Live Review: The All Seeing Hand at Schmørgåsbaag, Hobart, Sunday, 23 April 2017
In the early evening on a Sunday at the very edge of the world, a fitting place to witness an extraordinary performance from New Zealand band The All Seeing Hand. I had already recently noted the remarkable level of talent coming out of New Zealand in my recent review of Fazerdaze, and The All Seeing …
Track – Velvet Flare – Animal
Straight out of Brisbane and seemingly via the tenements of London comes Velvet Flare with “Animal”, a visceral, angry stab of glam rock that has all the hallmarks of an Antipodean Suede. Singer Paul English has a soaring voice, complete with eviscerating lyrics, that moves effortlessly into a falsetto over a chugging guitar. The accompanying …
Album Review: The Underground Lovers – Staring at you Staring at Me
In 2013, after a nine year hiatus, Melbourne’s legendary The Underground Lovers returned triumphantly with the album “Weekend” – listed as one of Backseat Mafia’s favourite releases for that year. Luckily, this time round we have not been kept waiting so long – four years later and they are back in business with the release …
News: Dark Mofo Festival
Over the past few years, the city of Hobart in the Australian state of Tasmania has been transformed by the building of a privately-funded art museum called the Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) on the banks of the Derwent River. The museum has achieved international recognition for its innovative and eclectic collection and …
Album Review: British Sea Power – Let the Dancers Inherit The Party
The iconic British Sea Power are back after a four year hiatus with one of their best albums since my personal favourite “Open Season” (released way back in 2005). “Let The Dancers Inherit The Party” is the same BSP as before but with added melodic bounce, the same amount of fresh, almost childish, optimism mixed …
Track: Secret Shine – For You, plus new album news
Secret Shine’s new release “There is Only Now” is a classic brew of shoegaze and dream pop – elements of Disintegration-era The Cure mixed in with a clearer and more distinct My Bloody Valentine or Lush. It is an album filled with waves of sonic reverb and chorus, with arpeggiated synthesisers interweaving with a more …
News: Fazerdaze announce European tour dates
New Zealand indie quartet Fazerdaze are about to release an album, Morningside. It’s a record that has an evocative mix of angular, chiming music and ultimate pop sensibility. What is even more astounding is that Fazerdale frontwoman Amelia Murray wrote, recorded and produced the album by herself. The three singles released so far perfectly capture …
Album Review: Fazerdaze – Morningside
I’m just going to go straight to the point about Morningside, the debut album from Fazerdaze (essentially the output of New Zealand’s Amelia Murray). It is an extraordinarily accomplished work of art. I could just say go and order the album without hesitation and leave it at that. It’s that good. However, I shall indulge, …
New Video: The Dandy Warhols – Thick Girls Knock Me Out (Richard Starkey)
I confess I was a little uncomfortable reviewing the video of a song with such a bewildering title after International Women’s Day, but then, with the nonsensical inclusion of a tribute to The Beatles’ drummer, Ringo, I realised that nothing The Dandy Warhols release can ever be taken too seriously. This is the shouty, loud …
Album Review: Holy Holy – Paint
Holy Holy, a duo hailing from Melbourne, Australia are about to release their sophomore album, “Paint” through Sony Records on 24 February 2017. This is a delightful pop album which seems to collide seventies harmony-laden vocals with an eighties synth pop mentality to create a very modern soundscape. Holy Holy are without doubt one of …