Every year when triple j’s Hottest 100 rolls around, there’s an inevitable scurry to express surprise at “glaring omissions” of songs that might’ve seemed like safe bets for inclusion in the countdown. Obviously, since it’s user-voted, we only have ourselves to blame for this (sort of), but it’s always interesting to take a closer look at what made it, what didn’t, and why that might be the case. It’s a no-brainer that tracks that have been spruiked heavily by the j’s are infinitely more likely to be voted in that tracks that weren’t supported quite as much, but that’s not always the case. Here, we take a look at some tracks that were absolutely smashed out on full rotation (specifically, every track on this list received more than 140 plays during the year – for comparison the top 3: Never Be Like You had 134, Adore had 123 and Jungle had 146), but for whatever reason, didn’t quite make the cut.
Lonely Cities, Tigertown
Sydney alt-pop quartet Tigertown released this quasi-tropical belter quite early last year, but not so early that it wasn’t still in the running for the Hottest 100. With a huge, hands-in-the-air chorus like this, you’d think Lonely Cities would be a shoo-in – but even with a whopping 167 spins on triple j, somehow it didn’t show up in the illustrious countdown.
Tremble, Nicole Millar
Nicole Millar’s 2016 began full steam ahead when she released her Tremble EP to critical acclaim, and the title track permeated triple j’s airwaves an absolutely massive 164 times. The song’s sophisticated use of tension and deliriously satisfying release made it a favourite amongst many, but perhaps due to its early release date, it unfortunately didn’t pip the Hottest 100.
Glue, ADKOB
ADKOB aren’t exactly a household name (yet), which could account for their supremely quirked-out chugger of a single Glue not garnering enough votes to nab a spot. Unfair? Yes, especially considering it clocked 162 plays, but hey – Dune Rats didn’t ever make the countdown until last year, and they’ve been nationally recognised for years. Don’t give up, ADKOB! You got this.
Impact, The Creases
Brisbane’s The Creases released this climactic Britpop number in May 2016 and it was subsequently thrashed over 156 times on triple j, and was followed by a national tour and an incredibly fun video clip. Adding to that frontman Joe Agius’ recent win for QMAs Most Promising Male Songwriter, it really looked like this was going to be their year to make the countdown, but sadly they missed out.
Edge Of Town, Middle Kids
With 144 plays, this one was difficult not to take personally because it was this writer’s Fave Aussie Song Of The Year. That slide guitar sounding like a firework going off, those made-for-screaming-along-in-your-car vocals, the lyrics that walked the line between inscrutable and intrinsically relatable so perfectly… but, of course, Middle Kids are still very new on the scene even though their rise is nothing short of meteoric (they’re about to perform on Conan O’Brien FFS). Next year maybe??
Not My Friends, Tired Lion
The relentlessly excellent Tired Lion have been consistently everywhere for a while now, with so many festival slots under their belts it’d be difficult to count. For this single, spun 152 times, to make an appearance in the Hottest 100 would have made all the sense in the world. It was released in May though, so perhaps a touch too early to still be making listeners feel starry-eyed when voting opened.
Nihilist Party Anthem, Ball Park Music
Finally, an anthem we can all relate to. Obviously the j’s thought so too, cos they gave love to this track 147 times over. BPM have made the countdown plenty of times, so maybe it’s a case of listener fatigue, but that doesn’t really make much sense considering how hard they’ve worked to consistently develop their sound and release music that builds on what’s come before instead of repeating themselves. To compensate the band for their loss I propose we make this the new national anthem.
Smoke Signals, Olympia
Olympia f*cking owned 2016. It was her year. She sold out shows, released her debut album Self Talk, and along with it a bevy of intelligent, catchy singles. Self Talk has been shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, which has previously been won by national treasures like Courtney Barnett and Big Scary. So, yeah. She’s killed it. This song nabbed 142 plays. I’m salty about this. Can you tell?
All these songs had a huge amount of exposure on triple j, so it’s reasonable to assume that they all have a high level of listener recognition. So why didn’t they make it in?
