New wave
See: Full Time Hobby sign Devon’s Pale Blue Eyes, who debut with the smart new wave of ‘TV Flicker’
NEWLY signed to the ace Full Time Hobby, where they’ll find themselves grazing amongst the likes of Tunng, The Besnard Lakes and Dana Gavanski, Pale Blue Eyes are a young electro-modernist guitar trio from the South Devon riverside town of Totnes. Think a castle, farmers’ markets and one of the best record shops in the …
Track: The magnificent Thrillhouse are back with a sparkling new single ‘It’ll Be Alright In The End’ and news of an EP ‘Wedding Disco’
The eternally enigmatic Thrillhouse have returned to the fray with another stylistic and cool track ‘It’ll Be Alright In The End’ and, as a shocking addendum, news that they will be releasing a full EP entitled ‘Wedding Disco’. The Brighton band have thrilled with a series of utterly brilliant singles – nine or so – …
Feature: A Buyer’s Guide to DEVO
Devo is a band that seems destined to be eternally misunderstood, probably because of multi-faceted elements in the pot. Many adjectives and nouns spring forth – humorous, novelty, plastic, comedy, but dig beyond the superficial and you’ll find subversive, pioneers, provocateurs, innovators, and let’s not forget entertainers, and if you’ve ever had the pleasure to see …
See: The brilliant Sydney post punk exponents Johnny Hunter release powerful video for the single ‘Life’
I’ve waxed lyrical about the genius that is Johnny Hunter – one of the most exciting acts in the world at the moment. Their glam theatrical approach is mesmerising and exciting and their songwriting recalls the best of post punk movement with sonorous vocals, icy, edgy guitars and anthemic choruses. Jonny Hunter have just released …
PREMIERE: My Son the Doctor find the sweet spot between jazz and punk on animated new single ‘Rubber Hands’
We’ve got a lot of time for Brooklynites My Son the Doctor here at Backseat Mafia. We premiered ‘Bethany’ a couple of weeks ago, and with the release of their new EP on the horizon, we’ve got one last appetiser for you before the full six-song meal is served up next week, in the form …
PREMIERE: My Son the Doctor play with pop-punk tropes on spiky new song ‘Bethany’
Subversions of popular songwriting tropes, if done well, can really speak to an artist’s strengths. In the case of Brooklynite new wave bunch My Son the Doctor, their new song skewers a classic pop-punk fallback: the mutually toxic relationship. Its subject? Er… we’ll let the band explain that one. “We genuinely love pop-punk and thought, …
Track: Sydney’s glorious Johnny Hunter is back for more with an evocative and shimmering slice of ‘Life’
One of the most exciting and dynamic bands in the antipodean region, in my humble opinion, Johnny Hunter, is back with another exciting release ‘Life’. This follows the July release of ‘The Floor’ (reviewed by me here) and last year’s EP ‘Early Trauma’ (reviewed here). ‘Life’ is infused with the same vitality and theatricality we …
Premiere: Versari release chilling, mysterious and enigmatic video for the epic track ‘Brûle’
Versari put on display their cool and arctic nature with the brilliant new video for the track ‘Brûle’, one which we are proud to premiere here on Backseat Mafia today. A clever remix of ‘Brûle’ was recently released in an EP of the same name, premiered by Backseat Mafia recently, and the original track comes …
News: Skids covers album – ‘Songs From a Haunted Ballroom’
Scottish Punk icons, Skids have recorded their first ever covers album. It’s a tribute to the Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline, which served as both club and venue in their formative years. The choice of tracks is based on the seminal tracks played there and the legendary concerts that took place, often with Skids in the …
News: Live Skull Announce new album ‘Dangerous Visions’ – A collection of new and old recordings, including unreleased tracks from their 1989 Peel Session
NYC’s Live Skull have announced a new album, ‘Dangerous Visions’, to be released via Bronson Recordings on December 11th. Emerging in the early 80s at the end of New York’s legendary No Wave scene alongside Manhattan comrades Sonic Youth and Swans, Live Skull reshaped the aggression of burned-out post-punk into heavy, guitar-driven rock. This new release showcases their evolution, with Side 1 featuring …