Lanks Archives • Howl & Echoes

Parramatta’s premiere summer festival The Plot returned this year ready to bring Plotters some of the biggest up and coming names in Australian music. Part I features Froyo, Mallrat, Amy Shark, Dorsal Fins, BUOY, The Belligerents, Bootleg Rascal, EAST, Tired Lion, LANKS, Running Touch, A.B. Original and Nicole Millar. Check out the shots below.

Continued in Part II featuring Allday, The Bennies, Indian Summer, Alex Lahey and more.

Froyo

Mallrat

Amy Shark

Dorsal Fins

BUOY

The Belligerents

Bootleg Rascal

E^ST

Tired Lion

LANKS

Running Touch

A.B. Original

Nicole Millar

Photos: Teresa Pham/Howl & Echoes

It’s that time of year again: the denim jackets are peeled off, the BBQs begin to sizzle in backyards across Australia, and we’re suddenly hit with a veritable cornucopia of incredible music events to signal the march towards the end of the year. There are festivals being announced left right and centre, sure, but not all of us are wallet-endowed enough to skip from fest to fest just to catch our favourite acts for a paltry 30 minute set. Thank god for the Spring headline tour. But, you might say, there are so MANY tours being announced! I feel overwhelmed with choice – how can I make sure I won’t miss the best of the bunch? Shhh. We got you. Credit cards at the ready, fam, let’s dive into the creme de la creme of upcoming tours over the next few months.

NGAIIRE – Inside Blastoma tour

Ngaiire’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric and we are bloody stoked as hell about it. Her album Blastoma climed to #41 in the ARIA charts, #6 on the Urban charts, and is shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. Ngaiire is fresh off touring with Listen Out festival, before that she absolutely SLAYED at Splendour in the Grass (I should know, I was there). She’s insanely talented, a phenomenal live performer, and even has Grimes‘ stamp of approval. Oh, and the incredible Woodes and Wallace are supporting. Literally what the hell other reason do you even need to pony up the dough and head along to her last headline tour of the year?

Tickets for Ngaiire on sale now via www.ngaiire.com.au

Fri 25 Nov | Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Fri 2 Dec | The Factory, Sydney
Fri 12 Dec | The Zoo, Brisbane

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYmbZkP3LfU]

Polish Club – Beat Up tour

I’ve been on the Polish Club train for a very long time now and it warms my heart to see that they are finally embarking on their very first headline tour. The thing about seeing Polish Club live is that you will feel very euphoric, then utterly confused as to how the fuck two people can make such a glorious racket, and then very euphoric again. You’ve probably heard their rock banger Beeping, because it climbed its way up into triple j’s 15 most played tracks for a while there. They played BIGSOUND this year and have racked up a laundry list of supports featuring music’s who’s who: Courtney Barnett, Northeast Party House, Gang Of Youths… it’s a little bit ridiculous actually. Oh, and they’re releasing their debut album next year. Why are they so talented? I bet you they’re really nice guys, too.

Tickets for Polish Club on sale now via www.polishclub.co

Horrorshow – If You Know What I Mean tour

This one has actually already kicked off, so if you’re a fan of not missing out on cool things then you might want to jump on tickets very, very quickly. Horrorshow are touring the country – yes Perth, you included! – in support of their super-tight track If You Know What I Mean. To add onto the pile of very good reasons to catch the Sydney duo, rapidly rising MC B Wise will be joining Solo and Adit across the run of dates. Watch the Harry Hunter/ENTROPICO (Hayden James, Touch Sensitive, The Meeting Tree) directed video for If You Know What I Mean below and get keeeeeen.

Tickets for Horrorshow on sale now via HORRORSHOW.COM

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rRAc7_Z4G4]

Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win tour

Julia Jacklin seemed to come out of frickin’ nowhere (although, of course, this is never the case) to dominate the back half of 2016. The accolades are stacking up faster than you can say “fuck, I missed out on tickets” – with BBC 6, LA Times, Uncut and Mojo all heaping praise on the alt-country singer and her raw, stunning debut album Don’t Let The Kids Win. There’s only one other Aussie artist whose rocket-fuelled trajectory has taken off this fast in recent memory and her name rhymes with Schmourtney Schmarnett. So you should probably catch Jacklin on this tour before she starts playing her tunes on the US late night television circuit and appearing on Ellen.

