Here are some brand new tunes for your earholes. Featuring Aussies only out of pure coincidence, this week is a perfect example of just how strong our musical exports are right now. Take a listen below!
Tré Samuels, Flying Without You
In between jetsetting across the world to feature in fashion shows for some of the biggest names in the business, and possessing one of the best voices to come out of Australia in recent times, it’s safe to say Tré Samuels is a pretty busy 17 year old. Flying Without You is a smoky RnB song where Samuels asserts his independence, recognising fakers and haters and saying he’ll be just fine without them. Taken from his debut record which is out May 27, he’s teamed up with a who’s who cast of Melbourne’s musical elite for his album including Sensible J (House of Beige/Remi), Anthony Liddell (Opiuo/Kimbra), Silentjay (Rhythm Section/Hiatus Kaiyote) and Rachel James (Creamy Spies). Looks like we’ve got ourselves another star in the making!
Canary, Fickle Heart
Melbourne quintet Canary return in style with this latest single, the first cut from their incoming sophomore record, I Am Lion. Dynamic, chaotic, but expertly laid down, Canary really show what they’re made of in Fickle Heart. Self-aware, introspective and reflective, Canary contemplate themselves here and how their brains and hearts work. Looking inwards, as a form of catharsis, they pair their reflections with raucous rock and quiet, gentle pauses, flicking between the two with ease that always sounds good. Described as culminating in “roiling chaos; something recognisable to anyone who’s felt righteous in their bitter self-destruction following a breakup,” Fickle Heart gives us a pretty fantastic preview of what else is to come with I Am Lion, and we can’t wait to hear more.
Native Spirit, Look Around
Starting off with a heartbeat-like thump and some static rain, Melbourne electro pop trio Native Spirit hit the ground running with their latest tune, Look Around. Borrowing elements from frontrunners like Miami Horror, RUFUS, Cut Copy and more, Native Spirit sound like they’ve teleported from 2008 to 2016 with their electro pop sounds, but they’ve picked up a few modern touches on the way. It’s a total earworm, and certainly a go to to warm up any dancefloor as we head into winter. Begging for some remix treatment, Look Around is an impressive release from a rapidly rising trio.
Marcus Whale, Vapour
When releasing his latest single, Marcus Whale also provided a little prelude as to what Vapour is about: “Imagine two convicts, who’ve travelled for a year across the ocean to this place, Australia. Vapour illustrates them magically coming together as bodies of water and disappearing, transcendentally escaping the oppression of the state. There’s also a bit of a clue in there, that they are vapours – a former sea, a kind of union from the past to the present of all queer bodies – that we’re all made of water.” Right. On that note, Vapour is yet another super solid dance track with an experimental edge from one of Australia’s most prolific electronic musicians, and also comes with the announcement that his debut album, titled Inland Sea, will be out for your listening pleasure come June 10. Given his already impressive slew of solo singles, Inland Sea is already shaping up to be a formidable release.
Mallrat, Inside Voices (Prod. Casper Zazz + Tigerilla)
Mallrat is set for big things this year, mark my words. Teaming up once again with best pal/producer Tigerilla as well as Melbourne producers Casper Zazz, the Brisbane emcee has shared another chill af tune this week with Inside Voices. Alongside announcing that her debut EP, Uninvited, is also on the way (out July 1 via Create/Control), Inside Voices is actually my favourite of Mallrat’s work so far. Bouncy beats, sing-songy vocals and a certain self-awareness that hasn’t really been seen before, is this Mallrat growing up? It’s been great to watch her go up until now, but I can’t help but feel that this is a turning point for her to go from ~internet star~ to fully fledged artist. Time will tell!
BANFF x Caitlin Park, My Love, My Lover
Brisbane singer-songwriter BANFF (aka Benjamin Forbes) and Sydney subtronica artist Caitlin Park have teamed up to release their debut collaborative single, My Love, My Lover. Sounding like the likes of The War On Drugs, the driving drums and easy-going guitar strums making for a beautiful tune only amplified by both artists’ incredible songwriting abilities. The duet is a quaint, relaxed song that still encompasses some of the excitement that is met when you are falling for someone. It’s gentle but captivating, and it’s power is in its delicacy. Here’s hoping we hear more from these two together!
