Major Leagues have been making major waves over the past year or so, but those are going to look like mere ripples compared to what is sure to come their way after the release of their latest EP, Dream States.
The indie pop four piece makes some of the sweetest tunes to come out of their hometown of Brisbane, and they’re quickly becoming one of our favourite homegrown bands thanks to their slew of killer singles. Catchy, mature and refined but still with a DIY feel, the band make quaint indie tunes with a bite. Having just wrapped up a national tour supporting Canadian band ALVVAYS, things are looking bigger and better than ever for Major Leagues, so we asked 1/4 of the band, Vlada, a little bit more about herself to get to know her by finding out which three albums have changed her life. Take a look for yourself below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfAODlkBva0
The Shins, Wincing the Night Away
I think this was the first album that made me realise what actually loving an album was about. This album made me realize that loving an album was more than just really liking the songs, because after I while I didn’t. I hated every song on this album because I listened to them so much I wanted to tear off my own face.
I lived about an hour train ride away from where I went to Uni and I associate this album with that everyday train ride. I guess it’s probably the nostalgia talking but it makes me sad when I hear it now, but in a really nice way. The kind of sad that you want to sit in for a while and you feel okay lulling in for a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vm8uWFgBRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHTSxw6zN1E
The Cranberries, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
Ahhhhh, the old ‘first big break up album’. That’s what this one was for me. It was the only thing from the break up that I had the balls to keep and in turn made me feel pretty badass. It survived the end of a relationship stuff cull and for that I think its pretty worthy. Also Dolores has a damn killer voice that when you sing along you feel tough as shit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yam5uK6e-bQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Kspj3OO0s
Solange, True
Okay I know I cheated a little by choosing an EP but damn the goodness in this is well worth a mention. Plus it has so much substance if it was an album you would just roll over die because it would be TOO GOOD. I didn’t even know that songs like this could exist. The beats are killer, the lyrics are badass and she is so fierce I can’t even. You know when you find something, or a type of something (music, film, art whatever) that you didn’t even know existed but you never realised how much you would dig it and then it just makes your whole entire life better? That’s what this EP did for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEfLenUZ81o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy9W_mrY_Vk
Dream States is out Friday April 8th via Pop Frenzy/Caroline.
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!
If you’re bummed it’s only Tuesday right now, get your chin up and your eyeballs stimulated with a mid-week video roundup of some of the slickest new clips going. On the menu today:
Major Leagues – Someone Sometime
Brisbane-based four-piece Major Leagues deal in a sound stuffed full of melody. Their laid back new single Someone Sometime is accompanied by a video reminiscent of recent space epics Interstellar and the upcoming The Martian. The clip finds an outrageously attractive young lady waking up on some distant planet. She has no spacesuit or any supplies to ensure her survival beyond about a week, but she does somehow have a Walkman and a cassette copy of Someone Sometime
Instead of curling up into the foetal position and crying at these circumstances, she instead dances around this strange new world to the sounds of Major Leagues rather excellent new single, promptly being teleported back to Earth and suddenly finding herself in the middle of Fortitude Valley of all places (a set of circumstances I’m all too familiar with) just in time for a Major Leagues gig.
I bloody love it.
Darkstar – Pin Secure
West Yorkshire electro pop duo Darkstar bring us an insight into working class mundanity with their video for Pin Secure, the lead single of their album Foam Island. Although I’d hardly call your working circumstances mundane when your boss has the body of a man and the head of a koala, I’d say that would make for some pretty good workplace hijinks.
The video is full of jabs at the xenophobic far-right agenda, inspired by the recent UK elections. The song is quirky and atmospheric with lyrics fuelled by disillusionment and frustration, making the accompanying video pretty darn perfect.
Deaf Wish – On
This one is two and a half minutes of non-stop intensity. Every colour of the rainbow shoved directly into your eyeballs, melted faces, visuals that harken back to 2001: A Space Odyssey (only with less murderous robots). Wouldn’t recommend on a hangover but it’s pretty flippin’ fantastic otherwise.
It’s the first official video from the album Pain, just released by Melbourne-based rockers Deaf Wish. They’ve been snapped up by Sub Pop in the United States so look for their star to be on the rise.
Girl Band – Paul
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the costume of a children’s entertainer (a living fucking nightmare I’ve always assumed) then you and Dubliners, Girl Band, share something in common.
Paul is harsh, violent post-rock and its video, exploring the miserable life of the man who spends his working hours hating himself inside a pig costume evidently stitched together somewhere between the fifth and sixth circles of Hell, is striking and creepy as shit.
Their debut album Holding Hands With Jamie is out September 25th.
Miami Horror – Cellophane (So Cruel)
Miami Horror remind me of a simpler time. Where Don Johnson was television’s biggest star and wearing suits without socks and popping your collar were considered the height of fashion. Cellophane (So Cruel) is a beautiful little slice of 80s-inspired synth pop, and the video couldn’t have creeped me out more.
