In a country that focuses largely on the Alison Wonderlands, Flumes and Golden Features-es, it’s understandable that many don’t hear about the fantastic talent that lies below the surface, away from the usual winning formula of pop-bangers and airtime. With mainstream radio becoming less of a contributor within music popularity, it’s good to see musicians doing experimental work being rewarded with the praise they deserve. It’s been a little over a year and a half since Dro Carey, aka Eugene Ward, also aka Tuff Sherm, released Club Injury Handbook, a crazy experimental release that had everyone talking about its phenomenal mix of grime, UK garage and house. With his latest EP Dark Zoo, Dro has cemented himself as one of the country’s most intelligent and interesting producers of electronic music.

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Though it only sits just above 21 minutes, Dark Zoo’s five tracks move through a variety of genres and sub-genres that make the experience feel a lot more drawn out and intricate. Usually working without lyrics, Dro makes the leap to more dark-pop territory with on the EP’s opener – Queensberry Rules. Perth local Kučka’s ethereal and wispy vocals sound right at home over a thick, ever-changing synth lead, and shifting percussion, filled with scratches and cymbals that are changing constantly. While in many collaborations between vocalists and producers there is an obvious bias to one of their styles, Dro and Kučka have created a track that sounds like an equal effort on both their behalves. It could fit on the dancefloor of a club at 3am, or at 9pm in a mosh at a Kučka show – it’s a testament to their talents.

Then we’re thrown into Signal Mash, which I can only describe as Crash Bandicoot meets jazzy dancehall, and it works crazy well. There’s so much going on here that mid listen I’ve had to stop and rewind a section just to make sure that I’m catching everything properly. The EP’s namesake, Dark Zoo, is all about the future-bass sounding synths thrown into a faced pace house track, with vocals by FKL making it the most light hearted and airy on the release. Grow Lithe and Hidden Halls are both packed to the brim with some crazy percussion, excellent use of pan-flute (never thought I would see myself say that), and lead lines that’ll get stuck in your head for days. It feels like they lead into each other perfectly, like a yin and yang situation for the floor. The thing that sticks out most when you listen to Dark Zoo though, is its versatility. While I found myself moving and shaking all over the place, looking forward to seeing these tracks hit the club scene ASAP, I also re-listened to them over and over, to better understand how they were composed. It’s not often that you find yourself both dancing to and studying a release as constantly as this, and it’s the embodiment of all the skills that Dro Carey has developed over his many years of being active.

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The term IDM, or Intelligent Dance Music seems to be thrown around all too much, but that’s exactly what Dark Zoo is. Dro has demonstrated his mastery of a number of genres of dance music, and manipulation of sounds to create something that is both impossible not to move to, and impossible not to want to understand. I have no doubt there’ll be many a punter who stops mid-dance as Grow Lithe comes on the speakers, just to marvel at how it’s arranged, before jumping right back into it. Kudos Dro Carey, what will you think of next? I can’t wait.

Image: Factmag

Last week, Sydney producer Dro Carey (real name Eugene Ward) was announced as the newest signing to new Melbourne label Soothsayer, only the second artist on the new roster after Roland Tings. Now he has shared a new collaboration with Perth singer-songwriter Kučka, along with details of a new EP entitled Dark Zoo, set for release on May 20.

Premiering on Triple J last night, Queensberry Rules is the first cut taken from Dark Zoo. Though his past work on labels like Greco-Roman, TTT and Templar Sound have predominantly been instrumental tracks, Queensberry Rules a completely fresh sound brought together by two of Australia’s fastest emerging names. While much Australian electronic music seems to be going for brighter feelings, Dro’s work has always been more in line with grime and UK garage, and Queensberry Rules sounds damn fresh. Kučka’s vocals bounce high up over the low thumping synths and bass, with a shifting drum beat that just begs movement.

Dro Carey explains the lead up to the collaboration, saying he “came across Kučka’s SoundCloud around the same time that she was building up to her Unconditional EP, maybe a little before that. She was on my radar as a really interesting artist but this was back before there was even the sense that the next Dro release would have any vocals. Later after I’d done some demos that were looking like potential vocal collaborations, I saw her name come up again one day. I always thought of her as a kind of dream collaborator to take a shot with, so I was honestly a bit surprise when she came straight back after the track and was keen to work on it!”

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With Dark Zoo out May 20th, Queensberry Rules definitely sets the tone for what should be a phenomenal first release on the Soothsayer label. Check the tracklist down below, and pre-order Dark Zoo right here.

Dro Carey, Dark Zoo track list

  1. Queensberry Rules (feat. KUČKA)
  2. Signal Mash
  3. Dark Zoo (feat. FKL)
  4. Grow Lithe
  5. Hidden Halls

Image: Supplied

Weeks get away from you, as last week did for me. However, if you missed your weekly fix of fresh tunes then you don’t have to worry any more! Below are ten brand new tracks you need in your life right now, full of electronic goodness, some Australiana, psych disco and so much more. Enjoy!

Dro Carey, Grow Lithe

Recently signed to Soothsayer and set to play at this year’s Splendour In The Grass, Dro Carey has arrived in style and is making everybody know it with this lively percussion led new single, Grow Lithe. It’s a jam from start to finish, with footwork beats and intriguing synth lines. Sounding like a jungle rave mixed with a UK underground rave, it’s a frenzied groove with a lot to give. Grow Lithe is one of those songs that you can listen to on repeat for a long, long while because with each listen something new reveals itself- a trick which makes Dro Carey absolutely one to watch!