Tickets for Julia Jacklin on sale now via Oztix

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fua9nrkUYew]

LANKS x Hein Cooper – Co-headline tour

Q: What’s better than one innovative Melbourne musician embarking on an 8-date tour? A: Two innovative Melbourne musicians embarking on an 8-date tour together. You likely don’t need an introduction to either of these dudes. LANKS, perennial striped shirt-wearer and top notch human being, just wrapped a national support with Vera Blue and released his second EP Viet Rose, and I honestly have no words for how good it is. Basically, he’s been busy dominating and it really doesn’t seem like he intends on stopping. Hein Cooper is like Ed Sheeran if Ed Sheeran was cool and made good music (there I said it). To hear his gorgeous singles Art Of Escape and Rusty (together they boast over 3 million streams on Spotify) is to feel feelings. They’re gonna make a formidable duo and if you don’t go see them you’re dumb.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQNvaGJyraA]

Good Boy – Plum EP tour

Hi, have you been living under a rock? Good Boy are a band that are, as their name suggests, very Good. They are also all Boys I guess. They’re touring in support of their EP Plum, aka one of the best, most self-aware snapshots of the Aussie youth zeitgeist we’ve seen in recent memory. Their set at BIGSOUND was so packed I had to stand on a chair and triple j are smashing their tunes basically on the daily, like new single S.O.G.K. They put on a bloody good show. Get your butt to one of them.

Tickets for Good Boy available from Oztix

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rm6zVEsvXc]

From hip-hop to electronica, R&B and beyond, here are some of Howl & Echoes’ favourite new all-Australian singles and videos. Enjoy!

Gold Class, Kids on Fire

I’ve been slow on the uptake with Gold Class, but they’re kicking ass right now and absolutely worth all the hype. Having built a reputation as an incredible live act, they’ve been laying low in the studio, now returning with the first taste of their new album, recorded at Tropical Fuckstorm Studios, presumably property of The Drones‘ own Tropical Fuckstorm Records.

I love the rumbling richness of vocalist, pared with the sparsity of the backing riffs and rhythm. The overall atmosphere has a classic sentiment, but it’s ripped up and dragged into 2016 by those chorus peaks – wild, refined chaos.

Hit up their socials for upcoming tour dates and more.

Anfa Rose, T.I.W.H (Prod. Dopamine)

Hearing amazing R&B from our own shores isn’t as rare as it once was; the bountiful harvest of seductive crooners is a warmly welcomed addition to the Australian musical landscape. With that, it’s exciting to learn that a new hip-hop-focused imprint has been founded by the one and only Miracle, known as WVS (Waves). Newcomer Anfa Rose‘s T.I.W.H, produced by the ever-talented Dopamine is the first official release. Devastating pianos are quickly brightened by Morrocan-born Rose’s velvety lilt. A hint of auto-tune and a big, brassy beat give it a sharp edge; this is slick. Really slick.

Follow WVS here and get ready for a new WV of Australian aural ambrosia.

All Our Exes Live in Texas, The Devil’s Part

Aside from having one of the best names in the game, All Our Exes Live in Texas have just released one of the best, darkest folk tracks I’ve heard all year. The Devil’s Part has a brooding, chilling tang to it, what with its blend of the tinny, almost Kate Bush-esque vocals and thinly flickered guitars. There’s a melodramatic spin to the overall atmosphere, almost cinematic in nature. Harmonised choruses in folk often make or break a tune for me (those bright singalong phrases often feel so weak), but it fits this track like a perfect, blood-stained glove. Coupled with a beautiful video courtesy of Nils Crompton, I didn’t want this one to end.

The band are gearing up to release debut album We May in February 2017, ahead of which they’re embarking on a major national tour – details here.

A.B Original, January 26

Without a shadow of a doubt, A.B.Original are my favourite Australian act to emerge in 2016. I cannot remember when I found a new Australian act whose songs I literally play on repeat because they’re so good that I just can’t follow it up with anything else. The combination of Briggs and Trials is fucking dynamite and I genuinely can’t stop listening. Intelligent, conscious, self-aware lyrics? Check. Slick, often hilarious rhymes? You got it. Heavy as fuck beats and deep, bouncing bass? Bingo.

Featuring the one and only Dan Sultan, January 26 is the latest in a slew of smart, catchy as hell spits that actually make you stop and think. As you might guess, the track explains exactly why having Australia Day on January 26 is frustrating, offensive, and insulting to so many Indigenous Australians. Listen and learn, folks.

