Music
EP/Track: The Nature Strip – Past Pacific
Pure power pop harmonies leavened by a self deprecating sense of humour encapsulates the many layered charms of Sydney’s The Nature Strip. Their new EP, Past Pacific maintains an impeccable standard they have set since forming in 2013 and over four previous releases (Stars Turn Inside Out, 2013, EP Plainclothes, 2014, Presents, 2016, and Beetle …
Not Forgotten: Eels – Electro-Shock Blues
Electro-Shock Blues might very well be one of the bravest albums ever released. Although Mark Oliver Everett (a.k.a E) had released a couple of solo albums prior to Eels’ debut, 1996’s Beautiful Freak had the tastemakers throwing about wildly optimistic missives about Eels being the great hope for the future of American rock music. After …
Track: Celestial North – The Land, The Sea, The Human Race
The Land, The Sea, The Human Race is the latest addition to Celestial North’s clutch of tunes. Adding a bit of brooding oomph to its predecessors’ more delicate charms, it’s a nifty bit of pastoral goth. Something get those of us who properly remember the 80s digging out a paisley shirt and indulging in a …
News: Farewell Bastard Song, By Toad – a celebration
A few days back Matthew Young who runs Song, By Toad Records let slip that he was calling it a day. While a decade of doing anything is a lot and it’s often better for everyone that people move on and do new stuff, Song, By Toad will be missed – not least by me. …
Album Review: Steven Page – Discipline: Heal Thyself, Pt. II
Sometimes the most unexpected thing can catch your attention and send you down an avenue and into a field of knowledge that you ever thought you’d end up in. A few weeks ago I heard the recent Steven Page single “White Noise” for the first time, and I really enjoyed it. Minimal research revealed that …
Say Psych: Track: The Oscillation – Drop
Following a recalibration and consolidation with their recent electronics-inflected album, 2018’s U.E.F., The Oscillation is back with their sixth and most ambitious album to date, Wasted Space, and to coincide with the release have issued forth hedonistic number ‘Drop’ as well as a string of live dates with label mates Lumerians. “The origins of Wasted …
Say Psych: Track: The Underground Youth – Fill The Void
There aren’t many bands around in the gloomy world of contemporary psych and post-punk who can even come close to The Underground Youth in terms of sheer, relentless work ethic. Since the release of the band’s eighth LP What Kind of Dystopian Hellhole Is This? in February 2017 the band have embarked on four extensive …
Live Review: Enslaved / Solstafir – The Zoo, Brisbane, Austraila 31.08.18
VENUE: The Zoo, Brisbane, Australia : August 31st When word was out a few months back regarding the return of Enslaved to Australian shores, the local metal collective was beside themselves with joy! It had been five years since the legendary Norwegian Metal horde had last graced us with their presence. The whole visitation was …
New Music – AMA//MIZU – Discordant In Colour
Seeking inspiration as diverse as the likes of Dirty Projectors, I:Cube and Scott Walker, AMA//MIZU is defined by a desire to seek authentic and unusual sounds. Weather a circuit bent drum machine or pieces of wood, anything becomes a tool in his South London based bedroom studio. It is from the confinement of this small …
Not Forgotten: Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
Even after four and a half decades, there’s still something oddly lovable about The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. I guess it’s the fact that it really tries to be something we all want it to be. Ultimately though, like anything that tries too hard, it fails to reach the goals it …