This is a new section of Backseat Mafia that provides a quick rundown of recent releases from the shores of Australia and New Zealand.
Kylie Minogue, the Australian national icon, assumed a mantle of coolness when she collaborated with Manic Street Preachers and Nick Cave and associated with Michael Hutchence from INXS, and it cannot be denied her recent catalogue has not been too bad, leaving the Stock, Aitken and Waterman days well and truly behind . Kylie – for there is no other way to refer to her – has just announced the release of a new album to be entitled ‘Disco’ on 6 November 2020 along with a zippy new single ‘Say Something’:
Album out 6 November 2020 through Liberator Music/BMG. Available to pre-order here
Hoodoo Gurus have form as one of the great indie bands of the late eighties and were pioneers of a sort of Western Australian brand of grunge rock along with The Scientists before veering into psychedelia. They are back with a new single ‘Hung Out to Dry’ with a video that makes no bones about their feelings about the US President. Anyway: it is back to form with a style that matches their brilliant debut album ‘Stoneage Romeos’:
Cub Sport are riding high in Australia and overseas with their brand of alt pop music and they have just released a new album entitled ‘Like Nirvana’ that explores themes of acceptance and love in a gorgeous pop symphony, including a seven minute opus with one of our favourite artists, Brisbane’s Mallrat. Available to download and stream everywhere. Check out their recent live performance of track ‘Be Your Man’:
James Reyne fronted Australian legends Australian Crawl in the eighties and has maintained a solid career ever since as a solo artist. He has released a new album ‘Toon Town Lullaby’ – his 13th solo album – which is full of personal narratives sung in his distinctive voice. You can download/stream the album here.