Why everybody in this fictional universe has one limb the size of an anaconda is a mystery to me, but it’s as horrifying as it is enthralling. The chain-like progression of social interactions separated by these nightmare limbs is a fascinating watch.
The video marks the kickoff of the band’s Australian tour for their wildly acclaimed sophomore album All Possible Futures.
Last Dinosaurs – Apollo
Take the video for Weapon Of Choice by Fatboy Slim, replace the lavish mansion with an after hours Brisbane shopping centre and tag Christopher Walken out for a security guard and you have the music video for Apollo, the latest single to drop from pop rock quartet Last Dinosaurs’ upcoming sophomore LP Wellness.
It’s a feel good clip that ties in nicely with the song’s lyrics about living a double life, dude’s dance moves are outrageous as well, I could watch this over and over again.
The Durries – Marlboro Gold
We here at Howl have made no secret of our love for Brisbane-based cig rock newcomers The Durries. They’ve quickly made a name for themselves with raucous live shows and garage rock odes to just about every brand of cigarette you could dream of.
This is their debut music video for their debut song, Marlboro Gold. A tongue in cheek take on the opening credits to The Brady Bunch, half the band are in drag, there’s a Gatorade bong in there somewhere as well as enough darts to stock your local 7-11. Brilliant stuff.
Statik Selektah – In The Wind Ft. Joey Bada$$, Big K.R.I.T and Chauncy Sherod
We were getting a little impatient in the lead up to the release of Statik Selektah‘s Lucky 7 album, but thankfully this week, that wait is now over. In The Wind is another track taken from that record, and like its predecessors, is another shining example of just how incredible Statik is. Blending so many elements and whipping them into a groovy, blissful, hip hop storm is no mean feat, but Statik goes about about it in such a way it looks almost easy.
Youngs. – Serasan Shakes
Slow but fast, gentle but powerful, Melbourne band Youngs. have dropped a doozy with Serasan Shakes. Hypnotic in the way it soars and crashes, it’s a promising release from a very promising band. The frenetic beats are reminiscent of acts like Seekae, but the vocals and melodies distance the band from too strong a comparison, and put them in a league of their own.
LIR – Chasing
Melbourne and Tel Aviv are pretty different I would imagine, but the best of both worlds have combined in the new duo, LIR. Chasing is their debut single and as far as debuts go, this one is very special. The layered vocals, the frenzied loops, the dulcet tones of Liron Tru and the fed up lyrics swirl together to create a glitchy, unpredictable but totally enthralling track that I just can’t get enough of.
HANA – Avalanche
Having received support from Lorde, Grimes and Lana Del Rey before releasing your second ever song is no mean feat, but when it comes to HANA, you can understand why. It also helps that Blood Diamonds is your boyfriend as well as your producer. The two clearly work superbly together, with this track really speaking for itself. Crisp but muffled drum beats, the intricate production and HANA’s feather soft voice – Avalanche is a total dream.
cln – Found
Cln is definitely an up and comer that deserves your attention – and with tracks like Found, he’s bound to get it. One of the better producers to pop up in this post-Flume world, Cln’s work is delicate, meticulous and considered, and it’s this thought and care that he takes with his tracks that make them what they are. I’ve got both my eyes on this guy!
The Ocean Party – Guess Work
In my opinion, The Ocean Party are one of the best bands in Australia right now, so any new music from them is pretty much guaranteed to be good. Guess Work marks their return to the scene after dropping one of the best albums of last year, Soft Focus. With lyrics that sing of “feelings of guilt and disenfranchisement of living in an age of globalization and drone warfare,” and such precise guitar leads, poignant keys and a drum beat that carries the track, Guess Work is one hell of a way to mark their return.
Major Leagues – Someone Sometime
Brisbane darlings Major Leagues are definitely not wasting any time accumulating a loyal fan base with their dreamy tunes, and rightly so. The serene vocal harmonies, the fuzzy guitars and hard hitting drums might seem like something you’ve heard before, but there is something special about this band that keeps them separate from the pack. They’re about to go on tour as well as performing at BIGSOUND later this year, and I insist you go along to see them in action!
Ta-Ku – Down For You Ft. Alina Baraz
It’s basically a given that any song that Ta-Ku releases will end up in many a “Best Songs” playlist, and this one is no exception. Down For You is taken from the prolific producer’s latest EP, Songs to Make Up To, and it makes us want to do more than that! The gorgeous vocals from Alina Baraz and Ta-Ku’s exceptional as always production make for another outstanding track.
Coda Conduct – Paint it Gold
Canberra/Sydney hip hop duo Coda Conduct have only just come onto my radar recently, and I am so glad they did. Sally and Erica can rap, and they can rap really good. Sally makes their beats too, and their EP released in March Butter Side Up is one of the better releases I’ve heard this year. Paint It Gold is so much fun, delivered with high energy, dynamic production and a spotlight on just how much these two ladies have going in. I am predicting very big things to come from these two!