Arun Kendall, Author at Backseat Mafia

EP Review: The Wonder unveil a magnificent slice of incandescent ‘Pop’.

The Wonder have just released their new EP entitled ‘Pop’ and it certainly does what it says on the label: delivering five indelible tracks that are positively ripe with melody and…

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Album Review: Steve Kilbey & the Winged Heels take ‘The Road To Tibooburra’ – an exquisite dreamy journey through the Kilbey expansive universe.

Ass soon as the anthemic jangles begin in the opening rack ‘Adrift’, you know you are back in the heavenly spheres of Kilbey land: where endless melodies flourish like the…

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EP Review: Street Legal release their debut EP ‘Bruxism’ – an eclectic vibrant synth-driven collection of gems ahead of national tour.

‘Bruxism’ (named after the medical term for teeth grinding) is the debut album from Adelaide band Street Legal, and it is a joyous blast of synth pop fun that blasts…

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EP Review: Power popsters Hexham Heads release dynamic bursts of sunshine in self-titled EP, ahead of launch gigs.

There’s nothing more essential as an antidote to the current dark climes as a burst of radiant power pop from Naarm/Melbourne outfit Hexham Heads. Their self-titled EP, released on the…

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News: The Lemonheads announce 2025 Australian tour performing classic albums ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ and ‘Come On Feel the Lemonheads’

The legendary The Lemonheads have today announced a 2025 tour of Australia performing their classic albums ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ and ‘Come On Feel the Lemonheads’ in full for…

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News: Fazerdaze is formally launching the album ‘Soft Power’ with an independently organised gig at the Powerhouse in Auckland.

Last year’s ‘Soft Power’ from Fazerdaze, released through Buttrfly/Virgin Music Group, was for me one of the albums of the year (see my review here). Fazerdaze spent a lot of the…

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Album Review: Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman envelopes us in a shimmering veil of dreamy pop in his sophomore album ‘World Within’.

There is a dreamy heartbreakingly beautiful shimmer to the new album from Aotearoa/New Zealand artist Nik Brinkman that glows like the stars over the expansive southern hemisphere skies. Brinkman last…

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Track: Fontaines D.C. unveil anthemic new single ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young’ ahead of antipodean tour.

Following a year in which Fontaines D.C.‘s album ‘Romance’ almost universally featured in critics’ favourite albums of 2024, the Irish band has just released its brand new single ‘It’s Amazing…

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Track: It’s not a cover – Lutruwita/Tasmania’s go-to musician Jethro Pickett releases the shimmering and lush single ‘Jolene (not a cover)’

Jethro Pickett is the go-to guitarist in his home Lutriwitta/Tasmania – look at any recent release and you will find his signature chiming guitars sparkling somewhere in the mix (Claire…

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Track: Mess Esque unveil the dreamy track ‘Let Me Know You’ ahead of new album release.

It’s been just over three years since Mess Esque – the stunning collaboration between Helen Franzmann (McKisko) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Tren Brothers) – released their self-titled album (see my review here),…

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