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:
Tiny Little Houses – Milo Tin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjWIakdCWzc
Winning this week’s award for ‘Most Australian Song Title’ is Milo Tin by Melbourne dudes Tiny Little Houses. The track follows up their breakout EP from 2015 You Tore Out My Heart and stands as their first new material for 2016. The 90s rock throwback vibes are large, big jangly riffs coupled with shoegazey vocals, the chorus is one of the catchiest you’ll hear.
The video, co-shot and directed by Tiny Little Houses themselves alongside friend and previous collaborator Daniel Dunn. It sees the band jamming out in the back section of a St. Kilda corner shop, juxtaposed with the many day-to-day trials and tribulations of a beaten down clerk. Singing about keeping your things in Milo tins while you mung down a couple of Mentos and nick a cup of Mi Goreng off the 7-11 shelves? Pure Australia.
Catch Tiny Little Houses on their Milo Tin Tour round Australia in April and May.
BROODS – Free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDsxtBVLyss
Crossing the Tasman next up is the latest single from Auckland duo BROODS. Simply titled Free, the single saw its world premiere over the weekend and is a certified belter. An a capella opening from vocalist Georgia Nott lulls you in before supersonic, pulsating beats from her brother and producer Caleb absolutely bowl you over. The verses burn a long and threatening fuse before the chorus sends you soaring. Free is driving and powerful, another excellent example of some of the new wave of clever pop.
The video visualises the vibe of the song, Nott playing a tormented protagonist stuffed into a virtual reality helmet and forced to experience what must be some fairly strange shit by a pair of smug-looking villains. Her freedom eventually coming via the crashing waves and solitude of the beach.
Touring with Ellie Goulding across the USA in April, BROODS are swiftly on the rise.
Landings – My Bones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbUuH0W4-RY&feature=youtu.be
Heading back to my home for this next one, the debut single from Brisbane trio Landings. The Two Door Cinema Club and Last Dinosaurs vibes are huge, dance-y guitar riffs and a chorus that takes flight, this is a very auspicious debut.
If you’re mired in the doldrums at work and your next holiday is well and truly over the horizon this music video may hurt you. A lot. The three guys recently completed a writing trip across Europe and documented it in all its adventurous glory just to make you feel as bad as possible about your life decisions. Picturesque scenes for a cracker of a song though? Perfect.
This may very well be the beginning of much bigger things for Landings.
Imarhan – Imarhan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YKmRKcYW90&feature=youtu.be
And now to a place that I don’t think has ever been covered by this roundup in Algeria, and quintet Imarhan. Black Sabbath had Black Sabbath on their debut album Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden had Iron Maiden on their debut album Iron Maiden and now Imarhan have Imarhan on their debut album Imarhan.
Their music is described as ‘new wave Tuareg’, the music of the Tuareg people, the principal inhabitants of the Sahara Desert. Classic rock guitar riffs are here coupled with infectious rhythms, the vibe a swirling and psychedelic desert rock number. The video was shot in Imarhan’s hometown of Tamanrasset, Hoggar in South Algeria, full of dust and relentless sunshine and refreshingly depicts a part of the world that wouldn’t even appear on the radar of most Western music fans.
Imarhan is out April 29th on City Slang via Inertia.
Suuns – Brainwash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phDPMLdbxnk&feature=youtu.be
This one is super interesting. The latest single from Montreal electronic rock foursome Suuns have released their latest single (the third as part of a triptych leading up to the release of their third studio effort Hold/Still) titled Brainwash as both a music video and an interactive virtual reality video game.
The track is a slow-burn, a softly strummed electric guitar giving way to huge distorted synth noise, easy listening and starkly confronting all at the same time. The video for it is lo-fi to the point of looking like a glitched out Nintendo 64 game, but the concept is unique and one that more and more artists may look to adopt given the current rise of VR. I don’t have access to a VR headset to actually play the game shown in the video but if you’re lucky enough to (we’ll totally pretend you didn’t buy it for porn) you can download and play it from here.
