After 23 glorious years, Falls Festival continues to provide us with the most unforgettable moments across the New Year festivus. The 2016-17 lineup saw some major international names, as well as our best local acts rounding up another year in style. In Byron Bay, it was a balmy 33 degrees across the three day event and climaxed with a torrential downpour for the very last performances on day three.
Straight into day two, multi-instrumentalist Hein Cooper opened the amphitheatre to a nice swell of punters, braving the extreme heat just after midday. Meanwhile, Sydney locals Middle Kids ambled their way across the Forest Stage with a stellar set, followed up by Norwegian act Lemaitre. Ultra-talented crowd favourite Matt Corby delivered an as-per-usual spine-tingling performance, with POND and Violent Soho going on to take the Valley Stage later in the night. Finally, The Avalanches and The Rubens clashed to close out another massive day of amazing music.
In this gallery you will find Hein Cooper, City Calm Down, The Jezabels, Middle Kids, Lemaitre, Matt Corby, POND, Ta-ku, Violent Soho and The Avalanches.
PHOTOS: Falls Festival Day I
PHOTOS: Falls Festival Day IIIHein Cooper
City Calm Down
The Jezabels
Middle Kids
Lemaitre
Matt Corby
POND
Ta-ku
Violent Soho
The Avalanches
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
When Matt Corby was forced to cancel his appearance at the Enmore Theatre back in April due to ill health, the sound of hearts shattering around the city of Sydney was deafening. His long-awaited and incredibly dense debut album Telluric had captivated audiences around the country with its unique funk flavor, and if reports were to be believed, he was in the form of his life onstage. Such was the expectation which hung in the air in Sydney on Wednesday night, with fans lining up and down Enmore Road and into back alleyways, hoping desperately that the teen heart-throb turned genuine musical superstar would appear and woo their collective hearts.
Before this was possible however, 19-year-old newcomer Kita Alexander attempted to win over a new batch of fans from the sizeable throng already assembled. Given a surprisingly engaged and interested audience to work with, Alexander floated through a set of blissed-out indie rock, backed by an incredibly tight yet discreet backing band. The definition of “chill”, Alexander appeared completely at home on the stage, smiling to herself and moving through the set at steady pace. Concluding her set with the beachy Like You Want To, Alexander brought a calm and positive atmosphere to the room, successfully breaking the ice and preparing the audience for what was to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MweO0cr8YLg
With the theatre full to the brim, the house lights dimmed and a relaxed looking Matt Corby, supported by a five piece band, strolled onto the stage. With Matt offering the audience a casual “Hello”, the group slid straight into Belly Side Up, casting a spell over the entire venue in the process. With an acute awareness of groove and musical texture, Matt and co. captivated the audience with the sheer smoothness of the performance. Transitioning seamlessly into Knife Edge, and again into Did You No Harm, one felt as though they had descended into a musical dream world, with the soft lighting, crisp sound and fat kick-drum/bass guitar combo transporting the listener in another universe.
Taking a break from the new record, Matt dropped 2014’s hit single Resolution early on, snapping the audience awake and inspiring the first sing along of the night. What this reaction revealed was that unlike earlier music, the newer material of Telluric wasn’t designed for easy listening. It was meant for slow digestion, to be watched, thought over and analysed. This was exemplified by the performance of Wrong Man immediately after Resolution, with the audience not falling back into a bored daze, but rather understanding that to enjoy the experience, they needed to take a back seat and let the sounds surround them. Sooth Lady Wine further emphasised this juxtaposition between new and old, with the psychedelic grooves of the song turning the Enmore into a beach shack, albeit one which was inhabited by world-class musicians and a transfixed group of punters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAv32X1h-Y4
Throughout the night Matt’s vocal performance was nothing short of spectacular. Exercising incredible control, Matt nailed the melodies of Monday and Oh oh oh to a T, exploring the limits of his vocal range with spontaneity. What struck me however was that at times, things appeared a little too easy for both Matt and the band. The transitions were perfect, the music even more so, but what the performance lacked was the energy and passion of a performer giving their all. With hands in pockets for a majority of the show, Matt shrugged off the adoration and barely cracked a smile, choosing instead to close his eyes and allowing the show to take its natural course.