Moon Holiday, Out of Bounds

Oooof. Moon Holiday’s been around for more than five years now, and her output keeps getting better. Real name Alex Ward, she has now teamed up with production two-piece Cliques (George Nicholas of Seekae and Hamish Dixon) for this gorgeous late-night single. Out of Bounds track drips with seduction and sensuality, playing with sound and sparsity to a precise tee, with layers of sound and emotion waxing and waning around that big, shuffling rhythm.

Evocative and interesting, her voice is absolutely one of my favourites in Australian electronic scene right now. Coupled with such carefully arranged instrumentation and production that uses space as cleverly as it does the sounds the between it, this is a really sublime new number.

One for the bedroom playlist.

Tour dates with Rainbow Chan here.

Fascinator, Skin Within

New York-based, Australia born Fascinator has returned with an incredibly catchy new track, Skin Within, the first new music since debut album Man. It’s trippy and summery, sure, but it maintains a driving bass that’s deep and heavy enough to keep it grounded, so it doesn’t get lost among the lo-fi clouds. I love the instrumentation, the diversity of sounds and textures blended in to give this such a full, lush sound.

In all honesty, I found the muffled vocals to be the weakest layer; the immense instrumental tones are hypnotic and mesmerising, a very on-trend blend of warbled psychedelia and thumping electronica. Overall, this track is bloody wonderful.

Lanks, Holla

Finally today, we’ve got a new tune from the incredibly talented Melbourne artist Lanks. Holla is the first track from his upcoming EP, Viet Rose, out October 14. If this is anything to go by (and we’re assuming it is), then we’re in for a very special treat. While the core of this track is smooth, understated electronica, it’s the embellishments and added layers that take it to another level. Warbled vocal samples and big, choppy synths pepper the soundscape, and later softened by a beautiful guitar melody.

The EP was named after Lanks’ favourite Melbourne laksa joint, co-produced by Andrei Eremin, and featuring collaborations with Tom Iansek, Airling and more.

Head to Lanks’ Facebook for upcoming tour dates and more.

Image: Moon Holiday – supplied

Another week, another mountain of amazing new music. While we try to cover as much as possible throughout the week, there’s always a few tracks that slip through the cracks – and that’s where your weekly Friday playlists come in. Here are the top ten tracks we may have missed earlier on this week for you to enjoy. You can check out all the other new music we’ve been loving over at our singles and playlists pages.

Lanks, Bitter Leaf
Melbourne artist Lanks has returned with a sensual new slice of slinky electronica. Dabbling in a more playful rhythm across all layers, the soulful sound, and really nicely arranged lyrics, draw influence from R&B and electro-soul. Also, I love the multi-layered vocal phrases that give off an acapella feel. This might be my favourite Lanks track to date.
Strict Face, Murderer (ft. K-Major)
This is a really cool new track out of Nina Las Vegas’ label NLV. The track has a really smooth feel to it overall, in spite of the heavy, glitchy beat. K-Major’s vocals are a perfect addition, adding a strange kind of delicacy to the melodic synths and understated rhythm. For a track called Murderer, it sure is dreamy.
Mild High Club, Homage
It goes without saying that pretty much anything to come from Stones Throw is alright in my book. With its laid back melodies and off-kilter keys, this feels like a really twisted take on a classic mid-60s pop tune. It feels like it’s being played at the wrong frequency on a record player, kind of melting the corners and warping the synths.
Stwo, Out At Night (ft. A Chal)
Stwo has been on my radar for a long time now, and it’s always great to hear new sounds. This track similarly mixes sensual, hip-hop and R&B-tinged male vocals with really excellent, understated production. The rhythm and percussion work in particular stand out to me on this one, a great contrast to the spritely instrumental layers.
GL, Hallucinate
The Melbourne synth-pop duo have returned this week with new track Hallucinate. I’m usually no fan of disco, but GL have always impressed me. The vocals have a real Little Dragon vibe to it, and that baby-makin’ bass is all kinds of right. I love that this track can have a retro feel to it, without the overly intentional nostalgia befallen to many of their contemporaries.
Emma Louise, West End Kids
Man, do I love Emma Louise. Every single track she’s released of late has made me want to cry and sing at the same time. I believe this song is about the west end in Brisbane, and while I can’t specifically relate to this, the atmosphere is universal and immediate. It rings of sentiment and nostalgia, of reminiscing on days past, for better or for worse. I’m aware that this is a strange comparison, but the verses and atmosphere really reminded me of the melody on Seekae’s Another.
Sannhet, Short Life
This week’s Adult Swim Single comes from Sannhet, who admittedly I somehow wasn’t aware of up til now, but man am I grateful for the discovery. Experimental, instrumental metal is certainly not for everyone, but it’s been a long time affair for myself. Like Deafheaven or Pelican, or even Red Sparowes to a lesser extent, the sweeping phrases and wide, provocative chords, coupled with frantic drums and ear-splitting toplines, bring you along for one wild, wild ride. This might be my favourite Adult Swim single of the season so far, and I’ve just discovered my new favourite post-metal band.
Josué, Jupiter
Moving on from there comes a gorgeous soul/R&B offering from Australian artist Josué. Taking cues from Thundercat as much as D’Angelo, this is a spacey, sensual piece, with honeyed melodies, an understated beat, late-night vibes and a lush atmosphere overall. if you happen to be reading this in Melbourne, catch the man in action at the Evelyn Hotel this Sunday 26th.

