss, ho has them digging their own graves in the sand while a blindfolded strings section plays them out.
Everything You’ve Come To Expect is out April 1st via Domino.
Massive Attack – Ritual Spirit (ft. Azekel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhI5T_NKYxc
Bristol trip-hop royalty Massive Attack have a new single out. Featuring fellow British singer Azekel, Ritual Spirit (from their recently released EP of the same name) is a slow-burning and almost menacing track held down by a handclap backbeat and pulsating synths, layers of sound surrounding Azekel’s haunting vocals.
They’ve enlisted some star power for their music video, one Kate Moss lending her talents to this one, swinging a lightbulb around as she dances in the dark. Simple yet very effective. Massive Attack reportedly have a new album in the works, the first since 2010’s Heliogoland. With Tricky back in the mix now after 20 years, Massive Attack fans have every reason to be chomping at the bit.
Ritual Spirit is out now via Virgin.
DMA’s – In The Moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZAfwHLnmlk
Presently taking over the entire world after the release of their wildly acclaimed debut album Hills End, Newtown’s own DMA’s have released another video for one of the album’s many highlight tracks in In The Moment.
A soaring chorus, infectious and fuzzy guitar licks, Tommy O’Dell’s now unmistakeable croon, all have become part of the sound that has brought DMA’s to a worldwide audience and all are present on In The Moment. It’s accompanying video sees the trio looking unfairly cool in every shot, be it at sunset on a rooftop, riding pushies and kicking soccer balls in the street or a strobe-lit room in tuxedos.
DMA’s are killing it with everything they touch at the moment. You can catch them on their Hills End tour of Australia (that’s swiftly selling out!) when they return home from a monster American and European tour in May and June.
Flatbush Zombies – This Is It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxplVYIN1Fc&feature=youtu.be
One of the most hyped and widely anticipated debut albums in quite some time was Flatbush Zombies’ 3001: A Laced Odyssey, which dropped last week to some rave reviews. Their second single from the record was launched this week with a video to boot, This Is It.
The Brooklyn trio have absolutely brought the goods, This Is It just one very nifty slice of a cracking album. Clocking in at nearly six minutes, it’s sprawling and dark and magnificent. A simple piano melody dancing with some rapid-fire trap beats and some fiery hot verses on top of it all. What you might almost call some easy listening hip-hop.
The video mirrors the song’s simplicity, black and white shots of the group on a stark white background, the focus solely on them. We’re all waiting very patiently for an Australian tour…
3001: A Laced Odyssey is out now via Flatbush Zombies’ own label The Glorious Dead.
Image: YouTube.