Swick, Ticketz (Ft. Spank Rock)
Melbourne producer Swick released his latest EP, Stamina, just today, and it’s already landed itself on high rotation in my listening schedule. The five tracks are huge, showing once again that Swick isn’t messing around. Personal favourite, Ticketz, features none other than Spank Rock on vocals for added steez, and the big room bass and tinkering percussion provide a writhing bed which Spank Rock makes his own. Released via his good friend Nina Las Vegas’ label, NLV Records, Swick has a one way ticket to the top and this EP is just another example of just how good he really is.
Cub Sport, Come On Mess Me Up
Brisbane darlings Cub Sport shared another shining cut from their latest album, This Is Our Vice this week, as well as announcing their first headline tour in THREE YEARS! Come On Mess Me Up was one of the standout tracks on their latest record (read our review here), so it’s awesome to see it released as a single. Paired with a simple, yet beautiful, video of lead singer Tim Nelson singing in black and white with some fantastic visual effects, its simplicity amplifies the shimmering vulnerability and intimacy to take it up more than a few levels. You can see the clip here, and check out their tour dates here. Welcome back Cub Sport – we missed you!
Bree Tranter, Tuesday Fresh Cuts
You may recognise her voice from the glory days of The Middle East or even her work in Matt Corby’s band, but it’s time to make way for Bree Tranter as a solo artist – and a formidable one at that. Singing over splashy cymbals, smooth sax and delicate drums, Tranter’s heavenly voice soars as she sings about her honey having the blues in this latest single, Tuesday Fresh Cuts. Coming alongside the news that her debut album is finally on it’s way and will be out in the world June 24, something tells me we haven’t even seen half of what Tranter can do yet, and this album (titled Another Night On Earth) is going to show us! Watch the video here.
Three years ago I celebrated my 18th birthday by heading to Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge to see – on a friend’s recommendation – a local band called Cub Scouts. They were playing in aid of their new single Pool!. Of course, the unyielding legal force of Scouts Australia has since necessitated a name change, but Cub Sport (as they became in August of the same year) have continued to produce delightful indie pop music and accrue merit badges. This week finally sees the band release their debut album This Is Our Vice. And it’s not quite what I expected.
Before the first words of opening track Sun are even uttered, a change is noticeable. A swirling breeze of electronica – something one might expect from RÜFÜS or Miami Horror – enters your ears. But suddenly, yes, there are the angelic vocals of Tim Nelson, and normal service has all but resumed. What follows is a fluttering, summery track that dares to explore new territory, while reminding listeners what’s always been so enjoyable about Cub Sport’s inoffensive brand of boutique pop.
The band’s popular tactic of incorporating a simple yet infectious keyboard riff returns to great effect on I Can’t Save You, which is Cub Sport at their direct and dulcet best. It Kills Me tries a different approach; the bass is more prominent, the guitar work more taut and subtle. Its chorus is also probably the best example of the harmonies Cub Sport are so adept at. That said, however, Nelson’s vocals are stunning on Come On Mess Me Up, which in itself is a tender and relatable slice of life.
Cub Sport’s charming, familiar style of anecdote may not have changed, but This Is Our Vice is a markedly more full-sounding record. Older songs like Paradise and Evie were centred around effervescent keys and Nelson’s honey-soaked voice, almost to the point of being saccharine. A single or EP was pleasant enough, but, as Bruce Bogtrotter once taught us, a slice of cake is always better than the whole thing.
Pleasingly, the band’s new material has greater depth, at times channelling the likes of Beach House in its conveyance of human emotion. Only Friend – released as the lead single last September – exemplifies this beautifully. It combines all the elements I love about this album in a pulsing, understated fashion that differs greatly from the uncomplicated pop of Cub Sport’s embryonic years. Preceding Only Friend is I’m On Fire; its driving bass line and crashing cymbals, together with the most passionate vocals I’ve heard Tim Nelson produce, make it another standout track.
