Arun Kendall, Author at Backseat Mafia

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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Track: Call the ‘Deviant Hotline’ – it’s Low Monroe with a deliciously dark and visceral track, with launch date announced.

Low Monroe – the nom de plume of multi-instrumentalist and producer Mark Sergi – has just released a deliciously dark slice of gothic fuzz in the form of ‘Deviant Hotline’.…

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Premiere: Left Cassette are ‘Always Kinda Late’ – a shimmering anthemic blast of indie pop.

‘Always Kinda Late’ from Meanjin/Brisbane-based indie-rock act Left Cassette is a thoroughly satisfying blast of Brit-pop influenced indie rock that shimmers with its anthemic delivery. There are traces of fellow…

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News: The Beasts are on the prowl and you can catch them live this weekend with new video for ‘Shoot Me’ unleashed.

The prowling blistering Beasts of Bourbon ruled supreme in the eighties – a sort of supergroup of legends that seemed steeped in swampy indulgence and bacchanalia in the vibrant music scene in…

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Album Review: Balinese gamelan orchestra Gamelan DanAnda collaborate with electro-jazz fusion group Firetail to release the enchanting album ‘Anglayang’

The collaboration between Naarm/Melbourne-based Balinese gamelan orchestra Gamelan DanAnda and electro-jazz fusion group Firetail has resulted in the fascinating album ‘Anglayang’ which has just been released through Komunitas Records. Creating…

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Track: Merpire has a ‘Premonition’ – a deliciously yearning and romantic track, ahead of live appearance.

It’s been four years since we reviewed Merpire‘s last official release, the album ‘Simulation Ride’, and the Naarm/Melbourne-based award-winning multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter (the nom-de-plume of Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt) is back…

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