Clearly, release timing plays a massive part here: for anything released too early in the year, it can be difficult for voters to still feel that initial connection that made them fall in love with the tune in the first place when the polls open. Another factor that might be at play here is looking at what else was released around the same time as these tracks that might have overshadowed them. The times each track was played is another element to consider: just because they’ve got 140+ spins under their belt doesn’t mean the majority of those plays were during primetime listener engagement. And, of course, there’s always the possibility that a tune just didn’t quite connect with its audience in the way triple j might have expected it to. Either way, it will be interesting to see which of these crops up in tomorrow’s 101-200 countdown, beginning 10am AEDST.
Photo: triple j / Facebook
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:
Tigertown – Lonely Cities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSg1hJZVoL4
Lonely Cities by Sydney’s Tigertown is a song you’ve no doubt heard being flogged all over the airwaves in recent times. It’s a heavenly slice of stomping electro pop, the chorus transporting you back around 2009 when bands like MGMT and Passion Pit were at their pinnacle.
The accompanying video for Lonely Cities is out today. Shot as a triptych of constantly changing situations, though dancing seems to be the order of the day. There are splashes of vibrant colour everywhere and it makes the video just as fun as the song itself.
You can find Lonely Cities on the EP of the same name, out now via Inertia.
Summer Flake – Tumbling Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmyrIR7tab8
Summer Flake are a trio out of Adelaide with a brand new single. Tumbling Down and its video landed this week, the latest from their album Hello Friends which was released earlier in the year. The song is some brooding and atmospheric folk, frontlady Steph Crase’s sweet but strong vocals and a gently strummed acoustic guitar the anchor.
The video was shot on the altar of a church in South Australia and comes complete with its own choir, which is just one of the many perks of shooting in a church I guess (sweet acoustics too!).
Hello Friends is out now via Rice Is Nice. You can catch Summer Flake live on their Hello Friends tour of Australia kicking off tonight in Hobart!
Tacocat – Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMHvSNtWjnw&feature=youtu.be
Winning the band name award for ‘Things The Internet Loves Mashed Together’ are Tacocat out of Seattle this week and their brand new single Talk. Coming from their latest record Lost Time, the song is a straightfoward chugging rocker with almost shades of The Misfits once it builds to that huge chorus.
Ultraviolet is the running theme in the accompanying video, hues of it splattered over nails, lips, guitars and clothes, gaudy neon lights blinking across the whole video. Glittery and glam visuals over a no-frills rock and roll song? I’ll take it any day of the week.
Lost Time is out now on Hardly Art via Inertia.
Lupa J – Numb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub03QBgTEkM
It’s strange to think Sydneysider Lupa J only just finished high school and has already made a name for herself this big. With an EP My Right Name on its way, Numb is a track from it that was written by Lupa J at the age of 15 (the age when most of us were content being general shitheads). It’s a shimmering and pulsating electro pop song, the kind that is just perfect for listening to in the warmth of your own home while there’s a winter drizzle outside.
Speaking of cold, the accompanying video will make you feel just a tad chilly, the video’s protagonist walking through some dreary city rain juxtaposed with shots of Lupa J dancing by the water and tangling herself up in fairy lights to very cool effect.
Having just wrapped up a tour supporting Sarah Blasko, the sky looks the limit for Lupa J and we’re looking forward to that EP immensely.
RJD2 – The Sheboygan Left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH3-sGvkfhk&feature=youtu.be
The only thing I know about Sheboygan was that John Candy’s polka band in Home Alone were (allegedly) a pretty big deal there. The Sheboygan Left, the new single and video from Philadelphia producer RJD2 and his latest album Dame Fortune, isn’t really doing much to update my knowledge of that Wisconsin city but it’s a cracker track nonetheless.
Positively smoking lounge jazzy actually, funk rhythms and a lone jangly guitar building to a big crescendo to play it out. It’s a melting pot of different genres and noises and it’s just so cheery. The video takes place on the New York underground, a pair of contemporary dancers getting around down there and being followed by a shimmering ball of light. Super cool stuff.