Image: Sannhet/Adult Swim

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

Melbourne multi-instrumentalist and producer LANKS is really hitting his stride lately. He’s released a slew of stellar singles over his time (check out his Soundcloud for proof), but his latest single, Golden Age, is the one that has people really talking. Mixing his meticulous production with his Thom Yorke-esque vocals, he takes a step away from his beautiful, delicate sounds to further venture into dance territory.

Now, he’s set to launch his new single with a string of shows around the country. Accompanied by Woodes, Billy Fox for Sydney and Yakini in Melbourne, these shows are going to be more like showcases of some of the best electronic music that Australia has to offer – with LANKS firmly at the helm not only on the bill, but in the industry as well.

Ahead of these dates, which you can check out below, we asked LANKS what three albums changed his life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OJMyl23GVI

Radiohead, Amnesiac
I was a 12 year old kid spending hours obsessing over the guitar, constructing my universe of how music worked and how it all fitted together, like the pieces of a jigsaw. Every time I hear a new sound it expanded that universe a little bit, and when I went away to Sydney for a week to stay at my uncle’s place, he had this album playing a lot that week. It completely flawed me. It started with the opening track, Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box. The beats had this intimate feeling, the sounds were other-worldly, and the vocals were this strained, indecipherable yearning. Track by track it took over as my new gospel, the perfect embodiment of attitude and rule-breaking, and uplifting moments cutting through the midst of melancholy darkness. Still my favourite album of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEJYzUoCOX8

MØ, No Mythologies To Follow

MØ might seem like a weird choice considering how fresh this album is, but I have always been big on the strength of simplicity. Whether it be a great pop album or Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, there were always strong, simple driving forces behind the works that captured me most. This album is my favourite pop record, full of interesting vocal phrasing and melodies and grinding beats, and in typical Scandinavian style it is full of great hooks. The production is fresh and full of life, and she has this punk kind of attitude where she pushes boundaries, and when I saw her live in Melbourne last July I realised how much of an impression this album had made on me. I knew every word, every hook, every drum fill and sang along to the entire gig. It was the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB5RfOwrmWQ

Bjork, Greatest Hits
Every laughs at people who listen to greatest hits records, but I don’t care. I bought it when I was 14 because I had heard she was cool and it seemed like a good place to start. It was! And it becomes an album for you anyway, I listened to it so much that when one of these songs finishes I am already singing the next track on the record.
Bjork is everything. Beautiful string orchestrations, intricate beats, human vocals that soar, screech, gurgle and do just about everything you can imagine and it always feels right. I have spent a fair bit of time looking closer at her lyrics and her skill at crafting stories and imagery has had a profound effect on me. She’s also just not afraid to take risks and redefine the boundaries that surround her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26sP2WsA5cY

LANKS tour dates:

Sat 2nd – Sun 3rd April
By The Meadow Festival – Bambra, VIC
Tickets available here

Thu 14th April
Friendzone @ Brightside – Brisbane
w/ Woodes
Tickets available here

Fri, 15th April
The Treehouse – Belongil, NSW (All Ages)
FREE ENTRY

Sat, 16th April
Shebeen – Melbourne, VIC
w/ Woodes + Yakini
Tickets available here

Wed, 27 Apr
The Small Ballroom – Newcastle, NSW
FREE ENTRY

Thu 28th April
Moonshine – Manly, NSW
w/ Woodes
FREE ENTRY

Fri 29th April
Brighton Up Bar – Sydney, NSW
w/ Woodes + Billy Fox
Tickets available here

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.

