Backseat Downunder
Track: Cousin Betty pays tribute to the glories of the mixtape in the romping single ‘Tape Hiss’
There is a very specific audience which will recognise the many obscure references to names like Peter Russell Clark, TDK cassette advertisements and Countdown in the new single, ‘Tape Hiss’ from Australian band Cousin Betty. Namely, Australians growing up in the eighties when the music show Countdown ruled the airwaves and provided a musical education …
Track: Buddy Glass paints a poignant tale of family and loss in ‘The Spirit of a Small Town’
In my review of Buddy Glass’s album ‘Wow and Flutter’ last year, I said the album was absolute delight: an immersive journey into the poetic and expressive world of Buddy Glass. Glass has just released a poignant video for the track ‘The Spirit of a Small Town’ – a song dealing with memories of his …
Track: Middle Kids announce release of new album and provide a taster in the brilliant single ‘Questions’
Sydney trio Middle Kids are a band in the ascendant – their debut album ‘Lost Friends’ released in 2018 received universal praise, leading to some notable supports and US tv appearances – check out a stunning live performance of the album here. Ultimately the band moved to Los Angeles where they have worked on their …
Track: The Chills brighten our solar system with new track ‘Monolith’ and announcement of a new album
The sun shines that little brighter and warmer this morning – even here at the southern edge of the world – with news of a new album from New Zealand legends The Chills. Due out on 14 May 2021, ‘Scatterbrain’ is the band’s seventh studio album and will be highly anticipated by those enamoured of …
Track: Barley Passable bottle the essence of a Sydney summer with new single Turnaround
Sydney duo, Barley Passable, have released a veritable slice of summer with their new slinky, sensuous single ‘Turnaround’. It is as if they have bottled the essence of Sydney’s northern beaches – the bleach white beaches, the cloudless blue skies and the driving searing heat, hooning around in panel vans and board shorts eating Chiko …
Track: Brigitte Bardini releases evocative dream pop single ‘Wild Ride’
Hailing from that creative hotspot of Melbourne, Brigitte Bardini has released an enormously impressive dreamy single, ‘Wild Ride’, created almost entirely by herself in the confines of her home studio. Another byproduct of the explosion of creativity inspired by the travails of last year, perhaps, but nonetheless a wholly impressive track filled with sparkle and …
See: Bryan Estepa releases poignant and dreamy video for single Trick of the Light
I was highly impressed by Bryan Estepa‘s recent single ‘Trick of the Light’ – a track that blossoms with every listen – and he has followed this up with a very visually arresting and poignant video. The video, directed by Nicholas Banicevic, perfectly captures the dreamy nostalgic elements of the track with hazy colours and …
News: The classic albums ‘Submarine Bells’ and ‘Soft Bomb’ by The Chills are now re-issued through Flying Nun Records
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the New Zealand indie music scene ever since the heady days of the eighties, with the Dunedin music scene, spearheaded by the legendary Flying Nun Records, the explosive ingredient. And, at the head of the vanguard was, of course, the delectable The Chills. Flying Nun Records have now …
Track: Bryan Estepa: Trick of the Light
Sydney musician Bryan Estepa has impressive song-writing style that is certainly Beatlesesque in delivery, while maintaining his own distinctive delivery and style. His new single ‘Trick of the Light’ showcases his smooth vocals with an extraordinary range as well as the lush and sparkling instrumentation. ‘Trick of the Light’ is infused with a deep melancholia …
See: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever release playful video for ‘The Only One’ and announce tour news
With the magnificent album ‘Sideways to the New Italy‘ making Backseat Mafia’s top 50 albums for 2020 and my favourite 2020 music list from Australia and New Zealand, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (RBCF) continue to sparkle with the release of a video from a track off the album and an announcement of a further gig …