Dame Fortune is out now via RJ’s Electrical Connections.
Gypsy And The Cat – I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dayPYqPJgBc
Melbourne duo Gypsy And The Cat are back, and so is that giant-headed cat nightmare from their last music video for Inside Your Mind. I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else is the title of their latest banger, full of clicky percussion and scuttling synths behind some ethereal vocal harmonies. The chorus kicks in in a mammoth way.
The video is fantastic. The cat-headed creature dude continues to traipse around while the rest of Tokyo pretends his existence isn’t a horrifying affront to humanity. He enjoys activities such as the driving range (needs to work on that swing a whole lot) and a karaoke bar with Gypsy And The Cat themselves (have they given up their dogged pursuit of him from only a video ago already?).
More questions than answers here but a great tune and a great video anyway. Gypsy And The Cat’s third LP Virtual Noise is due out in August of this year.
LISHI – Monster Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeuDehnHabY
Mystery shrouds this latest single, the debut effort Monster Kids from a brand new project by the name of LISHI. An atmospheric dream pop experience that almost seems to float in zero-gravity, buoyed by beautifully ghostly vocals that evoke gently falling rain.
The video is a stunner too, directed by visual artist Vasilisa Forbes, featuring its magenta-haired protagonist gliding through gloomy urban surrounds and a mysterious figure in the background, wearing what looks like the sparkliest ninja mask ever forged. It’s an incredibly auspicious debut.
Looking forward to whatever else LISHI has in the works if it’s going to be consistently this good.
Beach Baby – Lost Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8syfP6R7Bio
One of my favourite rock acts going wraps up this week’s roundup in Beach Baby and their brand new single Lost Soul. While not as supercharged as the song you probably know them for in Limousine, Lost Soul is still just as good, jangly guitars and the smoky croon of frontman Ollie leading a song just silly with clever pop hooks.
The lo-fi video finds Beach Baby doing what they appear to do best and jamming out on a glittery gold community hall stage, the lighting somehow shadowy and bright at the same time. With a debut record in the making having signed to Island recently, we’re eagerly awaiting what Beach Baby have in store for 2016.
Fresh off the back from two months in the U.S supporting St Lucia, and nailing their SXSW debut, Sydney natives Tigertown were always going to bring their A-game for the opening show of their Australian tour.
Contrary to the feelings suggested by the title of their new EP titled Lonely Cities, the Newtown Social club was filled with a warm and friendly buzz as punters eagerly awaited the arrival of triple J’s newest favourites.
Onstage, it was almost startling to see how much the band has changed in the past three years. Gone are the acoustic guitars, beads, headbands, skinny jeans and oversized cardigans that characterised them in their early days. Travelling in the synth-pop direction with their new material, they have opted for trendier haircuts, glittery pants and keyboards and synthesisers. The band themselves have downsized to, going from a full family six piece to a four piece with the addition of a live drummer. However, Tigertown displayed their skills as both musicians and creators with not just how they have embraced the change visually, but sonically with their sound.
Opening with Make It Real in a flurry of poppy hooks and rhythms, the band quickly made their presence felt with their new-found energetic stage show, carried by husband and wife duo Chris and Charlie Collins. Charlie gave a particularly commanding performance, encouraging the audience to dance and allowing herself to become engrossed by the synthy melodies. Dropping Bullet From The Gun early proved to be a master-stroke, with the familiar hooks and steady grooves allowing the audience to enjoy the familiar material, before a string of new cuts showcased their future direction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9e2gW1y1nE
What Tigertown have not lost with their old sound is their skill at creating texture with their beautiful harmonies. The rhythmical Always from the band’s latest EP showcased this, with the vocals of the chorus powerfully swelling around the wall of sound produced by the instruments onstage. However, if any fans in the room had come for nostalgia, that was the most they were going to get. The band ignored their back catalogue entirely, committing to the change of direction by playing the entire EP with conviction and enthusiasm.