It was tough to get this playlist down to ten tracks, as once again the music industry has delivered the goods. But, you have to be cutthroat about this – so these are ten of our favourites that have come into the world this week. Enjoy!

Marcus Whale, My Captain

One half of Collarbones/one third of Black Vanilla Marcus Whale has shared his second single this week, and has once again shown just how much musical prowess is surging through those veins of his. We first had a taste of his solo project with his debut release, If (demo) and then another glimpse with his remix of Lucianblomkamp‘s Comfort, and now we have a third look in My Captain. Showing off his impressive set of pipes more than ever before, his voice soars over a bed of uneasy and metallic sounds that show him taking lead from forefathers Seekae. It’s his most impressive release yet and has us aching for his upcoming album, Inland Sea.

Mat Zo, Soul Food (Club Mix)

Mat Zo is nominated for a Grammy for his album, Damage Control. Just going to put that out there. And when you listen to any of his songs, you know why. He has now returned with Soul Food (Club Mix), and what a track it is. Groovy as hell, he keeps it light whilst commanding you to carve up on the dancefloor with his modern house stylings. Zane Lowe himself described it as an “absolute banger”, and that basically hits the nail right on the head. Just TRY not to dance when this comes on, it’s impossible.

LANKS, Golden Age

Melbournian LANKS makes some really, really beautiful music, so whenever he releases any new material, we get really excited indeed. He has returned after a banner year last year that saw him reach the top of the Hype Machine charts with his Just A Gent collab and accrue a few casual hundred thousands listens to his Banquet EP, and his new track has him sounding better than ever. It’s a little different to what we’re used to from LANKS, but we don’t mind it at all. It’s groovy, upbeat and captivating, and has us really keen to hear what else he’s been working on.

Nadia Nair, Something Something Something

Swedish newcomer Nadia Nair has released Something Something Something this week, and it wins the prize of best track not only of the week but quite possibly the month. Maybe even the year. Gentle, intimate and so special, Something Something Something is as powerful as it is delicate. A soft and warm synth line provides the quiet backdrop for Nair’s incredible vocals, and the simplistic composition makes for a very commanding and spellbinding song indeed. She’s already got a bit of a buzz about her, but things are surely set to take off soon if she is putting out songs like this!

Ben Abraham, Hyperballad with Tim Shiel

This is a cover of Bjork‘s track, and whilst nothing can ever really come close to the original, this rework is a beautiful rendition. Ben Abraham actually loved the track so much he released two covers, but this one with double J host Tim Shiel is stunning. It’s soft and gentle like morning dew, and creates powerful imagery thanks to the gentle, serene vocals. It really is a beautiful job, albeit an intimidating one, and one that has us seriously impressed with Abraham. You can here the other one with Luke Howard here.

Vallis Alps, Young (Feki Remix)

Our favourite Brisbane producer has once again knocked this one out of the park. Jumping on remix duties for Vallis Alps’ Young, he has turned the track into a dreamy number that once again shows off just how promising this young gun is. He had teased this a little while ago, and now we can confirm the wait was well and truly worth it. Dark and brooding, but with his signature twinkling flourishes, Feki really makes this track his own. We can’t say it enough, this guy is the real deal!

Le Villejuif Underground, On The Seine

Anyone that sounds this much like Lou Reed already scores pretty high in my books. Add to that how great this song is and you’ve found yourself a winner! This is frontman Nathan Roche’s reincarnated band, and he is back sounding better than ever. Teaming up with local legend label Rice Is Nice, there are definitely big things in the works for these guys, and judging from this track – they’re going to be sounding really nice too!

Motez, Down Like This (Ft. Tkay Maidza)

Two of Adelaide’s hottest exports have teamed up for this absolute banger. With Motez on the beats and Tkay on the mic, Down Like This is an instant classic. Heralding Motez’s long awaited return to the game after his amazing Vancouver EP last year, he’s employed Tkay (who is currently riding a wave of hugely deserved hype herself) to bring an extra element to his bassy house music. With a dirty bass line, a hook that embeds itself in your brain for days on end and ‘Tez’s penchant for perfectly crafted dance tracks, this is a total winner!

