Thursday, June 26, 2014

Down-Under Comes Up: Australia New Music Round-Up




With our inboxes positively groaning under the weight of new material popping up from Down-Under artists in the last few weeks, rather than just try and pick one or two, we have rounded up several that stand out for your listening discernity. Artists such as the prodigiously talented LUPA, BLANK REALMMACHINES FOR DREAMS, LIFE COACH, NONAGON amongst others, we have already focused on at different times previously, hence not included here.



BANOFEE
Electro r n b artist Banoffee has been quietly making a name for herself, crafting a style laden with off-kilter rhythms, hooks and harmonies that have seen her compared with Wet, Mø and Haim. Sounds like a nice pie to us, even if there's an absence of bananas, cream and toffee. Her debut EP coming in August, meanwhile check this new mix she has done for 2X style site.






GAZAR STRIPS
They come over 'ere, take our gigs, etc. etc., though in the case of these four Ozzers, they may have formed in no less than the environs of Whitechapel, east London, but they are now firmly back on Brisbane turf. Check out the video for the darkly gothic 'Bee Mantis' from the EP 'Sparkling'.






LITTLE MAY
"They float on high o'er hills and vales" could be the poetic description for the Sydney trio who have been hailed as one of Australia's breakout acts of 2014. New single ‘Dust’ embodies vulnerable and honest lyrics with an undercurrent of otherworldly darkness.





THE RUMINATERS
Hailing from Sydney, The Ruminaters have made a reputation for their dark, spooky but still fun as all hell sound and rowdy live shows. Making their debut with 'I Lost My Grandpa's Teeth' (we're sure there's a story there), the first taste from the album and is set for release on July 4 thru Pavement Records. With influences including The Beach Boys and The Clash, they have been described as “The Black Lips covering The Strokes”.








DAN AND AMY
For fans of Fleet Foxes, The Paper Kites, and Of Monsters and Men, the sibling Melbourne duo, Dan and Amy. 'Sometimes Life' is the second single from their debut EP due for release in July, following first single 'Pretend'. Recorded in a majestic bluestone church in Melbourne, the result is a dreamy yet driving folk song that builds to a spectacular and moving bridge.






TOTAL CONTROL
Melbourne-based Oz/NZ post-punk machine Total Control have this week released their second album 'Typical System'. Check out opening track 'Glass', which delivers of all things...synths, no less...in what sounds to us more like dancefloor electro than any punky biz.






TIN SPARROW
For early Arcade Fire fans, Sydney-siders Tin Sparrow have just released new single ‘Echoes In The Dark’, which comes from EP,
'Shoelace Ring' - produced in a farmhouse with Dann Hume, it contrasts driving rhythms with jangly guitar riffs and some nice up, up and away vocals from Matt Amery.






BUZZ KULL
Sydney lo-fi, darkwaving duo fusing layers of ephemeral synth notes around dual vocals of  Marcel Whyler and Rebecca Liston. Latest upload is thus cover of New Order's 'Blue Monday'.








WOLF COLA
Sydney DIY garage duo - Tom Masters, Callum Butler - trading catchy hooks in slacker style. Released their debut self-titled EP at the start of the year.






DOOM MOUNTAIN
Ominously named surf-rockin four-piece from Brisbane who formed last year. Plenty of fuzzy wuzzy reverb and some solid slinky rock guitaring.





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