This was most evident by the mechanical way in which the band went about the process of encores, walking offstage and literally performing a u-turn to come back and close the show. But stage antics, banter and constant “thank you’s!” are not what the audience wanted to see. Fans of Corby wanted to hear his music performed faithfully to the recording, and by god did he do it justice. Ending the night with the one-two combo of Why Dream and Empires of Attraction, Corby provided the Enmore with a musical masterclass, showing just how high the bar is for performers wanting to move beyond the constraints of reality TV.
Leaving the theatre felt like awakening from a dream. Had that dream been mechanically constructed and rehearsed? Yes. Was there anything special about the experiences shared by the audience that wouldn’t be systematically repeated for countless others around the globe? Probably not. But was it an experience that one could forget easily? Not in a million years.
Matt Corby will be appearing at Splendour In The Grass in July. Find details here.
IMAGE: Music Feeds
Telluric. Adjective. Of the earth as a planet.
You can already tell from the title; this album is going to get deep. I can tell you after listening to it – that’s an understatement.
I’d been a fan of Matt Corby since his Australian Idol days. I was twelve years old and overcome by the cute sixteen-year-old boy with a guitar strapped to his chest and a gorgeous voice. It’s been almost ten years since he left our television screens. Now, the fresh-faced teenage heartthrob has grown into a strong scruffy man with a point to prove.
The stigma of the television talent show dies here; Matt Corby truly is a talented soul.
Belly Side Up opens the album slowly, escalating our anticipation. He greets us with an interesting sound. The percussion is strong, beating alongside his beautiful voice that hasn’t lost its golden touch. The collection of sounds creates an eerie feeling that creeps into the listener’s ear, showing off the incredible production of the album nice and early.
We’re still unsure of what we’re in for when Monday rolls around. Aside from Corby’s voice, the main star of his music seems to be his percussion, with strong rhythms driving each track. The clicking sound and the choir of voices in harmony lead us into the surprisingly gospel-like melody. Corby sings over the angelic choir that provide the base for this standout single.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnA-Vs5ATU
The tone of Wrong Man stood out to me as interesting. Following the upbeat Knife’s Edge and Oh Oh Oh, it had a strangely dark sound, starting off simple and slow, with the backing track growing in weight as the chorus kicks in. His voice takes on a low pitch that almost threatening, eventually softening, showing off his vocal range.
Sooth Lady Wine changes the game once again with a retro sound, rich in guitars and light percussion. It let off some smooth, cool vibes that can be difficult to pull off. It’s probably the type of song you’d hear in your head if you saw someone you hadn’t seen for years who seemed to have blossomed over time. It seems quite fitting to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAv32X1h-Y4
Although I tried to focus on the words to investigate his song writing skills, I was unable to throughout most of the tracks on the first listen due to all the other stuff going on in the background. Each song contains so many layers that the listener can easily get lost in the beautiful music that has obviously had so much attention. You can understand why it took him such a long time to produce the album.
Finally Good To Be Alone, backed with just a slow and simple guitar melody, allowed me to just listen to the story he was singing. The message was comforting and relatable. His beautiful voice reassures repeatedly the listener that “it’s gonna be better”, providing lounge room therapy for any situation.
The album ends all too soon with Empires Attraction. It is a dramatic close, especially if you make the connection to his regret of being on Australian Idol.
“I have always felt like an outcast, never been in any music scene. I made another f … ing mistake and went on Idol and completely jeopardised myself from actually being in a music community,” he told News Corp before the album’s release.
It seems to be about his struggles to be taken seriously as a musician post-Idol. “No one’s gonna save us // superman can’t save us // Hollywood create us // They’re the ones who take us.”
