Music
Classic Album: Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
When it came to Physical Graffiti Led Zeppelin opted to make the biggest splash instead of the most impressive splash.
Track: Nick Byrne – Houses
Inspired by a trip to Liverpool where he saw houses and streets falling into disrepair, Houses is the new single from singer-songwriter Nick Byrne. The track itself is a little underplayed gem of indie folk – hushed vocals, fingerpicked guitars and this insistent but low key little synth figure that gives way to the electric …
Live: The Lost Tapes/ Reservoir, Le Garage, Liège, Belgium
Local duo ‘Reservoir’ open tonight’s show with a lush guitar-driven set, oozing post-punk Manchester. With left-handed bass and right-handed guitar they even evoke that visual Beatles symmetry, and throwing in a cover of New Order’s ‘Ceremony’ is a smart move and beautifully executed. No-one else is mining that rich seam of indie bliss in these …
Premiere: Alyrah – Twin Flame Portal EP plus single The Empress
Backseat Mafia is very proud to premiere the single ‘The Empress’ from Australian artist Alyrah, as well as her forthcoming EP ‘Twin Flame Portal’, due out on 28 February 2020. Hailing from Sydney, Alyrah is an indie-electronic artist and producer with, based on this release, an enormous amount of talent and a very distinct and …
Album Review: Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch – Chryse Planitia
Living legend Steve Kilbey, the powerhouse behind one of Australia’s greatest exports – The Church – has just released an intriguing and delightful collaboration with Viennese-trained classical musician Gareth Koch called ‘Chryse Planitia’. The result is a beautiful set of 10 tracks that mix Kilbey’s deep sonorous vocals and his mystical lyrics with delicate and …
Track: Archers of Loaf – Raleigh Days
90s indie rock legends Archers of Loaf have returned with their first new music since 1998. ‘Raleigh Days’ is an infectious, power pop-infused song that pays tribute to the capital of North Carolina, the quartet’s home state. The infectious lead guitar line from Eric Johnson and the song’s summery, shiny production values were a tonic …
Track: Marker Starling – Waiting For Grace
Chris A. Cummings was described as a “Toronto music scene secret.” and I must admit I was in the dark myself. His first single off new album High January comes in the form of a catchy pop joy – Waiting For Grace featuring Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab. Waiting For Grace bobs along at a steady pace …
Track: The Proper Ornaments – Purple Hearts plus album news
The Proper Ornaments are an unashamedly guitar-driven band and the low-fi single ‘Purple Hearts’ is an absolute delight: a melancholic ramble infused with a sleepy bohemian rhythmic quality: There’s a sparseness and a majesty in this song – simple yet loaded with feeling. The song is off The Proper Ornament’s forthcoming album ‘Mission Bells’ due …
Album Review: Courtney Barnett – MTV Unplugged Live in Melbourne plus tour news
Australia’s iconic balladeer Courtney Barnett has just released an MTV Unplugged Live in Melbourne on the eve of an announcement that she will be supporting fellow Melburnian Nick Cave with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds UK and Ireland tour. Bringing together a host of music luminaries, with some covers, some golden oldies and a …
Track: Dub Mentor – Hysteria (Wuhan Fight Dub)
Based on the Mark Stewart classic and with a stellar range of guests including Stephen Mallinder, Anna Domino, Ghalia Benali, Tao Weiss, Julia Rovinsky, Yao Xu and the people of Wuhan China, Hysteria is the new single from UK producer Dub Mentor. True to his title, Dub Mentor has produced something that marries the influence …