Album Reviews
Album Review : Champagne Dub – ‘Rainbow’ : Space-dub and cosmic grooves with a distinct kick.
There are ‘drummers’ and there are ‘more than drummers’. ‘Drummers’ play the drums very well as they move from gig to gig, band to band, session to session. ‘More than drummers’ can also do this but they naturally do the ‘more’. Composing, producing, band leading, improvising, collaborating and beyond, think Charles Hayward or Jim White …
EP review: After release of Kaputt, Sydney punk trio, ARSE, are far from.
The Sydney threesome of Dan Cunningham, Tim Watkins, and Party Dozen’s Jonathan Boulet have squeezed out their latest offering in the form of 6 track EP, Kaputt. The EP sees the band continue its’ frenetic forays into the world of punk rock, and follows on from the band’s previous two EP’s, Safe Word (2019) and Primitive …
EP Review: The Night Packers put together a perfectly formed package of post punk jewels on ‘Loose Carry’, with launch date announced.
We’ve met The Night Packers before when they played a dazzling live set captured by our intrepid Live Editor Deb Pelser just before Christmas (see gallery here). They have now just released their debut EP entitled ‘Loose Carry’ and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable collection of energetic post punk jewels that glitter with a sense of …
EP Review: Blue Nation – Reflections
One of Backseat Mafia’s favourites Blue Nation have returned with a new EP titled Reflections. This follows on from their previous EP Echoes (read our review here) The band collectively state: “This collection of songs represents a journey of creativity, emotion, and camaraderie that we’ve poured our souls into… …’Reflections’ is more than just an …
Album Review: lutruwita’s Christopher Coleman returns solo with ‘Soft Knee Recordings’, a shimmering and deeply personal paean to life.
It seems like a lifetime ago that Christopher Coleman and The Great Escape released the magnificent ‘The Great Tasmanian Escape’ in February 2022 (reviewed here), which rose to the top of the pile in my favourite antipodean albums of 2022. In the intervening time, Christopher Coleman retreated to a shed in nipaluna/Hobart and wrote and …
Album Review: Drew Davies – Holloway Nights
Somewhat of a Backseat Mafia favourite Drew Davies gathered together friends old and new to record Holloway Nights an “almost conceptual; a year in the life of Holloway Road, London” First track and single ‘Bitter End’ is a fantastic way to start, an 80’s tribute of deep throbbing bass and soaring Bowie like vocals that …
Album Review: Ëda Diaz– Suave Bruta : electro – Colombian rhythms and song for today.
Bridges are not just about the places and people they connect, crossing them is an experience in itself. Colombian singer/bassist and song-writer Ëda Diaz’s music is a thrilling reminder of the wonders such a journey can deliver. As a child she shuttled regularly between Paris and Medellin with her French Colombian family, absorbing the languages, …
Album Review: Kyros – Mannequin
Blending elements of prog, electronica, and even 80s pop, Kyros presents a uniquely captivating approach to crafting music, a quality that truly shines on their latest album, ‘Mannequin.’ Commencing with the swirling synthesis of electronics and acoustic guitars in ‘Taste the Day,’ the band initiates the album with an unexpectedly Sufjan Stevens-esque, pop-infused jubilance and …
Album Review: Kirin J Callinan’s Flamboyance, Vulnerability, and Innovation Displayed in Newly Released Album ‘If I Could Sing’ + Tour Dates
The much-anticipated album, ‘If I Could Sing‘, by the iconic Australian artist Kirin J Callinan, is officially out today. Crafted amidst the diverse landscapes of Sydney, Los Angeles, and a remote coastal batch in New Zealand during the isolating times of the pandemic, this release marks a deeply personal journey for Callinan. The collection of …
Album Review: Purple Hearts: Extraordinary Sensations Studio And Live 1979-1986, 3CD Set
The influence of 60s mod bands like The Kinks and The Who can’t be overstated in shaping the musical landscape of the UK in the mid to late 70’s. Fledgling punk bands adopted, adapted and bastardised versions of Daltry & Co, honing their musical chops before eventually venturing on to penning their own songs. The …