Arun Kendall, Author at Backseat Mafia

Premiere: Stina Stjern – Me and the Moth plus EP Review

It’s been two years since I reviewed Norway’s Stina Stjern‘s extraordinary album ‘Kap Herschell’ – describing it as an enigmatic, haunting masterpiece that seems to capture the Arctic chill of…

View Post

View Post

Track: Empathy Test – Monsters

With a name influenced by Bladerunner, Empathy Test are already streets ahead in my eyes, but their new single ‘Monsters’ provides indelible proof that this is a remarkable band. Initially…

View Post

View Post

Track: Squid Fishing – Elevator

Melbourne-based band with origins in Hobart, Squid Fishing, have released a new single ‘Elevator’ that perfectly captures a laconic antipodean attitude in a fresh and evocative tone. It’s part punk,…

View Post

View Post

Track: Melenas – Primer Tiempo

‘Primer Tiempo’, the new single from Pamplona, Spain’s power pop garage band Melenas, is a panacea for our weird pandemic world. It is a synth-driven piece of pop perfection that…

View Post

View Post

Track: Rex – Palaces

Amsterdam-based trio Rex have released an epic single ‘Palaces’ which has about it an exciting studied pose and swagger, and a video that captures this band’s cool presence. Singer Jonathan…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: Unruly Girls – Epidemic

Two and a half years ago, Italy’s Unruly Girls unleashed their debut album ‘Cruel Tales’, reviewed by me in September 2017. This was a stunning debut: anarchic, arrogant and infused…

View Post

View Post

Music

Track: DMA’s – The Glow

Australia’s DMA’s continue to forge a bright and exhilarating path of their own with the release of the third single – ‘The Glow’ – off their forthcoming album ‘The Glow’,…

View Post

View Post

Interview: Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten)

The legendary Einstürzende Neubauten (Collapsing New Buildings) will be releasing their first album in 12 years (if you don’t count the commissioned work Lament) entitled ‘Alles in Allem’ (All in…

View Post

View Post

Track / Video

Track: Coalfalls – Coalfalls/Stephenson Street

The challenge that instrumental bands have is being able to evoke images and ideas without words – and bands like Mogwai and (for the older readers) The Durutti Column are…

View Post

View Post

Track / Video

Jack Bratt is a Brisbane performer who has recently received the prestigious Grant McLennan Fellowship jointly funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Performing Rights Association.…

View Post

Pages

Arun Kendall

Premiere: Stina Stjern – Me and the Moth plus EP Review

Track: Empathy Test – Monsters

Track: Squid Fishing – Elevator

Track: Melenas – Primer Tiempo

Track: Rex – Palaces

Album Review: Unruly Girls – Epidemic

Track: DMA’s – The Glow

Interview: Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten)

Track: Coalfalls – Coalfalls/Stephenson Street

Track: Jack Bratt – Spades