It sounds hopeless and lonely. It’s as if everything has been taken from him, leaving a broken man behind. Suddenly, we have a glimmer of hope. He reminds us that even in the darkest times, we can still be our own hero. “We must be courageous // we are gonna save us.”
Corby’s voice has grown in maturity as he has. It’s sharp and smooth, while raw and folkish. No pop star dribble at all. In fact, he makes it difficult for anyone to box him up into a specific genre, which is something every artist strives to do. He just makes music; plain and simple.
So was it worth the wait? I’d say so.
Listen to these track live at Matt’s tour of the country. Find the nearest show to you and check him out.
Tues 12 April – Enmore Theatre, Sydney – SOLD OUT
Wed 13 April – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Wed 20 April – QPAC Theatre, Brisbane
Thurs 28 April – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Sun 1 May – Palais Theatre, Melbourne – SOLD OUT
Mon 2 May – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Thur 5 May – Riverside Theatre, Perth
Telluric is available now via Universal Music Australia.
Image: Tone Deaf
This is one of the most gorgeous down tempo tracks I’ve heard in a while.
#5 is the latest single from Perth-based singer RW Grace (formerly known as just Grace). It features none other than the angel-voiced Matt Corby, whom Grace is currently supporting on his Australian tour. The single follows on from recent release All The Friends I’ve Lost, an equally intriguing, yet completely different track from the increasingly diverse performer.
#5 is beautiful. Grace’s previous tracks have been more on the experimental electronic side of things – this is a side to her music that we haven’t seen yet. It’s intimate, emotional, and sonically beautiful, with each note, each accentuation, each waver a deliberate move.
Usually when a track features another artist, they receive their own verse. Not so on #5. Here, Corby and Grace walk down the traditional duet road, and the result is a lush, dynamic marriage of tone colour and harmony.
Last week, #5 was released alongside RW Grace’s new EP Love It Need It Miss it Want It – purchase it here.
Read this next: RW Grace shares three albums that changed her life
Want even more? Check out our photos of Matt Corby live in Sydney with Stolen Violin.
Originally published on Indie Shuffle.
Stolen Violin
Matt Corby
Is it Friday already? Who knew that seven days was enough time to release so many goddamn good videos. This week we present our homegrown edition, with a killer line up from a whole lot of stellar Aussie acts. We didn’t need to look any further than our own back yard to get your afternoon started off right. Happy weekend!
Holy Holy – A Heroine
It’s no secret we are big fans of Holy Holy. We have eagerly followed the release of their debut album When the Storms Would Come, and have caught them live at every opportunity. The latest clip to track A Heroine is a stripped back, highly polished recording of the song being performed at Howler in Melbourne and gives a taste of just what these guys sound like in the flesh. When we caught up with vocalist Tim Carroll, he told us how the song was inspired by Melvin Bragg’s In Our Time podcast. “I was just riding my bike around once and he was doing one on ancient China and I was really struck by these repeated tragedies and the rise of emperors, and the collapse of empires, and love and loss and all these different things that repeat themselves again and again up until now.” To watch Carroll belt out those notes with all the pain of all of history inside of him is transcendent. You just gotta do it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0mYWwfRk_M]
Feels – Jungle
New kids on the Aussie hip hop block, Feels, are landing with a bang with their debut single Jungle – out this week. It’s a downbeat number featuring minimalist electronics and flowing lyrics that evoke all the, well, feels. Vocalist Dane Kennedy unleashes softly sung verses, complimented by Ryan Jordan raps lamenting the loss of someone close. The moody clip splices together black and white imagery tracing the journey through an emergency room as the pair plead for “one more day.” It’s pretty heavy, but it’s touching and a strong taste of what is to come on debut EP due out in 2016.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGK98EcoVlM]
Matt Corby – Monday