Hold/Still is out April 15th on Secretly Canadian via Inertia.
Jessy Lanza – It Means I Love You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C216ZRVOM5A
Staying in Canada although this time in Hamilton, Ontario is the new single from songstress Jessy Lanza. She has a brand new single ahead of the release of her sophomore album Oh No this year. Straightforwardly titled It Means I Love You, it’s a unique blend of noise, tropical rhythms behind sharp bursts of synth and frequent pitch changes in her cloud-soft vocals. As more and more layers of noise are added the song gets positively frenetic.
The video is intriguing, shots of Lanza across a dreary background leading to her clad in a shimmering gold robe in a smoky greenhouse full of green and leafy plants. The plants are no coincidence, Lanza having taken to filling her home with them to improve the air quality in the lead-up to Oh No.
Oh No is out May 13th via Hyperdub.
The Dandy Warhols – You Are Killing Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vth5ywXSXJ4
With their 10th (!) studio album Distortland touching down today, perhaps Portland, Oregon’s greatest alt-rock export of the last two decades in The Dandy Warhols have released the music video to accompany their latest single You Are Killing Me.
The tune is a simple chugging rocker guided by some drone-y vocals from frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor. The video stars ‘Warhol superstar’ Joe Dallesandro (you may remember his crotch from the cover of Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones) and is a black and white neo-noir clip featuring Dallesandro as a tortured, whiskey and cigarette fuelled writer whose part gets crashed by a bunch of people in animal costumes (Dandys keyboardist Zia McCabe is the rabbit!). It’s uh… certainly interesting.
Distortland is out now via Dine Alone Records.
Plaitum – Jagwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-YYdJfHtCE
And wrapping up this week are Colchester multi-instrumental electronic pop noisemaking duo Plaitum and the title track from their just announced EP Jagwa. The ethereal vocals of Abi Dersiley combine beautifully with some absolutely huge production from partner-in-crime Matt Canham, generating an absolute tidal wave of noise that crashes over the chorus and ebbs away in all the right places.
Directed by In/Out, the music video to go with it is as multilayered as the soundscape behind it, vibrant reds and blues coating everything, the subjects of the video floating into darkness. As far as first tastes go, Plaitum’s latest EP is shaping up to be something special.
Jagwa is out May 20th via Wolf Tone/Caroline Australia.
This week was a doozy when it came to new songs. Coming at us left, right and centre, it seems just about everyone thought this was the perfect week to drop a great new track. But hey, we’re not complaining because we love great new tracks, but it can be hard sifting through all of them to get to the real gems.
Thankfully, we’ve once again got your back, and we’ve narrowed it down to a handful of the absolute best to get your weekend started. Check it out below!
Sango, Life Without God Is Nothing
Part of the Soulection crew, Sango is a god in my books. His beats are always so solid, with nothing but the highest quality coming from him with each and every release. Focussing on intricate drum patterns, he manipulates the sounds accompanying a soulful vocal samples. It’s clean, tight and fresh with it’s soulful, sensual delivery and relaxed groove. He may have just released an EP, but this bad boy is tagged as “ALBUM MATERIAL” so our hopes are high for more releases on the (hopefully near) horizon. The title Life Without God Is Nothing could be up for debate, but right now we’re thinking the same about a life without Sango.
Jodie Abacus, Space Buffalo (Prod. Royce Wood Junior)
Jodie Abacus is a name you have to get acquainted with, because he is set to truly break through this year. After a string of catchy RnB/hip-hop singles last year, he has returned once again with Space Buffalo, and it’s exactly the type of track he should be releasing to take his career to the next level. It’s a track that highlights his stellar voice, paired with nostalgic soulful production courtesy of Royce Wood Junior. The pair are perfect for each other, and it shows. However, even though it might sound like a feel good number, don’t let those lyrics catch you off-guard. They’re sobering and sad, which is a wonder because if I was making songs this good, I wouldn’t be sad at all!