Carmouflage Rose, Dreams (Prod. Drumm & James Angus)

This is the first single ever from Brisbane rapper Carmouflage Rose, and what a track it is. Huge bass, hard hitting drums, lyrics that will get you pumped up to take on the world and a flow that shows he is set for big things, Dreams is a total banger. He’s been kicking around his hometown for a while now so it’s good to see him with an official release. Let’s just hope there is a lot more where this came from!

Major Leagues, Better Off

Brisbane darlings Major Leagues have released their first single of the year in the form of Better Off. The track comes alongside the announcement that a new EP is slated for release come April, and that they’ve been working with members of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Bored Nothing for the record. If that isn’t impressive enough on it’s own, the track definitely is. Sticking to their indie-pop guns, Better Off is hopefully the sign of big things to come!

This week’s playlist is a big mix indeed. We’ve got some good ol’ fashioned rock’n’roll to start off with from the guys in Them Bruins, before getting a bit electronic and off-centre with Jack Grace, Yeo and delicately beautiful with Lanks. We’ve also got a fantastic Martin King remix of Oscar Key Sung, spitfire rhymes courtesy of Little Simz, a straight up jam from Tuxedo and some future R&B sounds from Donatachi and Blair De Milo. We’ve also got a special treat to wrap things up with, from UK artist Obenewa. Hold onto your hats!

Them Bruins – Heading For The Harrows

How about some hard hitting and breakneck rock to get things started? Fresh off an East Coast tour and residency at Melbourne’s Cherry Bar, Them Bruins are back with an absolute ripper in Heading For The Harrows. The falsetto alone is enough for me, not to mention the hard hitting drums, the roaring guitar and the raucous vibe! This would be a frenzy live!

Jack Grace – Hills

This is an interesting one. Sydney songwriter/producer Jack Grace works his magic on Hills, an eclectic mix of downtempo pop, eclectic and unusual production and a vocal hook that got stuck in my head from the first listen. Although I’m not crazy and the random “bouncing laser” samples (that’s what I’m calling it anyway), as I find it takes away from a rather deep and pensive track, it’s still deep and pensive enough to count.

Yeo – Quiet Achiever

Melbournian Yeo may have called his new song Quiet Achiever, but the track makes his return seem anything but. Well and truly back with a bang, Yeo really ups the ante with this latest release, showing he really is a force to be reckoned with. It starts off as what you think would be an R&B jam, before the tropical steel drums come into play and the trap breakdown hits. Catching you by surprise more than a few times, this is a really, really great song. Welcome back, Yeo!

Lanks – Aurelia

Lanks is just about to hit the road on a national tour AND drop a new EP, but he’s squeezed one more single in before doing so – and boy, are we glad he did. Aurelia is taken from his Banquet EP, and is without a doubt the most beautiful track I’ve heard from this artist in the admittedly short time I’ve known of him (there has been extensive listening though). Delicate, intimate and totally sublime, Lanks’ falsetto soars over thick, droning synth chords and crisp, piercing drum beats before things swirl into something that seriously stunning. I love this song.

Oscar Key Sung – Brush (Martin King Remix)

Nu-soul extraordinaire Oscar Key Sung released a bunch of remixes from his recently released Altruism EP, but the stand out for us is Martin King’s take on his track Brush. The duo are hardly strangers, and are the two members of other pop project Oscar + Martin, so it stands to reason that King jumping on this track is a match made in heaven. The rework moves Oscar’s vocals away from his comfort zone and into a higher range, complemented by jungle styled drum work and serious good vibes, but it’s the breakdown that really sets this one apart.

Little Simz – Lane Switch

Little Simz builds on her reputation as having one of the quickest tongues in the game with this latest track. Fiery and pretty damn bad ass, Simz spits back some pretty devastating rhymes over the huge beats laid down by UK producer RASCAL. She said of the track “Lane Switch again is an update on where I am in my life right now and what space I’m in, I’ve been on the road for the longest time and want to update my listeners on how I finding everything,” before citing giving new music to her supporters as her main way of staying creative, as well as “growing and evolving”. Little Simz is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Tuxedo – Without Your Love

Tuxedo are one of my favourite duos of recent times. Jake One and Mayer Hawthorne continue to deliver the goods with their collaborative, jazz-meets-soul-meets-funk-meets-whatever the hell else they can add to their sound, with each track continually outdoing it’s predecessors. Without Your Love was actually a Japan-only release on their debut album which dropped in March, but the guys decided to let the rest of the world in on it as well – and thank God they did! Try get this one out of your head!