Lonely Cities itself was always going to be the highlight of the night. From the hooky vocals to the guitar leads, it was a winner from day one, and it made sense for the band to hold it off until the end of the set, much to the to delight of the crowd. It truly delivered, with Collins inspiring a sing along in the chorus, and the band dancing around to the pulsating beat in pure joy.
The song felt like a finisher and would have been the perfect way to end, but Collins and co. had other ideas, returning to the stage for a poppy rendition of John Farnham‘s Pressure Down, giving the audience some insight to the roots of the band’s newfound love of 80’s synth-wave, before closing the evening with the moody What You Came Here For. Whilst both songs held up in their own right, it felt that they would benefit switching these final two tunes out with Lonely Cities to end the set on the most positive high possible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2T3Wmr4CU8
Regardless, it felt that the audience in attendance at the Newy walked away with a sense that they had witnessed one of the last gigs this band will ever do in such an intimate venue. With a new sound and the ability to produce the goods both in studio and on the stage, the sky really is the limit for Tigertown. As irritating as the line is, they are truly ones to watch.
See more: Read our interview with Tigertown
We weren’t kidding when we said anticipation was high for Tigertown‘s Australian tour. In fact, it’s so high that their hometown of Sydney went and bought all the tickets to their first show, so they’ve had to announce another!
Currently blowing audiences away at SXSW, it is just weeks out from their long-awaited comeback tour of sorts across their native Australia, and fans around the country have been scrambling to get their hands on the few remaining tickets. As if catching the band in action for the first time in years wasn’t enough, they’ve also announced that the incandescent Phebe Starr and eclectic James Crooks will also be joining them on their national jaunt. Starr will also be fresh from her own appearance at SXSW, whilst Crooks will be warming things up very nicely indeed for Melbourne and Sydney crowds.
The good news doesn’t stop there. Just last month, Tigertown put the call out to fans to design their tour shirt with half of the proceeds going to the charity of the winner’s choice. Now, that winner has been announced and Laura Tedder, from New South Wales Central Coast has decided the profits will be going to the very well-deserved Make A Wish foundation. It just brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9e2gW1y1nE
The band’s Lonely Cities EP is out now via Inertia, and has received some absolute rave reviews since it’s release. You can expect these shows to be nothing short of great if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket – and if you don’t, we strongly recommend fixing that NOW!
Read our recent interview with Tigertown here
Tigertown Lonely Cities Tour Dates
Friday 01 April: Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Saturday 02 April: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday 07 April: The Foundry, Brisbane
Friday 08 April: Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (Free Show)
Saturday 09 April: Sol Bar, Maroochydore
Friday 15 April: Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
Saturday 16 April – Jimmy’s Den, Perth
Sydney band Tigertown are just under a month out from their full national tour, but not before they are set to wow audiences in Austin, Texas for a little festival called SXSW. This also comes hot on the heels of a US tour supporting St Lucia, as well as a few sold out headline shows for themselves, all off the back of their now-released comeback EP, Lonely Cities.
The good news doesn’t stop there though. Having been picked up by tastemakers blogs around the world (us included, if we do say so ourselves), the band have just reached 1 million streams on Spotify, and the coveted #1 spot on Hype Machine. Talk about coming back in style!
Clearly eager to get back to home crowds, the band have today announced a competition for their burgeoning fan base. Calling on the creative people out there, Tigertown are after one lucky person to design their homecoming tour t-shirt, with 50% of the profits to be donated to a charity of the winner’s choice. In addition, the winner will receive a signed limited edition 10″ vinyl of the “Lonely Cities” EP, and a double pass to their closest show.
To enter, send your design with 25 words or less about the charity you’d like the proceeds to go to and why to competitions@tigertownband.com
Tigertown Lonely Cities Tour Dates
Friday 01 April: Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Saturday 02 April: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday 07 April: The Foundry, Brisbane
Friday 08 April: Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (Free Show)
Saturday 09 April: Sol Bar, Maroochydore
Friday 15 April: Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
Saturday 16 April – Jimmy’s Den, Perth
Read our recent interview with Tigertown here.