Nico Ghost, Night Terrors
He just finished supporting Wu-Tang Clan on their national tour, and now he’s about to support G-EAZY at his Brisbane gig, so it’s safe to say Nico Ghost’s name is blowing up, and for very good reason. Just listening to his latest single, Night Terrors, you can hear just how much the Melbourne MC has going on. Representing yet another artist heralding in the new era of Australian hip-hop, he spits over a dark, moody beat with a refined approach and progressive lyrics. He is tipped to be one of the next big things in the local hip-hop scene, and if he keeps putting out tracks like this, that is definitely where he is headed.
San Holo, New Sky
San Holo is sitting on a few million plays of his tracks on Soundcloud, and continues to push not only himself, but his peers with each release. New Sky is yet another example of this. Flirting more and more with the experimental side of things, this track is like Mario Kart meets Blade Runner in an underground trap nightclub somewhere in the best way possible. With shimmering synth jabs and soaring samples, San Holo works his magic to deliver an unsuspecting breakdown and a drop of epic proportions. It’s hard hitting, expertly produced and indicative of yet another huge step forward for the Dutch-future bass producer.
Tourist Dollars, Horse Girl
I was a little late to the party when it comes to Tourist Dollars, but I was instantly hooked once I heard their track, End Of Time, last year. So, it makes me really happy to see another new single from them, this time in the form of Horse Girl. It’s equal parts nostalgic as it is forward thinking, as the band’s love affair with reverb and the 60s is reignited once again here. Frontman Jesse McCormack’s voice has never sounded better, and when he sings the final lyrics, “The future is bright,” you get the feeling he could be talking about more than just the obvious meaning. Big things are coming for these guys.
Argonaut & Wasp, Always
These guys have been on our radar for a while now, but this is hands down my favourite track ever from them. Pop in its best form, Always is a summer anthem waiting to happen. It’s got elements of 80s pop, and features a liberating, feel good chorus that would see any party burst into dance. Reminiscent of the indie pop band explosion of the late 00’s, they’ve picked out all the best elements of that time and have thrust it into the future with their modern thinking production and their always progressive song-writing skills. Argonaut & Wasp are one of the hardest working duos I’ve come across in some time, and their ever-evolving and ever-impressive output only gets better and better.
L-FRESH The LION, 1 In 100,000
L-FRESH The Lion is one of the best hip-hop artists in the country right now, and if you aren’t familiar with him yet, his latest single should serve as the perfect introduction for him. Speaking with triple J, L-FRESH said about his track, “When I think about my journey in music, ever since I started it’s felt like, from every angle people have tried to sculpt me to be to their expectations… This song really just speaks to the voice of self and wanting to stand and be my own person regardless of what anyone says or believes.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, L-FRESH. Just try not getting down to the electronic/hip-hop blend this song is, and keep your ears pricked for the traditional tumbi at the start.
Tiny Little Houses, You Tore My Heart Out (Anatole Remix)
Anything producer Anatole touches turns to musical gold in my opinion, and I will hold that until he proves me wrong. Today is not that day. This week, Anatole has jumped on You Tore Out My Heart by indie four piece Tiny Little Houses. Stripping it right back to the bare minimum, Anatole plays with so many different sounds that he builds it back up as a totally different track. Keeping with the original vocals, he flirts with fluttering synths and bubbling electronica, as well as intricate percussion like light cymbals and crips drum beats. It’s seriously beautiful, and once again proves my theory – musical gold!
Summer Flake, Wine Won’t Wash Away
Summer Flake continues plugging away making jus about everyone who hears her excited for the release of her forthcoming album, Hello Friends, with the release of a brand new single. Wine Won’t Wash Away is a warm and fuzzy song, in the way that it’s got warm vocals and fuzzy guitars. It’s a lot more badass than the initial meaning synonymous with “warm and fuzzy” would make you think. The reverb-drenched guitar is paired perfectly with her poignant and emotive lyrics, and has me even more excited to hear Hello Friends come April 8.
