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 …
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 …
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 …
EP: The Clouds – Zaffre
Along with bands like The Underground Lovers, The Falling Joys and Ratcat, The Clouds held the banner for classic indie pop in Australia in the late eighties, early nineties.The sweet duel vocal harmonies of Jody Phillis and Patricia Young were underpinned by a muscular rhythm section and jangling guitars. Their album, Penny Century, is often …