Runner is a delicate, twinkling song that sees Cub Sport reconnect with their endearing innocence, while I Don’t Love My Baby and I Feel Bad Now are candid and introspective, and solidify Cub Sport’s dynamic new identity. Closing track Vice is perhaps the least remarkable, but on a record brimming with charm and enthusiasm, that’s no great disappointment.
All in all, This Is Our Vice is an impressive debut from Cub Sport. Every aspect of the instrumentation and production displays the attributes of a more mature and accomplished band, while the improved subtlety and restraint of Nelson’s vocals, in comparison to earlier work, is both satisfying for listeners and, unsurprisingly, highly influential to the overall quality of the record. It’s been a few years and a name change in the making, but absolutely worth the wait.
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, of 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:
TOKiMONSTA – Put It Down (ft. Anderson .Paak and KRNE)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_7Yi7cCHx4&feature=youtu.be
First up is LA producer TOKiMONSTA, who has recruited a couple of big names for her latest. Put It Down features recent Aftermath Records signee Anderson .Paak providing some croons and tag teams the production duties with fellow Californian KRNE for a West Coast extravaganza. The track is the latest single in the lead up to her mini-album Fovere, due out in just a fortnight. It’s a banger alright, the drop before the chorus just superb. It’s hip-hop and electronic combined to perfection.
Red and black is the motif the music video has gone with, full of confronting visuals (the milk squirting out of that one guy’s nose made me feel so very uncomfortable), and watching .Paak get thrown around the dark room he’s dancing in by some unseen force every chorus is some wonderful unintentional comedy.
Fovere is out March 4th on Young Art Records.
MOSSY – Electric Chair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIyq1HFrclo
A brand new name for one of the best labels in Australia right now, I Oh You, is Sydney producer MOSSY and his debut single Electric Chair. Crafted in a basement in New York City’s Lower East Side, the track is as auspicious a debut as it gets. As someone who appreciates electronic music but leans more towards rock and roll, I absolutely relish hearing producers mixing in big guitars with their synths and MOSSY has done an outstanding job of it here. It’s a twisting, crooked track, anchored by psychedelic vocals, dreamy synths and yes, those big guitars at the end that are just the cherry on top.
Music video is creepy as hell too; a dark and dusty cave, a ballerina dancing with a skeleton in an empty palace and a gloomy forest. It’s a modern interpretation of the Ancient Greek myth of Narcissus and Echo. There’s a tarantula too because of course. The whole shebang is an auditory and visual experience and it looks like I Oh You have struck even more gold here.
MOSSY releases his debut self-titled EP May 13th on I Oh You.
Hoodlem – Kintsugi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro4hXmUj_Us
Just shy of releasing their debut EP, Melbourne-based duo Hoodlem have released a haunting video to accompany their latest single Kintsugi this week. Slick beats and a molasses-thick bassline drive the track along with some cavernous vocals.
Shot in black and white and directed by David Ward, the accompanying video looks like the kind that to watch will ensure a horrible death after seven days. The title of the song refers to the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold dust and the lyrics and video draw focus on this quite heavily. Despite its utter creepiness, it’s still visually stunning with lashings of gold cutting through the monochrome.
Hoodlem’s debut EP is out March 25th via Caroline Australia
Fait – Chasing Youth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwKOeWTruNk&feature=youtu.be
On to Perth and a superbly talented young woman by the name of Elise Higgins, known more commonly as Fait and her latest single Chasing Youth. Currently in London in the process of creating her next record, Fait released the visuals to this breathtaking track all about (obviously) chasing, and capturing, youth.
The song is a multilayered soundscape, moody and atmospheric and uplifting and joyous all at once, the timing and placement of each instrument creating a song able to convey so many emotions without ever saying a word. The video is a heartwarmer, dappled in afternoon sunshine, the adult protagonist capturing that elusive youth we’re all chasing and spending it swinging in tyres and dancing around sprinklers among other activities most of us consider ourselves too old for.
Look out for a new record from Fait in mid-2016.
