Backseat Downunder
Track: Sydney’s Magnetic Heads unveil the gorgeous and graceful track ‘Time of Your Life’, and announce new album ‘Moral Outage’ for August
There is a sparse and melodic grace to the new single from Sydney band Magnetic Heads (the work of singer/songwriter Des Miller and producer/musician Liam Judson (Belles Will Ring, Lewis Goldmark)). Open, thrumming and celestial instrumentation provides a comforting bedrock for Miller’s elegant vocals, sometime soaring, sometimes speaking, always enigmatic and posed, replete with backing …
Album review: Tijuana Cartel give a delectable dose of hazily psychedelic escapism on new album ‘Acid Pony’ – out this Friday
Australian electro-dance group Tijuana Cartel are preparing for the release of their highly-anticipated new album ‘Acid Pony’ this Friday, 4 June. The captivating record comprises a perfectly eclectic assemblage of seven tracks, produced by Gold Coast band members Carey O’Sullivan and Paul George. Featuring a myriad of mind-altering musical elements ‘Acid Pony’ defines the group’s ability …
News: New Zealand’s Womb announce EP ‘Holding a Flame’, out through Flying Nun Records, and tour dates
Shoegaze/dream pop exponents extraordinaire, Womb, from Pōneke (Wellington) have just announced the release of a new EP – ‘Holding a Flame’ – on 23 June 2021 through the inestimable and legendary Flying Nun Records. What a powerful combination. To launch this event, Womb will be embarking on a Aotearoa/New Zealand-wide tour. ‘Holding a Flame’ is a …
Album Review: Steve Kilbey & the Winged Heels soar into another celestial sphere with double album ‘The Hall of Counterfeits’, plus tour news
It is difficult to comprehend that in the space of a little over twelve months, Steve Kilbey has released three monumental albums under various guises (read my reviews of ‘Chryse Planitia‘ with Gareth Koch, ‘Jupiter 13‘ with Martin Kennedy, ‘Eleven Women‘ as a solo effort). And now Kilbey gifts us the monumental double album ‘The …
Premiere: New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman produces a languid and dreamy ‘Candy’, infused with a psychedelic haze
New Zealand artist Nik Brinkman has the languorous, snarling indifferent vocals of The Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with a dreamy, multicoloured haze that, in his new track ‘Candy’ that we are very honoured to premiere today on Backseat Mafia, creates an absolutely delicious piece of punky psychedelia. Hazy reverb and flange soaked instrumentation waltzes …
Track: Jesabel releases debut single ‘Gemini’ and it’s a spinning mirror ball of a gem
She’s spent the last 8 years DJing at massive festivals around Australia, South East Asia and New Zealand as well as playing alongside and supporting artists including Ed Sheeran, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Bliss N Eso, Showtek, Timmy Trumpet, Will Sparks and Havana Brown. And now, EDM scene mainstayer, Jesabel is riding on the release of her electro-pop debut, Gemini. The track takes its …
See: The enigmatic Second Idol unveils gritty video for the thumping single ‘Out of Time’
Second Idol‘s powerful EP ‘Defence Mechanism’, reviewed by me here, is a refreshing blast of indie rock, and the band has just released a video for the brilliant track ‘Out of Time’. It’s a simple performance piece that reinforces the fact that this is a band with an enormous presence and enigmatic style. Cool, louche …
Track: Make a montage release the evocative dreamy instrumental ‘Horizon Blur’.
There is an indelible feeling of euphoria emanating from the new instrumental track by Brisbane band Make a montage. The track surges and recedes and flows with a sparkle and vivacity: scaling guitars that sweep over the wash of percussion and strings: distance feedback squalls like seabirds in flight and there is a magnificent, pulse …
Album Review: Sturt Avenue’s debut album ‘How Do You Think It Should Be?’ delivers a special kind of indie-folk from its homegrown heart
South Australian band Sturt Avenue are set to release their debut album ‘How Do You Think It Should Be?’ next Friday, 4 June. Having already released 4 of the tracks as singles, the complete album has been long-anticipated. Based in Adelaide, the folk music collective is led by SCALA award-winning singer/songwriter Bryn Soden and supported by a …
Premiere: Ipswich instrumental magicians Coalfalls provide us with an exclusive listen to their new EP ‘Pieces’: a shimmering sonic temple
Ipswich band Coalfalls achieve something remarkable for a band that plays instrumentals: they create the most evocative and lush soundscapes that speak volumes without words. We introduced the band last year with their double singles Coalfalls and Stephenson Street evoking a layered shoegaze/dream pop vibe. There is an abstract expressionism in their pieces that sparkles …