Foreign/National, Tristesse

I love Foreign/National, and Tristesse is just another example why. What can only be described as psych disco, this sounds like the kind of song you’d maybe hear at a blue light disco – if you were on acid. Like a wonderful, shimmering trip, their nostalgic tendencies are as evident as ever with old school harmonies and indie rock guitar riffs, but it’s their individual element they bring to the fray that makes them as great as they are. Taken from their debut album, I can’t help but get really excited for that when I hear this tune. Melbourne fans can get down to their album launch on April 28th too!

PUMAROSA, Cecile

These guys came on my radar earlier this year with Priestess, and it seems the huge hype that was surrounding them has been confirmed with the release of Cecile. Dramatic, theatrical, thunderous and intricate, Cecile is a thrilling ride. Ebbing and flowing from hectic to calm, then back to hectic again and then finally calm when it finishes, it’s all over the place in the best way possible. Capitalising on what they do well, Pumarosa are sounding really damn good and it will be exciting to see where they go next. We might just need some time to brace ourselves.

Stay At Home Son, Bluffs and Blocks

Stay At Home Son is a wander through the weird and wonderful, slightly off reality of Jesse Martin-Allen. The most recent signing to Gab Strum aka Japanese Wallpaper‘s new label, Neat Lawn, Bluffs and Blocks is disjointed, peculiar and captivating. Full of ambience but also intentionally sluggish vocals, Stay At Home Son slowly adds more and more to his bubbling mix of slacker synth pop until he’s left with a fully fledged song in all its glory. It’s an exciting move not only for Martin-Allen but for Strum too, who is jumping on the boutique label train and arriving in style with this release.

MOSSY, Ginsberg

I OH YOU’s Mossy released another stellar single with Ginsberg. Showcasing off his vocal range, his penchant for big, crashing drums and a flair for the theatrics, Mossy builds on his debut Electric Chair with this slightly mad, spiralling tune that is a little dark and unsettling but reassuring somehow. Taken from his debut EP which will be out next month, we are slowly getting to piece together the puzzle that is the mysterious Mossy, and it’s looking really good. Sydney fans can attend his first ever show to get even more of an idea as to what this guy is all about at the end of May, but with the way he’s going, he won’t be able to keep this all a secret for too long!

Lostkeyz, SLWDWN (Prod. Droptail)

Lostkeyz returns in a blaze of glory with SLWDWN. It’s been a long while since we’ve heard from the young wordsmith, but this track shows it was more than worth the wait and he hasn’t exactly been taking a holiday. Clearly having honed his craft and his sound, he’s jumped on a beat from Droptail to create this self-asserting, confident and reflective track about what he’s done so far- and where he still needs to go. Lostkeyz possesses an almighty flow, and puts out some incredible lyrics, so it’s been an exciting ride to watch him grow and learn. Whilst this song might talk about the need to “slow down,” I get the feeling that Lostkeyz is nearing the end of his slow period, and is ready to get right back into it. That is something we can’t wait for!

LANKS, Golden Age (Wayfarer Remix)

I’ve been secretly obsessed with LANKS’ Golden Age since it came out. There is something about the weird synth sounds and upbeat direction he went in that I just can’t get enough of. However, I must admit I was slightly sceptical to see a remix as I wasn’t sure how it would fare against the original. Well, I am eating my words and Wayfarer does it more than justice. Up and coming in his own right, the fellow Melbournian has turned LANKS’ Golden Age into a brooding and dark number that sneaks up you and takes over completely. It’s huge, and I never thought I would hear LANKS’ voice over a track like this but it works so well I find myself actually hoping for more. Well done Wayfarer, this is a banger in the best sense of the word!

Shining Bird, Helluva Lot

Embracing some Australiana flavour, Shining Bird are back in a big way with their latest single. Considering they describe their own sound as “Eucalyptus dream pop,” the band are building on from their stellar 2015 with Helluva Lot. Like a warm breeze on a hot summer’s afternoon in Australia, the song cruises by with subtle melodies and intricacies here and there, easy going as it meanders along. But don’t let that fool you, as Helluva Lot actually paints quite a dismal picture when you listen to the lyrics, of how much we have to lose with our changing climate. A kind of relaxed call to arms, almost hypnotising you into heeding it’s message. I’m okay with it though, because it sounds so good.

The Invisible, So Well (Ft. Jessie Ware)

Anything that Jessie Ware lends her honeyed voice to is already a winner in my books, but The Invisible really take it to the next level with this forlorn lovesick tune. So Well is just so nice. It’s smooth and soft, falling gently without ever being overpowering. Ware sounds at home with the soft soul The Invisible provide, and with the precise instrumentation and production, it makes for just such a nice tune. It’s the second taste we have of The Invisible’s forthcoming record out in June, and judging from this, we are really in for a treat.

Lewis CanCut, Say Ok (Ft. TIGARAH)

Lewis CanCut, NLV Records alum, wraps things up for us with this straight up banger. Super sweet, it’s the NLV Records crew meets PC Music with Say Ok, as CanCut teams up with TIGARAH for this slice of bubblegum electronica, complete with big bouncing beats, skeeting synths and huge bass. It’s a fresh take on his sometimes downright filthy bangers that he’s capable of, but that doesn’t make it any less danceable. Instead, it shows an interesting potential direction for CanCut to head in, and I am actually excited to see where he goes from here!

Image: Stereogum