backseat downunder
Track: Julienne Harvey’s ‘Rot’ is an enigmatic and thrilling gothic trip.
In her new single ‘Rot’, Sydney artist Julienne Harvey‘s soaring vocals seem aged in a whiskey-soaked barrel, and delivered with added melancholia in some darkened cavern in the early hours of the morning after a night of glorious excess. Influenced by the like of Radiohead and Portishead, it is rather incredible that at the time …
Premiere: Mako Bron’s ‘cloudbites’ EP is an effervescent and glorious pop masterpiece, with a dark heart and uplifting melodies.
Mako Bron is the brainchild of one musician/producer Chris Brookman, and the single ‘Straight Down’ went to straight up to my top five Australian/New Zealand single releases for 2021. We at Backseat Mafia are therefore absolutely thrilled to be asked to premiere Mako Bron’s new EP, ‘cloudbites’, set for release on 3 January 2022. Brookman …
Premiere: The mysterious Dänmark unveil their new emotive and anthemic single ‘We Come Unseen’ as part of False Peak Records’ advent treats.
We are very honoured to premiere the new single ‘We Come Unseen’ from the mysterious Brisbane group Dänmark – a part of the luminescent False Peak Records stable which have been releasing all manner of tasty treats in the lead up to the big day tomorrow. Over the past 11 days we have already seen releases …
Premiere: The prodigious and highly talented Remy Boccalatte unveils new solo track ‘Kodama’ ahead of a solo album: an ethereal and mystical journey.
Remy Boccalatte must have some magical machine that renders him super powers in the world of creative endeavours. He has a day job (as many in the creative world are forced to have) but manages to helm one of the most innovative and exciting labels in Australia (False Peaks Records) marketing some incredible talent (both …
Live review: Return To White Chairs – a blistering night down punk’s memory lane – The Triffid, Brisbane 19.12.2021
Return to White Chairs Volume 3 rocked the Triffid in Brisbane on Sunday night. It was a trip down Brisbane punk memory lane, with 10 bands on the line-up set to a back drop of images and old gig posters from way back when. The event was a fundraiser for the Growing Nepal Foundation. White Chairs was …
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 …
See: Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba’s incredible and improbable collaboration continues to bloom with the release of a video for the absolutely brilliant track ‘What’s Not To Like’, plus EP and tour news.
The musical collaboration between Australia’s foremost indie dance pop outfits Lime Cordiale and iconic and enigmatic British actor Idris Elba is at first blush one of the most outlandish concepts imaginable. Following the fabulous single ‘Apple Crumble’ released last month, the dynamic paring have just released the brilliant track ‘What’s Not To Like’ as another …
Track: New Zealand’s enigmatic T.G. Shand gifts us with an exquisite new track ‘Seats’ for the festive season and announces new album for 2022
Ōtautahi/Christchurch resident Annemarie Duff, formerly of the legendary Melbourne shoegaze band Miniatures (on the iconic Saint Marie Records label) is T.G. Shand: the producer of some of the most dreamy velvet textured shoegaze dream pop this year through her singles ‘Lemony‘ and ‘The Ease‘. And with the hint of an album coming out in the new year, Duff is …
Track: Sunshine Coast’s Dr Mann prescribes a little alt country goodness with debut single ‘Stubborn Mule’.
Daniel Mann is a busy man. In his other guise, he plays in the jangling indie outfit Swimsuit Issue which released a well-received debut album this year (‘Burn For The Buzz’ – read my review here), and as CEO of label and PR group Bueno Bueno Sound, Mann has also made time to nurture a …
News: The legendary Billy Bragg announces expansive tour of Australia in the new year.
The Bard of Barking, the legendary Billy Bragg, is coming back to Australia to perform his long awaited ‘One Step Forward. Two Steps Back’ Tour, playing some of the most iconic albums released throughout his illustrious career, plus songs from his recent tenth studio album, ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’. The ‘One Step Forward. Two Steps …