Loose Tooth – Bites Will Bleed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtOplMDNXdM
Announcing their debut EP Saturn Returns earlier this week, Melbourne trio Loose Tooth marked the occasion by also releasing a brand new single from said EP, the punchy Bites Will Bleed. With riffs that are straight power pop with the feel of a musty garage and a shitbox amp, the track chugs along guided by the ethereal vocals of singer/drummer (boy do I have respect for anyone who can do that) Etta Curry and is some wonderful noise.
The video is centred around a house party that starts out innocently enough with toilet hook-ups and spin the bottle but quickly goes straight to hell when several of the guests turn out to be bloodthirsty vampires (don’t you hate that).
Saturn Returns is out April 1st on Milk! Records.
Surahn – Into The Distance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdFObrhzb9A
From Perth to Adelaide and the latest single by producer Surahn (who you may also know from The Swiss, as Sidwho? and from touring duties with Empire Of The Sun) Into The Distance. It’s the second from his upcoming LP Utopian State and it is a cracker of a tune. It’s jazzy and dreamy, Surahn’s measured vocals wavering melodies over a simple backbeat.
The video is outstanding, adding to the lucid dreamlike qualities of the track itself. It’s a solo dirtbike ride across a beach at sunset, and if it doesn’t make you want to go out and do exactly that right now then there’s something wrong, it looks amazing.
Catch Surahn at WOMAD Festival in Adelaide March 11-14.
Ha The Unclear – Secret Lives Of Furniture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4HPR2MfGP8
Across the Tasman to New Zealand (South Dunedin to be exact) for this one with alt-pop group Ha The Unclear and the latest single Secret Lives Of Furniture. It’s a slow-burning rock number that cranks up the riffs for the chorus, with almost spoken word vocals throughout the verses in that inimitable accent to give it some very unique flair.
Were we expecting a song and dance about furniture that comes to life when its owners aren’t at home? A Chair Story of sorts? Yes, absolutely, and we were not disappointed in the slightest! Everything in the protagonist’s living room has an unsettling level of sentience and have no qualms making things awkward and creepy for their owner after he manages to find himself a date.
Catch Ha The Unclear in Adelaide tonight and tomorrow night!
Cub Sport – I Can’t Save You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh-ggXk5n1M
Back to Brisbane indie-poppers and all around legends Cub Sport, who returned in 2015 with their first single in two years (!). They’re back at it in 2016, with their second single and its accompanying video out this week in the form of I Can’t Save You. It’s from their hotly anticipated next album This Is Our Vice arriving later this year. The track features pulsing retro synths and a chorus that positively soars, a fantastically dance-y number.
The video is a great story, documenting the downward spiral of a soap opera starlet that, in itself, is its own soap opera. Soapception I’m dubbing it, the clip was directed by Joe Agius of The Creases and even features Luke McDonald from The John Steel Singers as the fictional director, to keep it all in the (Brisbane) family. It’s always way more interesting when music videos have such a clear and absorbing narrative like this.
This Is Our Vice is out March 4th via Title Track.
Santigold – Can’t Get Enough Of Myself
This one we don’t have a video link for exactly, given that it isn’t really YouTube-compatible. It’s actually a brand new and interactive video from Santigold for the latest single from her third album, 99¢, that drops today!
Best thing about it? It stars yourself! If you use Chrome and have a webcam (basically everyone who isn’t 10 years ago) you can go here and insert your very own mug into a for real no fooling music video. We won’t spoil it for you, just go have fun pretending that you and Santigold are tight enough to collab.
99¢ is out today via Atlantic Records. See you next week!
If two is better than one, eleven is definitely better than ten and such is the case for your beloved weekly playlist of top songs. Sure, one came out last week (looking at you, Cub Sport) but we can’t help that it was so good it still deserved a spot in this week’s cut as well!
We’ve got a lot of local flavours in this week’s list, with three acts hailing from Brisbane – the aforementioned Cub Sport as well as Emma Louise (who was remixed by Little Dragon) and Feki (who remixes Anna Of The North). We’ve also got some surf-psych jams from WA (Gunns), a couple of Melbourne acts (Hoodlem and Private Life) as well as Sydney’s Tigertown. Not to mention some international takes like a Louie Lastic remix of Kelela featuring GoldLink, some Bishop Nehru, a collab between Katy B and Kaytranada and not to mention a lit remix of Tory Lanez by Shlohmo and we have once again got you covered with the top songs you should have heard this week!