Today marks the release of Sydney four piece Tigertown‘s new EP Lonely Cities, and to celebrate, they’re taking the show on the road. Off the bat of recent single Bullet From The Gun, title track Lonely Cities (which has hit second place in the US Hype Machine charts) and new single Make It Real, the band are currently touring the US, before visiting Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Maroochydore, Adelaide and Perth this April.
One of the most exciting electro-pop groups to have emerged in recent years, the band have been crowned a “breakout” act of SXSW 2015, and signed to Inertia Music, Neon Gold and Atlantic Records. Having built a solid reputation as a stellar live act, we guarantee you won’t wanna miss them in the flesh.
See the full tour dates below. Tickets and more information can be found at the band’s official website.
Tigertown Lonely Cities Tour Dates
Friday 01 April: Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Saturday 02 April: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday 07 April: The Foundry, Brisbane
Friday 08 April: Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (Free Show)
Saturday 09 April: Sol Bar, Maroochydore
Friday 15 April: Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
Saturday 16 April – Jimmy’s Den, Perth
Read our recent interview with Tigertown here.
After 5 years of releases, touring and gaining fans around the world, Sydney fam-band Tigertown suddenly went silent just when everything seemed to be coming together.
It came as a relief therefore to hear the newly reformed quartet drop their first single in 12 months earlier this year in the form of Bullet From The Gun. The song signalled a new direction for the band, with their folk-laden harmonies traded out for synth-pop hooks.
With the release of their party-starter single Lonely Cities, an imminent EP release and an international record deal under their belt, Tigertown finally seem ready to take the world by storm. We caught up with guitarist Chris Collins to discuss the change of direction for the band and how it feels to tour the US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9e2gW1y1nE
There has obviously been a significant shift away from the folky influence of the early EPs. What inspired this shift?
I guess because it’s been two years since we’ve released any music, the shift doesn’t feel that big to us because it’s been quite gradual, but looking back it is a long way from where we were. Travelling to New York to play CMJ in 2014, we saw a LOT of music so everything was thrown up in the air. We landed on our influences growing up which happened to be Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins etc. The main result being that we wanted to make music that made you dance.
There was a lot of time between your earlier tracks and performances, and the more recent offering “Bullet From The Gun” – what were you getting up to in that break?
We were really lucky to do a lot of travelling, playing in the UK and the US, and we were able to do a lot of writing around the place. We recorded a lot of songs, I guess because we were fairly new to this sound; it took us a while to really nail what we were going for. The end of last year we spent three months in LA recording and it was one of the best times of our lives. Hopefully the best music we’ve made too.
The band has toured more in the States than Australia recently. Does that reflect your main fan base now?
Due to the amount of bands who are doing the same kind of thing as us, we have had a lot of amazing opportunities to tour in the US. The audiences have been really responsive, which is a lot of fun, but we are still a new band there. We’re really excited to tour Australia this year and seeing everyone again.
How has the band’s live set up changed after going from a six piece to a four piece?
We still use a drummer, so there are five of us on stage. There are a bunch of new instruments though, so the set up has changed a lot. We’ve traded violin and acoustic guitar for samplers and analogue synths. The drive now is making people dance at shows.
You’ve worked with so many people on the new EP – Tommy English, Chris Zane, Tim Pagnotta and Captain Cuts all across the states- did the varying inputs and opinions make it challenging to come to a final decision on the songs?
There were a lot of songs for sure. Surprisingly though, the strongest songs seem to stand out on their own. Out of 30 songs, we have chosen 12 for an album down the track and there wasn’t too much discussion about which to choose.
What’s something new that you learnt in the studio this time around?
Good question! It may sound strange, but the main thing we’ve learnt is to focus on the result rather than the process. Being in the studio is a lot of fun and all the aspects are really inspiring, but sometimes you have to ignore the technical part to just serve the overall sound. A lot of the parts were recorded at our place in Sydney, or our bedroom in LA. We were so lucky that our producer was so open to using anything that we needed regardless of where or how it was recorded. We also learnt that layering our four voices hundreds of time is now the ‘Tigertown’ sound.
