Features
Feature: Raw Poetic gives us a track by track lowdown on his new album Laminated Skies
Out today is the new, sixth, album from Jason Moore, aka Raw Poetic. The nephew of legendary jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp, and with both parents members of the original Black Panther movement, Moore has impeccable hip-hop credentials, and he’s once again roped in long time collaborator Earl Davis aka Damu the Fudgemunk, alongside guests Pat …
Not Forgotten: We revisit Augie March’s stunning debut ‘Sunset Studies’ from 2000 – still an essential antipodean sonic milestone – which gets a belated 21st birthday party.
By 2000, by the time Y2K anxiety had dissipated and, before the events of 9/11 cast a pall everywhere, post grunge was solidifying its place in the world and the vestiges of Britpop were bouncing along in ever decreasing circles. The Australian indie scene towards the end of the previous decade was mostly typified either …
Playlist: Rising soul singer Mica Millar gives us an exclusive playlist for International Women’s Day.
This being the week of International Women’s Day, we managed to get an exclusive playlist from Manchester singer Mica Millar – formally of Red Sky Noise, who’s picked us a playlist of powerful songs from powerful women to celebrate. Her own single Girl came out on the day, and was inspired by the stories shared …
Feature: Blood Red Shoes give us a track by track feature on new album Ghosts On Tape
Out today is the new album from Blood Red Shoes; Ghosts on Tape, and we’re delighted that Steven Ansell and Laura Mary Carter who make up the duo have given us an insight into each track on the album. Produced by Tom Dalgety (Pixies, Royal Brood), the pair went into Echo Zoo Studios in March …
Feature: We speak with Memes – One to Watch in 2022
Lets put aside the continuing uncertainty for live music due to the pandemic and instead celebrate fresh new music. Memes are amongst several bands looking to build on progress made in 2021. I took the opportunity to have a chat with the duo to learn more about their music, of their plans for 2022 and …
100 albums of 2021 you shouldn’t miss, plus playlist
In a moment a folly, I (not me and my editorial team, or my writers, or indeed anyone) decided to make a playlist of the year. Not one of those in order ones, just a playlist of good records, written by the esteemed writers here at Backseat Mafia. I don’t know what possessed me to …
Backseat Downunder: A Personal Top Fifty List of Favourite Australian/New Zealand Albums and Singles from 2021
This has been another extraordinary year which has seen musicians reach peak creativity locked away in their bedrooms, recording studios, recording studios in their bedrooms and all manner of locations – a side effect of the lockdowns that have beset both Australia and New Zealand. The sheer volume of releases seems to me to have …
Not Forgotten: The Jasmine Minks – ‘The Jasmine Minks’: on older brothers, cassette pets and discovering the world of Creation
MY ROUTE into The Jasmine Minks and the whole world of early Creation Records – Slaughter Joe, Biff Bang Pow, Revolving Paint Dream and so many others? Mine was the time-honoured one: that is, the combined good agency of a friend’s older brother and the humble cassette. It’s a story repeated everywhere there are older …
Feature: The Scaramanga Six give us a track by track insight into their new album Worthless Music
Out today is the new album, Worhtless Music, from Yorkshire art-rockers The Scaramanga Six, aka brothers Paul and Steven Morricone, alongside Julia Arnez and Gareth Champion. Their tenth album to date, it’s out on their own Wrath Records imprint, and comes in the wake of a handful of singles; Horse With No Face, It Is …
Soundtrack Of Our Lives: Patrick Pearson of LYR
If you heard last years brilliant Call In The Crash Team, no doubt you’ll be a fan of LYR, the band comprised of poet laureate Simon Armitage alongside producers Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson. It’s slightly amazing and at the same time disconcerting that the band didn’t seem to get the recognition they so richly …