Gunns, Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog
WA darlings Gunns have a lot to be happy about right now. They’re about to join Albert Hammond Jr on tour (yes, the guitarist from The Strokes), they’re releasing their debut EP on February 12th AND it’s on the same label as a few fellow Western Australians like POND and that tiny band called Tame Impala. They’ve also shared a brand new single this week, titled Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog. Sounding like an Aussie version of Temples in the best possible way, this dreamy psych-surf band are bound for great things, and this song once again proves it.
Kelela, Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix ft. GoldLink)
Kelela was just in the country for a mindblowing whirlwind mini tour, and GoldLink is just about to touch down for Laneway. Although they didn’t cross paths in the literal sense, they certainly have in the sonic sense with this latest release. Jumping on a guest verse for producer Louie Lastic, the two have spun Kelela’s huge single Rewind into an old-school jam, complete with upbeat, bubbling synths, skittering beats, and a groove that just won’t fucking quit. It’s a total jam.
Anna Of The North, The Dreamer (Feki Remix)
Brisbane producer Feki has once again shown he really means business, and has remixed the hell out of Anna Of The North’s The Dreamer. We’ve had our eye on him for a while and each and every time he releases something, he sucks us in even more with his forward thinking, future-RnB production. He capitalises on the sad vibes and hones in on it, amping up the dark vibes and heaping on the emotion. Anna Of The North said it best herself when she told Nylon, “The Dreamer is already a sad song, but I like that Feki’s remix is darker. He makes it ok to cry at the club.” Damn straight.
Hoodlem, Kintsugi
Melbourne duo Hoodlem blew me away when I stumbled upon them at last year’s BIGSOUND in Brisbane, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thankfully, they’ve finally released some new music this week, which earned them a spot in this playlist instantly. The duo are a powerhouse in a live setting, and have been bringing their A-game with each release since they dropped their tremendous single Through last year. Now they’re gearing up for the release of a new EP coming in March and they’re sounding better than ever. Kinstugi is the first taste of that record, and its glitchy, soulful vibes with their typically fantastic production skills makes for a very exciting release indeed.
Tigertown, Lonely Cities
Tigertown have an uncanny knack of making you think you’re listening to an unassuming indie track, but then catching you by surprise and blowing you totally out of the water with how great they sound. It’s a risky move but they always seem to pull it off, so why the hell not? The band return with their second single of the year, Lonely Cities, and it’s huge. Although the lyrics aren’t exactly celebrating the feeling of being lonely, they’ve juxtaposed them with some totally liberating, joyous and borderline euphoric singalongs, guitar melodies and sharp drums. If only all loneliness felt this good!
Bishop Nehru, Forever And A Day
You might know Bishop Nehru from his feature spot on Flight Facilities‘ excellent debut album, Down To Earth, on the track Why Do You Feel, but it is about time everyone knew him for his capabilities on his own as well. This song is a sultry, inviting, groovy number with some fierce verses and Nehru’s easy flow, he talks about his rise to fame and how his drive keeps him go. He doesn’t sound like he’s quitting anytime soon judging from this track, and that is some very good news for Nehru fans new, old and those still to come. It’s only up from here!
Katy B x Kaytranada, Honey
Anything that Kaytranada lends his hand to has a 99.99% chance of being amazing, and this latest track is no exception. Working with Katy B, this is a smoky and smooth number that shows B’s impeccable vocals and Kaytranada’s flawless-as-ever production. It’s the first taste from her forthcoming Honey LP (which has a tracklist that features everyone from Craig David, Major Lazer, Four Tet, Floating Points and more), and it’s impressive to say the least. It’s got a groove that is perfect for the bedroom, and Katy B’s sexy hook doesn’t go too bad either for the bedroom vibes. Thank us later.