Now that you’ve signed to a label, what does that mean for a band that has been independent for so long?
We are very thankful and appreciative of all that a label does. After doing it ourselves for so long, we learnt about how much work goes into every little aspect of touring and releasing. It’s amazing to just have to think about the music and not too much else. Our amazing managers really allow us to be free of anything not music related.
Obviously the family connection is apparent within the band. How has it felt working with people from outside the family in the past?
There are a lot of great things about playing with family. The fact that we are already on the same wave length in a lot of ways and we’re good at being honest and having productive fights, I suppose it makes us a little pickier about whom we work with. We’ve been very lucky with the people around us; we always see them as becoming part of the family. If you want to record with Tigertown there will be lots of home cooked family dinners.
Lonely Cities is out this Friday, February 5 via Inertia.
Tigertown are heading out on tour this April. Full dates below, and tickets and more information can be found at the band’s official website.
Tigertown Lonely Cities Tour Dates
Friday 01 April: Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Saturday 02 April: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday 07 April: The Foundry, Brisbane
Friday 08 April: Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (Free Show)
Saturday 09 April: Sol Bar, Maroochydore
Thursday 15 April: Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
Friday 16 April: Jimmy’s Den, Perth
IMAGE: Facebook
If two is better than one, eleven is definitely better than ten and such is the case for your beloved weekly playlist of top songs. Sure, one came out last week (looking at you, Cub Sport) but we can’t help that it was so good it still deserved a spot in this week’s cut as well!
We’ve got a lot of local flavours in this week’s list, with three acts hailing from Brisbane – the aforementioned Cub Sport as well as Emma Louise (who was remixed by Little Dragon) and Feki (who remixes Anna Of The North). We’ve also got some surf-psych jams from WA (Gunns), a couple of Melbourne acts (Hoodlem and Private Life) as well as Sydney’s Tigertown. Not to mention some international takes like a Louie Lastic remix of Kelela featuring GoldLink, some Bishop Nehru, a collab between Katy B and Kaytranada and not to mention a lit remix of Tory Lanez by Shlohmo and we have once again got you covered with the top songs you should have heard this week!
Gunns, Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog
WA darlings Gunns have a lot to be happy about right now. They’re about to join Albert Hammond Jr on tour (yes, the guitarist from The Strokes), they’re releasing their debut EP on February 12th AND it’s on the same label as a few fellow Western Australians like POND and that tiny band called Tame Impala. They’ve also shared a brand new single this week, titled Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog. Sounding like an Aussie version of Temples in the best possible way, this dreamy psych-surf band are bound for great things, and this song once again proves it.
Kelela, Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix ft. GoldLink)
Kelela was just in the country for a mindblowing whirlwind mini tour, and GoldLink is just about to touch down for Laneway. Although they didn’t cross paths in the literal sense, they certainly have in the sonic sense with this latest release. Jumping on a guest verse for producer Louie Lastic, the two have spun Kelela’s huge single Rewind into an old-school jam, complete with upbeat, bubbling synths, skittering beats, and a groove that just won’t fucking quit. It’s a total jam.
Anna Of The North, The Dreamer (Feki Remix)
Brisbane producer Feki has once again shown he really means business, and has remixed the hell out of Anna Of The North’s The Dreamer. We’ve had our eye on him for a while and each and every time he releases something, he sucks us in even more with his forward thinking, future-RnB production. He capitalises on the sad vibes and hones in on it, amping up the dark vibes and heaping on the emotion. Anna Of The North said it best herself when she told Nylon, “The Dreamer is already a sad song, but I like that Feki’s remix is darker. He makes it ok to cry at the club.” Damn straight.