Mat Zo, Sinful (Ft. I See MONSTAS)
A nice, fun one to finish off with! Grammy nominated Mat Zo returns once again with a new track that will embed itself in your brain for days on end. Titled Sinful, he has enlisted the help of British three-piece I See MONSTAS for this one, and it’s one of my favourites from him yet. Funky as all hell, it’s reminiscent of Nile Rogers-era Daft Punk meets Disclosure – in other words, a total banger. It’s also been released alongside some pretty spectacular visuals, and has us desperate to hear what else he’s been sitting on. Thankfully, the March 25 release date of his new album, Self Assembly, is fast approaching and our patience has just about run out!
Image of Sango via HypeTrak
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, of 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:
Tiny Little Houses: Soon We Won’t Exist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKfs9Y4fYPI
For some pretty sombre subject matter, the newest single from Melbourne quartet Tiny Little Houses has been partnered with a quirky cool video. Frontman Caleb Karvountzis opens the song with the line ‘How weird is it to think in 60 years we won’t exist’, a rumination on death that is as glaringly obvious as it is starkly terrifying. The lo-fi sound belies the morbid subject of the song, and the accompanying music video is niftily shot. It features the band trapped (although singer Caleb does find his way onto the street for the briefest of moments) jamming in a windowless, white room, all the while being broadcasted on static-saturated television sets.
It’s a great clip to a stomping number that pays homage to none-more-indie bands of yesteryear like Modest Mouse and Neutral Milk Hotel. The track is the latest off of their 2015 EP You Tore Out My Heart, a record we have thoroughly enjoyed this year.
Lea Porcelain – Loose Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkmjd8KFWRg
Keeping your gaze firmly planted on your shoes for this next one is Lea Porcelain, a duo out of Frankfurt, and the video for their latest single Loose Life. The track itself is brooding and intense, harsh synths dancing with an erratic beat and heavily filtered vocals, the whole thing is about the definition of off-beat but it builds up so beautifully.
The video absolutely grabbed the modern history nerd in me and shook him to life again, the track overlaid on footage of post-WWII Berlin. The footage was only uncovered recently by German director Konstantin von our Muhlen, who allowed the duo to use it in the making of this video. It’s visually confronting, the sheer wreckage and ruin juxtaposed with shots of smiling people trying to rebuild their shattered lives and surroundings. The song and clip walk hand in hand, utterly compelling.
Jones – Hoops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUuexNwsVGc
Heading across the pond to London for this next one with songstress Jones and her latest single Hoops. Having released her debut EP earlier in the year, this is a track from her forthcoming debut LP New Skin that’s set to drop later next year. There’s a lot of hype surrounding Jones and for good reason: she has a voice on her that will chill you to the bone. Mixing a funky electronic beat with her own soulful voice, the chorus of Hoops will hook you with a tonne of force.
The video keeps the focus squarely on Jones, it’s her voice in the driver’s seat after all. Professionally shot, making full use of mood lighting and confronting closeups, it’s a solid visual accompaniment to a track by a fantastic up and coming singer-songwriter out of the UK, an area producing them left right and centre.
SOAK – Reckless Behaviour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUL4VslJykA&feature=youtu.be
Taking a hop, skip and a jump from London to neighbouring Ireland, this next video comes from the youngest female nominee to be shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize in seven years, Bridie Monds-Watson, known also as SOAK. The nomination in question was for her stunning debut album Before We Forgot How To Dream and the latest single to be given a music video from that album is Reckless Behaviour.
It’s a nifty little alt-pop number that is catchy as all hell. The video explores a wonderful friendship shared between two unlikely individuals, the craftiest old durry-choofing granny out there and a lonely young girl, both residents of a mental health facility. It’s a great story she and director Bob Gallagher manage to unfold in just north of three minutes, and it will warm your heart.
You can catch SOAK live when she tours Australia in the New Year, including appearances at the Falls and Southbound festivals.