Tory Lanez, Say It (Shlohmo Remix)
There was a time where Shlohmo was making some of the most experimental music of his career, and the days of him working with Jeremih felt like a bygone era. However, this latest remix is Shlohmo back to his RnB remixing best, as he takes Tory Lanez’ Say It, and makes it fucking lit. It’s still got his trademark dark sounds, and has an air of mystery about it, but it’s also got some token hip-hop drums, crashing cymbals, trap leanings and more to keep it dance-y and fun. Is this a sign Shlohmo is heading back towards his hip-hop roots?
Private Life, Dragon
Melbourne indie two-piece Private Life are fighting the good fight to make “pop” not such a dirty word anymore, and their latest track, Dragon is a perfect example of how well it can be done. Showcasing some huge vocals, crashing cymbals, a hook that won’t quit and some unpredictable production courtesy of Nicolas Lam (from Red Bull Music Academy), Private Life sounds like Australia’s answer to CHVRCHES with one less member and one hell of a knack for good songs. Dragon is explosive yet gentle, uplifting yet fragile, and seriously, SERIOUSLY impressive. We’re expecting big things from these guys.
Emma Louise, Underflow (Little Dragon Remix)
I mean, if you are going to get anyone to remix your comeback single, surely Little Dragon are pretty high up on the list of desired artists to do so. Brisbane artist Emma Louise has achieved just that, with the Swedish band stepping up for rework duties this week on her track Underflow. It was already an absolutely stunning single in its own right, so it’s only fitting that it gets an equally stunning remix, and it sounds like it was in pretty safe hands with Little Dragon. A racing almost-heartbeat like thump keeps the track running along as more and more is carefully poured into the mix. Splashy cymbals, vocal loops and subtle synths carry it along as Emma Louise’s vulnerable original vocals remain in tact. This marks the first remix in four years for the band, so if that alone doesn’t tell there is something great about this track, we don’t know what will.
Cub Sport, I Can’t Save You
Brisbane band Cub Sport fell off the grid for a while there, but towards the end of 2015 it was confirmed that their absence was indeed intentional as they returned to the fray with the release of Only Friend. Back on form, the band have now shared another brilliant track titled I Can’t Save You – another exciting cut from their forthcoming album, This Is Our Vice. A glimmering exercise in synth-driven indie-pop, Cub Sport are wasting no time in reminding us who they are, and keeping our excitement levels at worryingly high levels in the lead up to This Is Our Vice‘s March 4th release.
Image of Hoodlem via Facebook
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, of 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:
Cub Sport – Only Friend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSUNXCKCTX4&inf_contact_key=06f54529afe2e1ded3c1fd5bbbe11d7d5dbfa925ab053aab7eccdc69d5d4b6b8
Having previously scooped up Australian Video of the Year honours from Channel V, Brisbane band Cub Sport know exactly what goes into the making of a good music video. This one accompanies their brand new single Only Friend, a prelude to their forthcoming album This Is Our Vice.
Directed by Joe Agius, from one of our other favourite Brisbane bands The Creases, the video delves into the seldom-touched themes of anxiety and depression. The song features a haunting synthy build up to a gorgeous chorus, the music video featuring the four members of the band stuck in the middle of a party full of revellers, highlighting the awful feeling of isolation even in the most celebratory of circumstances that is such a largely overlooked aspect of anxiety and depression.
Shot beautifully lo-fi, with all the fuzz of a well-worn VHS, and exploiting some heavy neon pinks and blues, the clip is visually fantastic (and features plenty of cameos from members of The Creases too). A nifty taste of their new album, which drops March the 4th next year.
Big White – Dinosaur City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0JaLlNSj9Y
Sticking with the lo-fi vibes for this one is the latest single from Big White: Dinosaur City. The track itself sounds like Robert Smith fronting an Australian new wave band from the 80s (a sound as outrageously good as you’d imagine) and the chorus will have you in a death grip.
The video makes the above one by Cub Sport look as thought it was 1080p, it’s a VHS bleed and so everything is just melting on the screen nice and warmly. There may be no velociraptors of any description but the video for Dinosaur City does feature the band running through what looks like a cracker of a night out on the town with swings in the park and a whole lot of alleyway dancing. It’s a feelgood clip for the summer and the track is an absolute standout.