Hoodlem, Kintsugi
Melbourne duo Hoodlem blew me away when I stumbled upon them at last year’s BIGSOUND in Brisbane, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thankfully, they’ve finally released some new music this week, which earned them a spot in this playlist instantly. The duo are a powerhouse in a live setting, and have been bringing their A-game with each release since they dropped their tremendous single Through last year. Now they’re gearing up for the release of a new EP coming in March and they’re sounding better than ever. Kinstugi is the first taste of that record, and its glitchy, soulful vibes with their typically fantastic production skills makes for a very exciting release indeed.
Tigertown, Lonely Cities
Tigertown have an uncanny knack of making you think you’re listening to an unassuming indie track, but then catching you by surprise and blowing you totally out of the water with how great they sound. It’s a risky move but they always seem to pull it off, so why the hell not? The band return with their second single of the year, Lonely Cities, and it’s huge. Although the lyrics aren’t exactly celebrating the feeling of being lonely, they’ve juxtaposed them with some totally liberating, joyous and borderline euphoric singalongs, guitar melodies and sharp drums. If only all loneliness felt this good!
Bishop Nehru, Forever And A Day
You might know Bishop Nehru from his feature spot on Flight Facilities‘ excellent debut album, Down To Earth, on the track Why Do You Feel, but it is about time everyone knew him for his capabilities on his own as well. This song is a sultry, inviting, groovy number with some fierce verses and Nehru’s easy flow, he talks about his rise to fame and how his drive keeps him go. He doesn’t sound like he’s quitting anytime soon judging from this track, and that is some very good news for Nehru fans new, old and those still to come. It’s only up from here!
Katy B x Kaytranada, Honey
Anything that Kaytranada lends his hand to has a 99.99% chance of being amazing, and this latest track is no exception. Working with Katy B, this is a smoky and smooth number that shows B’s impeccable vocals and Kaytranada’s flawless-as-ever production. It’s the first taste from her forthcoming Honey LP (which has a tracklist that features everyone from Craig David, Major Lazer, Four Tet, Floating Points and more), and it’s impressive to say the least. It’s got a groove that is perfect for the bedroom, and Katy B’s sexy hook doesn’t go too bad either for the bedroom vibes. Thank us later.
Tory Lanez, Say It (Shlohmo Remix)
There was a time where Shlohmo was making some of the most experimental music of his career, and the days of him working with Jeremih felt like a bygone era. However, this latest remix is Shlohmo back to his RnB remixing best, as he takes Tory Lanez’ Say It, and makes it fucking lit. It’s still got his trademark dark sounds, and has an air of mystery about it, but it’s also got some token hip-hop drums, crashing cymbals, trap leanings and more to keep it dance-y and fun. Is this a sign Shlohmo is heading back towards his hip-hop roots?
Private Life, Dragon
Melbourne indie two-piece Private Life are fighting the good fight to make “pop” not such a dirty word anymore, and their latest track, Dragon is a perfect example of how well it can be done. Showcasing some huge vocals, crashing cymbals, a hook that won’t quit and some unpredictable production courtesy of Nicolas Lam (from Red Bull Music Academy), Private Life sounds like Australia’s answer to CHVRCHES with one less member and one hell of a knack for good songs. Dragon is explosive yet gentle, uplifting yet fragile, and seriously, SERIOUSLY impressive. We’re expecting big things from these guys.
Emma Louise, Underflow (Little Dragon Remix)
I mean, if you are going to get anyone to remix your comeback single, surely Little Dragon are pretty high up on the list of desired artists to do so. Brisbane artist Emma Louise has achieved just that, with the Swedish band stepping up for rework duties this week on her track Underflow. It was already an absolutely stunning single in its own right, so it’s only fitting that it gets an equally stunning remix, and it sounds like it was in pretty safe hands with Little Dragon. A racing almost-heartbeat like thump keeps the track running along as more and more is carefully poured into the mix. Splashy cymbals, vocal loops and subtle synths carry it along as Emma Louise’s vulnerable original vocals remain in tact. This marks the first remix in four years for the band, so if that alone doesn’t tell there is something great about this track, we don’t know what will.