Espa – Swan Song (ft. Giggs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwhzNGGu0h8
We flat out loved this track the first time we laid ears on it. Espa’s is the kind of voice that just stops traffic and Swan Song is such a consummately professional and mesmerisingly great track in every aspect. The subtle G-funk beat (courtesy of the production desk of Erick Arc Elliot of Flatbush Zombies), the super smooth baritone flow of hip hop legend Giggs. Did we mention that voice? Because it’s one of the better RnB voices we’ve heard in quite some time. Close your eyes and you’ll swear it’s Mary J. giving her best crack at the coolest James Bond theme you’re likely to hear.
The video of course lives up to all the expectations set by the original track, a lazy cool wander around a dimly lit house that just happens to have two fine musicians breaking up the gloom with their respective talents.
BUT DID WE MENTION THAT VOICE THOUGH??? Because damn. Espa just killing it every time.
BRNS – The Way Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL7khw_3TGw
Sprawling, ambient, intense; the new single from Belgian multi-instrumentalist BRNS, titled The Way Up, is sublime. The track, clocking in at over six minutes, takes the static notion of genre and throws it right in the river. It’s an eclectic mash up of haunting falsetto vocals, jarring percussion, slow-burning guitars and weird little electronic noises, all blended together to forge a super cool soundscape and launching into the atmosphere with the crescendo.
The accompanying video is shot in beautiful black and white and explores a stark and lonely urban existence, rising and dipping with the ever-changing tempo of the song before going a mile a minute with fights and barking dogs to match an equally frenetic climax.
Stunning to put it simply.
Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Love Is Free (ft. Maluca)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGFdCWC5ls
Coming in with hands down the most fun film clip on the list this week are Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique, a trio out of Sweden with their debut single Love Is Free. The track is a throwback to 90s aerobics class anthems and is outrageously funky and up-tempo.
The video for the single is full of toothy grins, ceiling level energy, a man covered entirely in crimson lipstick, some fantastic dance moves between Robyn and featured artist Maluca and jumping on the bed. So much jumping on the bed. The whole thing, song and video, is just a barrel of fun that should have everyone cracking out the spandex and working up a sweat.
Hudson Mohawke – Indian Steps (ft. Antony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iavImpqC81s&feature=youtu.be
Just shy of a trip down under for a headlining tour and a highly anticipated spot on the Laneway Festival bill, the trap lord with the Midas touch and an all-round great Scotsman, producer Hudson Mohawke, has dropped the video for his latest single Indian Steps.
Brooding and delicate juxtaposed with an intermittent gunshot backbeat, the track is absolutely haunting. The feature crooning from English singer-songwriter Antony anchors a song made for burning midnight oil to ever so fantastically. The music video is inspired by The Kiss, a sculpture by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the scene evoking the timelessness of true love.
See you real soon, HudMo.
Tiny Little Houses have released second single Soon We Won’t Exist, off upcoming EP You Tore Out My Heart. If you’re a sucker for 90’s indie throwback jams, it’s enough to make your heart burst. Occasionally a song comes along and takes you by surprise, slow dancing you to the corners of your memory in a misplaced nostalgia usually reserved for old favourites. This is that rogue suitor.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/221517702″]
The nostalgic bent likely comes from drawing on elements of classic 90’s artists such as Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Neutral Milk Hotel, with enough lyrical weight to sink a ship. Kicking off with line “How weird it is to think in sixty years we won’t exist”, it’s as if Jeff Mangum has crawled out from his eccentric hermitude to pen this line and have it sung by Apples in Stereo. However, the band bring their own flavour with a softer drawl and a modern take on production featuring a perfect balance of electronic and acoustic elements.
It’s a song that demands hitting repeat and foot stomping sing a longs at the traffic lights. The EP is out September 25th and you can check out some tour dates, and first single Easy below. We will be front row and centre at their Bigsound show next week, so stay tuned for the coverage!
