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
In conjunction with Sensible Antixx and Viceroyalty, Howl & Echoes is excited to present the third edition of Make It Work, an Izakaya-inspired night of music, food and art. The night will feature performances from three of Australia’s most exciting upcoming names: Esese, Alice Ivy and Charlie Threads.
Each of these artists are bringing new flavour to soul and hip-hop from our own shores, so you can guarantee this is going to be a pretty great night; soulful seven-piece crew ESESE (Eastern Seaboard Electric Soul Ensemble) have made a name for themselves as party starters and sublimely talented tastemakers, with the group, which includes Hancoq and Judson James Jr, gearing up to get the good vibes rolling. Alice Ivy is one of our favourite upcoming locals, with recent singles like Almost Here ft. RaRa and St Germain (found on TEEF Records’ fundraiser compilation) proving exactly why she’s one to watch – she has also been announced on the bill for Bigsound, Strawberry Fields and Paradise Music Festival. Meanwhile, Charlie Threads recently enchanted us with his stunning new EP Palm Trees in Graveyards, paving an expansive and fresh new road for Australian hip-hop.
Throughout the night, Sensible Antixx DJs will be on hand to keep the beats flowing, while visual arts and delicious food will be on offer to round off what’s set to be one incredible evening.
It all kicks off on September 3 at Horse Bazaar, 297 Little Lonsdale Street in Melbourne. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Head to the official Facebook event for more info, and click here to purchase tickets.
See you there!
First week back, and already we’re seeing some great releases this week! We’ve found the best for our weekly playlist, which has come just in time for your weekend!
Phosphene, Silver
US rockers Phosphene are kicking things off with this pearler. Shoegaze at it’s best, Silver is a sweet little number with dreamy female vocals and heavenly arrangements. At 2:42, things get really cool with an instrumental breakdown and those sweet, sweet vocal melodies.
Arctic Maps, The Ocean Is My Cathedral
Similar to London Grammar, Arctic Maps‘ new tune The Ocean Is My Cathedral is a beautiful little song featuring soft vocals and atmospheric vibes. The duo play with light and dark here as the track trickles along, with darker arrangements swirling under the surface.
Drake, Jhene Aiko, From Time (KRNE x Portrait Edit)
KRNE and Portrait‘s take on one of my favourite tracks from Drake‘s album Nothing Was The Same is glitchy and sparse, combining the strongest sides of both artists. It’s no secret we’re fans of KRNE here, and this song reiterates how good this guy is!
Water Strider, White Light
Shimmering, chilled out, powerful – three words to sum up this track. It’s dynamic and vibrant, and has a lot going on! Math rock guitars, jungle vibes in the rhythm section, falsettos and funky twists; this one is a winner!
Real Slow, Girl U Know
Real Slow cherry picks his way through the trending electronic genres to create a sound that is his own. Tropical house, hip hop beats, Girl U Know is packed full of good vibes and is another big step forward for the Australian producer.
Midoca, Gotta Go
Midoca‘s Gotta Go is one of the most intriguing tracks I’ve heard in a while. Soulful vocal samples, glitchy synth samples, crashing cymbals, then whirling atmospheric vibes – it’s a little left field, but try getting it out of your head!
prints_, Ghosts
You can’t NOT compare these guys to Purity Ring, but once you get past that you open a whole new world of spooky, dreamy electronica that is begging for your attention. Brooding and eerie, the song is as mysterious as the duo themselves, who seem to vanish from the Internet when it suits them and only reappearing when they’ve made another gem of this otherworldly pop (last time if was for two years!)
Lxury, Let Down
A modern take on classic house, it’s no wonder this song was the first to be featured on Annie Mac‘s Free Music Mondays on BBCR1. Not unlike Gold Panda‘s stylings, Lxury makes this his own with his looping and chopping. 2015 looks pretty damn good for this guy!
Action Bronson, Actin Crazy
The first track of Action Bronson‘s upcoming album, Actin Crazy is produced by renowned hitmaker Noah “40” Shebib, so it’s safe to say it’s gonna be good! It’s dripping with Bronson’s signature badass style, and is raising the bar for his album. We can’t wait!
ESESE, Aintno ft Hancoq
We featured this song earlier this week, but I think it deserves another mention. Packed to the brim with super cool vibes, Hancoq is just the best in this track. The soulful chorus with a surprise brass section and the hook, “Ain’t no stoppin’, ain’t no stoppin’ me” is guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days – not that we’re complaining!
ESESE, or Eastern Seaboard Electric Soul Ensemble, are the latest group of talented lords to pop up out of Melbourne’s burgeoning music scene which encompasses just about everything! Counting one of the pioneers of this “new” brand of Australian Hip Hop, Baro, in their ranks, it’s safe to say these guys aren’t messing around!
The collective is comprised of rappers, vocalists, producers, musicians and videographers, and their latest release highlights just how much creativity can be tapped into here. AINTNO featuring Hancoq and Hudson James Jr is so fucking cool, and sees the rapper spitting rhymes from a god damn row boat along the Yarra river. Badass.
The beats are fresh, and with it’s soulful hook and brief brass section tying it together, this is a serious jam for these warmer months! They’ve managed to step away from the usual trap sensibilities too often seen in the hip hop area lately and travelled more into groovy as shit area, showcasing the pure talent that’s going on here.
You can keep up to date with all things these guys here, as I am seriously hooked on them! Here’s hoping it’s not long until we get more from them!