Cub Sport, I Can’t Save You
Brisbane band Cub Sport fell off the grid for a while there, but towards the end of 2015 it was confirmed that their absence was indeed intentional as they returned to the fray with the release of Only Friend. Back on form, the band have now shared another brilliant track titled I Can’t Save You – another exciting cut from their forthcoming album, This Is Our Vice. A glimmering exercise in synth-driven indie-pop, Cub Sport are wasting no time in reminding us who they are, and keeping our excitement levels at worryingly high levels in the lead up to This Is Our Vice‘s March 4th release.
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Friday is also “Best Songs of The Week” day here at Howl & Echoes – a day in which we reflect on the week that was and narrow down all the releases to the 10 best songs we think you should hear right now. Compiled into a neat little playlist below, there is once again something for everyone as 2016 holds nothing back in regards to releasing really, really, really good music. Enjoy!
White Denim, Holda You (I’m Psycho)
White Denim are a rock’n’roll band from Texas, but from just hearing this song you could have probably figured that out yourself. Coming in like a god damn freight train, Holda You (I’m Psycho) is the first taste of their new album Stiff – and what a taste it is. Seriously, try NOT bouncing along to this one. It can’t be done!
Them Swoops, Into The Atmosphere
Melbourne band Them Swoops get their intergalactic jams on with this track, and take their new single out of this world. Taking lead from the indie electro explosion of the likes of Clubfeet and Van She, the boys use their synth know-how to their advantage, and their indie sensibilities to get you well and truly hooked!
Benji Lewis, Never Leave You Lonely
This isn’t the first time we’ve hailed a Benji Lewis track as one of the best of the week, and it probably won’t be the last. There is something about his voice that just gets me right where it matters, and I am hooked within seconds. Never Leave You Lonely is yet another powerful slice of emotional dance pop, and once again shows off his voice (his best asset) in all its glory.
Leiik, Words Over Yours
Just a few weeks out from the release of their self-titled debut EP, London newcomers Leiik are doing a pretty good job at making sure their sounds are heard loud and clear across the pond, and with tracks like Words Over Yours, it’s really only a matter of time until they really blow up. This soft and delicate number is as intimate as they come, and you feel like you’re being let in on a little secret. A really beautifully sounding secret.
Argonaut & Wasp, The Sneeze
Indie funk at it’s best, Argonaut & Wasp have offered up an absolute killer of a track with The Sneeze. They’ve been making music for over two years now, but this track is a testimony for just how far they’ve come, and what they’re now capable of doing. It’s a slow burner, but when it all comes to a head it’s so. damn. good.
Mangelwurzel, I.O.U
If you aren’t aware of Mangelwurzel yet, let us introduce you. The six-piece band hailing from Melbourne have made a name for themselves as a frenzied, chaotic bunch that make pretty awesome tracks that are unpredictable, off-kilter and captivating from start to finish. The band announced this week their long-awaited debut album Gary will finally out at the end of February, and released I.O.U to get fans excited about the accompanying national tour to go along with it! Head here for more details.
Tigertown, Bullet From The Gun
Signing to Inertia Music this week, Sydney band Tigertown aren’t wasting any time showing everyone why they’re deserving of such a deal with this new single. Slightly menacing, incredibly catchy, and effortlessly fun, Tigertown’s Bullet From A Gun is exactly the type of track you want to be releasing when you sign to a major label. We’re expecting big things from these guys!
Pikachunes, You Are
Monday Records signee Pikachunes has kicked off 2016 with a bang with this latest release. Theatrical, dramatic and intense, You Are is a disconcerting slice of dramatic indie pop that pairs Pikachunes’ unique voice with thick synth lines and crashing beats. It’s huge.
Fascinator, Time To Go
Spinning Top alum Fascinator does things his own way, and that’s why we love him. Experimental in all the right ways, Time To Go is another cut from his forthcoming debut album Man, and once again takes us on a slow-burning, psychedelic trip where Fascinator is the leader and we don’t really mind.