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/208071162″]
9 – 11 September – BIGSOUND, Brisbane
Friday October 16 – Shebeen, Melbourne
Saturday October 17 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Saturday October 31 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
Friday November 27 – Paradise Music Festival, Victoria
BIGSOUND is once again upon us here in Brisbane, and soon The Valley will be swarming with delegates and punters trying to catch a glimpse of the next big thing. Two nights, 12 stages, over 150 bands and too many beers; it’s safe to say this is our favourite time of year. But, it’s a pretty hefty task to take on that timetable, so we took it upon ourselves to give you our top 10 must see acts for this year. Take it from us, you CAN’T miss these acts!
Green Buzzard
One of the great unknowns of this year’s Bigsound, they’ve scarcely played any gigs together and the only song they’ve released is the (utterly ridiculous) Brit-rock garage throwback Zoo Fly. They’re freshly signed to I Oh You though, who are behind relatively unknown acts like, oh, Violent Soho and DMA’s, so they aren’t known for being here to fuck spiders and I’m happy to assume they’re bringing the goods once again with Green Buzzard.
Wednesday September 9th, The Winn, 8:50pm
City Calm Down
Speaking of I Oh You, City Calm Down are also a recent addition to that label. If you’d dig some kind of a love child between The National and New Order then City Calm Down are the stork, bringing you that baby real hard. They create an immense wall of post-punk meets electro noise and they should be a bloody joy to catch live.
Wednesday September 9th, The Winn, 11:20pm
Skegss
These Byron Bay dudes are Dune Rats-endorsed (they’re the first artists to sign with old mates Dunies’ very own Ratbag Records) so you just know they’ll be an absolute mental party of a live show. Their sun-drenched surf punk is utterly perfect to boogie down to and they should be well worth a look.
Thursday September 10th, Ric’s Bar, 11:30pm
Holy Holy
If you missed their disgustingly good set at Splendour this year then you should be ashamed, but whatever blows your fur back I guess. These Melbournites bring gargantuan throwback riffs and songs that are larger than life and their live show will knock your socks straight off, guaranteed.
Wednesday September 9th, triple j Unearthed stage (Oh Hello), 11:30pm
Gang Of Youths
Son of a bitch. SON of a bitch. I am absolutely fiending to see these guys live for the first time ever, with their debut LP The Positions still on insanely high rotation in my life. Monstrous guitars, gorgeous synths and, above all else, heartfelt lyrics that cut to the bone, their set promises to be full of absolute belters like Magnolia, Radioface and the raucous Poison Drum. Miss them at your absolute peril.
Thursday September 10th, The Zoo, 11:30pm
Pearls
Melbourne indie outfit Pearls has been on high rotation in my house, my work, my car, and well everywhere, with their debut album Pretend You’re Mine. Their foot stomping glam rock is more infectious than the common cold, and you would need to be a little bit insane not to see them play.
Wednesday September 9th, Elephant Hotel, 9pm
Banff
Benjamin Forbes might just be one of the most exciting names in Australian indie music right now, with debut EP Future Self out last month. With stellar production and languorous vocals his set will be a moment to catch your breath and soak up those blissful atmospheric vibes.
Thursday September 10th, Elephant Hotel, 8:20pm
Big White
Big White make you feel like you have been transported into a John Waters film with 80’s drenched melodies aka The Psychedelic Furs. I am very much looking forward to throwing my hair back to their infectious throw back ditties. Who doesn’t love a good old bit of pan flute?
Wednesday 9th September, The Zoo, 8:10pm
Hockey Dad
Hockey Dad make fun, boisterous garage surf anthems ala Wavves or Cloud Nothings with a distinct local flavor. As this years Unearthed winners there is a lot of hype surrounding these guys, and I’m pretty sure they will more than deliver even in a timeslot directly competing with Gang of Youths.
Thursday 10th September, The Alehouse @ The Wooly Mammoth, 11:20pm
Tiny Little Houses
With only a single track that I have been able to track down, this might just be my most anticipated act. These lo-fi bedroom guitar melodies have been swimming in my head for days and it’s pretty exciting to imagine what else the set my hold.
Thursday 10th September, Black Bear Lodge, 10pm