Just wow. Who knew that sweet sweet voice of Matt Corby could get any better. Put him in a cabin in the woods, set him up with a microphone, and record in one take and the results are a little mesmerising. The clip for track Monday was shot in the same cottage in Berry, NSW where the song was recorded. With peeling paint, mismatched furniture, and just the right amount of light, it looks like the perfect setting for contemplative moments and creative grandeur. The track is taken from his forthcoming debut album due out early next year, and we are now more than a little excited to see what it holds.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnA-Vs5ATU]
Crayon Fields – Love Won’t Save You
The latest clip from Melbourne four-piece Crayon Fields for track Love Won’t Save You might make you feel like busting out those disposable 3D glasses that you “accidentally” stole from the cinema. Set against a white backdrop, lead singer Geoffrey O’Connor is silhouetted in neon auras that warp and fade with the lilting pop melody. The clip centres on inanimate objects like a vase and a bunch of bananas in a celebration of still life that bears tribute to the ordinary and the constant, as the title line is repeated over and over and we are reminded of the chaos of love. These guys are about to embark on a couple of shows in Sydney and Melbourne, so be sure to check out the details here.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sgmQKIuK1w]
GL – Number One
Sultry synth-poppers GL translate their bright and romantic sound perfectly with their latest clip. Symmetry ties together scenes of non-sequiturs that thread together to create a surreal story that turns making pancakes and eating a peach into a visceral experience. The duo really summed it up best themselves in a recent interview:
“We wanted to make something that had a slightly surreal narrative. Colour and movement are very much a part of the story. Many great moments were captured by chance, like when brothers Rhys and Louis were chasing the family chicken on the tennis court and Annelise decided to film it because the chicken matched their hair colour. I felt like we were in some sort of Edward Scissorhands suburbia. The song is kind of about idolising perfection, the video is like a visual dream sequence interpretation of that.”
Take a walk to that strange world below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucbK0iyA3Vs]
Ali the Great – Trophy
If you are familiar with Brisbane hip hop legends The Astro Travellers, then you are no stranger to the sharp rhymes of one of their lead emcees Ali the Great. This week Ali has dropped the clip for his lively track Trophy, and it plays out like a moving postcard of his hometown. Making it’s way through the streets of Brisbane there are familiar landscapes washed out in vintage hues, and we are introduced to a range of eclectic characters. Ali appears in a gangster suit rapping under the Storey Bridge, and layers verse upon verse of sharp lines. We look forward to checking him out when he supports Oddisee on the 26th of November at Brisbane’s The Wooly Mammoth.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3nuqfp14_g]
This week saw the release of the first new material from Matt Corby in nearly two years. Along with new track, Monday, also came the announcement of a national tour in Australia this November. Corby may have been holed up in a backwater bunker getting his head together, but it seems that he has now emerged to take on the next stage in his career.
“I needed to spend that time learning how to practically play, on each instrument, what I would regularly hear in my head. Enough time has now passed now for me to clear my head of everything that I’ve done before, reboot and have the balls to do it again.”
That’s a pretty honest confession from a musician, and a refreshing one at that. If Monday is anything to go by, then Corby is back in the game with not so much a reinvention, but a considered next move. Instantly recognisable with those melting vocals, his honey-toned voice takes on a soulful vibe, effortlessly skirting through octaves. Fleshed out with gospel-style vocals and hand claps, there is a new sparsity to his sound that feels like a slight nod to contemporary electronica, and producers like James Blake.
Shaking off the weary label of “singer-songwriter”, Monday is a stunning return from Matt Corby, and is also the first offering from Corby’s long awaited debut album (due for release on Mercury Records in early 2016). Have a listen to the track below.
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Matt Corby National Tour Dates:
2nd November: The Tivoli, Brisbane
4th November: HQ, Adelaide
6th November: Metropolis, Fremantle
9th November: Forum Theatre, Melbourne
16th November: Metro Theatre, Sydney