Also in the spirit of the 80s, Dinosaur City is being released as part of a limited edition 7″ paired with a B-side of the Japanese version of their previous single You Know I Love You. You know we love you too Big White.
Moses Gunn Collective – Hole In The Wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6-ahJvHIbs
Having released their debut LP Mercy Mountain earlier in 2015, psychedelic Brisbane legends Moses Gunn Collective have been riding a wave of roundly-deserved critical acclaim to back up the tsunami of hype that preceded that record. They’ve now released their third single from the album, Hole In The Wall and a video to go along with it.
It’s as summery a track as you’re going to get, the mellowed out and breezy psych rock vibes taking your ears for a blissful ride. The clip was filmed on a sunny afternoon in a field just perfect for rolling around in. It features frontman Aidan Moore in all white everything, having an absolute whale of a time playing guitar in a paddock as the sun goes down and copping a glitter shower to the face amongst other activities. It’s pure bliss on the eyes and the ears.
Editors – Ocean Of Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqlY2fxaFrw
The Staffordshire rock band came back with an absolute bang in 2015 with the release of their long-awaited fifth studio album In Dream. The latest single from that album, which stormed all the way to the top five of the UK charts, is Ocean Of Night. One of three tracks on the album to feature the vocal assistance of Rachel Goswell, the sparkly little piano melody will hook you from the beginning, the song burning slowly around the ghostly chamber vocals of frontman Tom Smith before an absolutely mammoth chorus.
The video, shot in a warm black and white, is comprised of footage both backstage and on from a sold out show the band threw on at Dublin Olympia. Stunningly shot, it’s as uplifting as the track itself and the reactions of the crowd are a ringing endorsement of Editors’ continued position at the forefront of modern rock.
CHVRCHES – Empty Threat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNHxwSp-6Og
September saw the release of Scottish synth pop trio CHVRCHES sophomore LP Every Open Eye, a record that built to skyscraper heights off of an already rock solid debut and one that has won over an enormous swathe of fans both old and new. The latest single and video to be released from that effort is Empty Threat.
Driving at 100 miles an hour, elating the listener to brand new heights and generally just being an absolute stomper of a dance anthem, the video for Empty Threat features firepower frontwoman Lauren Mayberry on a punked out road trip with a water park as the end destination, the safety pins and endless black juxtaposed nicely with the summer sun.
Catch CHVRCHES in Australia when they touch down here to headline Laneway and play some (already very sold out) sideshows.
Pusha T – Untouchable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPI_6MX74j4
President Pusha is in the house. The newly coronated overlord of GOOD Music recently announced a double drop of albums to cap off 2015 with Darkest Before Dawn and then again in mid-2016 with the long, looong-anticipated King Push. His latest single Untouchable is notable for its sampling of a lesser known verse from The Notorious B.I.G. (from the 1995 cut by Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard Think Big).
The lyrics over the minimalistic backbeat are just stupendous, Pusha calling out professional piece of shit Donald Trump in deliciously profane fashion as well as comparing himself to Tony Montana and U2 (with The Edge) in the same breath. But mainly, according to Untouchable, Pusha T is here to chew gum and sell drugs, and he’s all out of gum.
The video features Pusha riding around some tough looking streets in the night, living fearlessly because he’s King Push, President of Everything and he does exactly what he wants at all times. It’s a cracker of a clip and we’re grateful to our ruler for his generous spacing between future albums.
Seth Sentry – Fake Champagne
Seth Sentry has had one hell of a year. After releasing Strange New Past, he went on an incredible fifty date tour of Australia, toured across Europe, and just last night he went home with the ARIA Award for Best Urban Album.
He’s slated to perform at Falls Festival across the new year, but first comes the video for Fake Champagne, created using footage compiled throughout this year’s relentless tour schedule. The really nicely shot clips blends live gigs with highway stops, snowy landscapes, early morning flights and all sorts of ridiculous antics.
Lyrically, this was one of my favourite tracks on the album. A bitter judgement of trying to live a reflective and self-aware life while being surrounded by fake friends and what we assume to be both literal and figurative “fake champagne”. We hear that.