Album Review: The Jesus and Mary Chain reveal their stunning ‘Glasgow Eyes’ – an intoxicating mix of swagger and attitude with just a hint of reflection.

Read More

EP: The delicately beautiful ‘Creatures of Habit’ from Brisbane artist Aren’t is an exquisite triumph. Plus news of launch date.

Read More

Premiere: Versari exclusively unveil for us their new EP Brûle: an epic filled with glorious edits and remixes casting a whole new light on the originals

Read More

Bugs from Brisbane are a welcomed form of species: their new single ‘In The Middle (of It) is a vibrant serving of pop punk exuberance that will have you pogoing in your seat. A heady rush of pulsating guitars and sky high choruses are bolstered by some acrobatic singing that soars into the ether with …

Brisbane pop queen Mallrat‘s brilliant EP ‘Driving Music’ (reviewed by me here) and a world tour in 2019 were all followed by a matter of mere months by the horror show of 2020 and 2021. Mallrat did drop a single ‘Rockstar in 2020 but it is great to see her back with her new single …

New Zealand pop sensation BENEE has just announced the release of an EP entitled ‘LYCHEE’ due out through Republic Records on 4 March 2022. It follows the announcement of her first world tour since the pandemic struck, with forty shows scheduled in the northern hemisphere (Europe and the UK in April-May and North America in June) well …

In very exciting news, Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (RBCF) have today announced the release of their third album, ‘Endless Rooms’ – out Friday, 6 May 2022 through Ivy League Records and Sub Pop. Of course this a welcome return following the magnificent album ‘Sideways to the New Italy‘ which made Backseat Mafia’s top 50 albums for 2020 …

We are pleased to premiere the thundering new single ‘falling faster slowly’ from Sydney-based band RADICALS: a four minute earth-shattering aural blitzkrieg. A pounding rhythm section provides an anchor for the excoriating buzzing guitars and the sonorous, melodic vocals, cutting like a knife through butter. It is highly cathartic rock’n’roll. Lead vocalist Brandon Wade says …

‘Isolation’, from Sydney band ‘A Place In The Sky’ is a pulse-quickening and heady collection of jingle jangle pop classics, with vaulting choruses and harmonies that sparkle and shine. There is a fundamental pop sensibility that winds its way through the EP: a golden thread of sparkling guitars and indelible melodies. Opening track ‘Judge and …

We are ever so pleased to premiere the fizzy fuzzy onslaught of ‘Be Your Man’ from the ever reliable, ever fun The Grogans. Having delighted us last year with the exuberant ‘Just A Kid’ (reviewed by me here), The Gogans continue full throttle with a blast of utterly cathartic garage rock with all essential ingredients …

First an interesting backdrop. Local Hobartian David Walsh made an enormous fortune in the world of gambling due to some proficiency in mathematical chance – I don’t know the details and he may well still be involved in such capers. What I do know is that rather than keeping the fruits of his fortunes to …

Hailing from the world centre of music creativity, Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand, Mild Orange have built a world reputation with their brand of exquisitely dreamy pop (but don’t mention shoegaze). Here at the antipodean offices of Backseat Mafia, the band has caught our attention over the last 12 months with a …

Loose Fit have an angular jagged art pop sound that is quite unique and utterly satisfying. We covered their recent release ‘Exhale’ and found it an exhilarating tour de force, and now the band commences 2022 with news of their debut album ‘Social Graces’, out through Fatcat Records/Spunk Records on 28 April 2022. And to …