Tiger Choir – All Time

Hobart band Tiger Choir delivered one of the happiest tracks of the year a few months ago with their lead single Shani, and now the boys are back with All Time. Mixed by b (who has worked with I’lls and Klo) and mastered by Andrei Eremin (who has an almighty list of collaborations like Chet Faker, Oscar Key Sung and Hiatus Kaiyote), the band are onto something really, really good here! This track has us more than excited for their forthcoming LP.

Donatachi – Neo Ft. Blair De MIlo

Sydney producer Donatachi previously worked under the name Loudun, but has changed his name and his sound with this new project. The future R&B infusion that is Neo is a total dream, only bettered by the presence of Blair De Milo on vocal duties. The smoky, chilled out but emotive and groovy collaboration is one of my favourite recent discoveries, and has put both artists firmly on my radar.

Obenewa – Solid Gold

Saving the best for last, we here at H&E were stunned at this latest song from Obenewa. Taking influence from Mary J Blige or even Whitney Houston, this song is so stunningly lush, gentle but still quite powerful it took a few listens to really grasp the magic going on here with Solid Gold. Flawless.

LANKS – Settle Down

I’ve seen a lot of music videos that are ‘funny’, in the sense that you understand the humour but really you’re just sitting there watching in silence. This one isn’t that. Melbourne pop artists LANKS has released the visual accompaniment to his latest single Settle Down two days ago, and it is fucking funny.

The clip, which was filmed in two takes in the artist’s own dining room, features LANKS being fed breakfast by a pair of unrelated hands. The fact that he’s trying so hard to keep a stony expression gives it this wonderful sense of indifference and seriousness. On top of that the song is beautiful, featuring stunning vocal harmonies and simple, catchy instrumental layers.

Angus and Julia Stone – From the Stalls

Angus and Julia Stone have released some excellent video clips in their time, but this film for their latest single From the Stalls has something really special about it.

The pair spent five days and nights being filmed in South Australia, catching the stunning natural landscape at sunrise and sunset. The film has a beautiful duality to it, alternating back and forth between light and dark, land and sea. The artists talked about wanting to capture the untamed wild both in the forest and the ocean at different times of day.

The pair have a lot coming up in the next few months, their worldwide tour is in action and they are set to play at Lollapalooza as well as the Governor’s Ball this summer.

Hanni El Khatib – Melt Me

Melt Me is the third offering from Hanni El Khatib’s latest album Moonlight, and he has released a lovely music video to go with it. The clip is filmed entirely on the artist’s iPhone, but he was heavily influenced by French film director Simon Cahn, making sure that the final product was far from amateur.

Melt Me simply depicts the artist in a gaming room, surrounded by kids and adults playing various electronic games. The film is quite artfully composed, and it’s refreshing to have an unprofessional music video that isn’t recorded with some kind of retro camera or nostalgic aesthetic. The film isn’t trying to be quaint or sentimental, it is just depicting our generation using a device that we rely more than any other.

Hedge Fund – Look Who’s Back

Yesterday indie-rock band Hedge Fund premiered an awesome music video for their single Look Who’s Back. The clip features a man running on a treadmill, naked but for a pair of skin-coloured tighty-whities. It’s a mixture of funny and also very very disturbing.

The figure has white stripes down his back and a white-painted face, giving off a kind of creepy Joker vibe. We can see the strain on his face as he runs for dear life, fat jiggling around like nobody’s business. Look Who’s Back has a dark, tense energy, and the film captures that perfectly.

Montaigne – A Cinematic Plea for an End

Montaigne’s latest video clip forA Cinematic Plea for an End was recorded live at her sold-out headline tour at Brighton up Bar. The film, which was produced by Masses Collective (Hungry Kids of Hungary, Ballpark Music) captures a moment of raw, intense emotion.

Montaigne begins the song with an incredibly beautiful vocal, accompanied by a simple, paired-back soundtrack. The song builds in pace and complexity, becoming faster and more dynamic as it goes on. It really takes off at around 3 minutes in. Montaigne is on fire at the moment, having recently played at Groovin the Moo in Canberra as well as having supported Megan Washington and San Cisco. She’s definitely an artist to watch out for.