Tag: "Indie rock"

Local Natives Announce 2013 Australian Tour
0 Comments. 594 Views. Posted 23 Jan 2013 @ 10:59am.
LA indies Local Natives are hitting our shores to coincide with the release of their sophomore album Hummingbird. The band who are known for their ambient harmonies, pensive lyrics and austerity, will return for the first time in three years to showcase a collection of hits from their debut Gorilla Manor, and their new album Hummingbird, which will hit stores this Friday January 25. Read More
Dappled Cities
0 Comments. 785 Views. Posted 26 Apr 2012 @ 6:43am.
  At five o’clock on a Friday afternoon, Tim Derricourt steps out of work and jumps into the beginning of a relaxing weekend, though not before a near-miss with an Audi and fielding a few obligatory questions about his band’s whereabouts. The relaxed and charming co-front man for Sydney quintet Dappled Cities expands on the excitement of releasing a new single, the slow coming-together of... Read More
Field Music : Plumb
0 Comments. 774 Views. Posted 28 Mar 2012 @ 5:43am.
  Creatively-boisterous siblings Peter and David Brewis – aka Field Music – have indulged in fits of whimsical experimentation for this, their brand new LP. Their steep ambition has come at a price, however: Plumb is defined by a disorienting incoherence, making for a decidedly challenging listening experience.   The record concerns itself with a mischievous whimsy, lofty and forever... Read More
SXSW 2012 @ Austin, Texas
0 Comments. 2,061 Views. Posted 20 Mar 2012 @ 12:20pm.
  In his inspired and inspiring SXSW keynote address, Bruce Springsteen quoted legendary music critic Lester Bangs, who wrote that Elvis Presley was the last thing that we would all agree on. Springsteen talked about a time when there were so few bands around that record stores didn’t exist, when albums were racked in a corner of the local drug store. Not anymore. There are more music... Read More
Lower Dens : Brains
0 Comments. 583 Views. Posted 7 Mar 2012 @ 9:48am.
  Brains is a lush, simmering brew of muted indie rock vocals and chugging glitch, an overwhelming kind of song that drowns you in a sea of sound and tickles you with the detail. That’s what it feels like – getting tickled underwater. A brilliant, hypnotising tune. Read More
Real Estate : Easy
0 Comments. 517 Views. Posted 7 Mar 2012 @ 9:35am.
  Real Estate’s sunny sixties psych pop has a bit of muscle under the surface – a kicking rhythm to drive the washed out harmonies and twanging guitar patterns. I’m getting a bit of an emperor’s new clothes feel about this one though – the their rolling, dreamy indie rock is nice but awfully forgettable.   Read More
Digitalism Sideshow
0 Comments. 1,396 Views. Posted 1 Mar 2012 @ 2:27pm.
Hot on the heels of their announcement on the 2012 Groovin' The Moo lineup, the German duo Digitalism have announced a Melbourne sideshow. The two were last on Australian shores for the 2011 Parklife tour, and after receiving rapturous acclaim are swiftly returning to showcase their unique blend of electro, indie and rock. Read More
Battleships : In Retrospect
0 Comments. 997 Views. Posted 29 Feb 2012 @ 8:27am.
  Battleships are a new Sydney band, In Retrospect is their debut single. It’s a curious beast, straddling straight indie, dream pop and grander baroque rock noodling. The vocal sound is naïve and slightly nerdy, but the music has a trembling sort of ambition. Not a terrifically strong sound, but not bad for a first effort. Read More
Iowa : Panic Attack
0 Comments. 823 Views. Posted 29 Feb 2012 @ 8:22am.
  Melbourne three-piece Iowa follow Complete Control with an ode to the fuzzier side of grunge rock, a heavy but melodic churn of guitars that follows in the shoe-gazing footsteps of Dinosaur Jr. Panic Attack is a dynamic and thoughtful revision of the genre, but it’s not terrifically memorable. Could make for a killer live show, mind you.   Read More
Devotional : Mercy
0 Comments. 749 Views. Posted 29 Feb 2012 @ 8:16am.
  This washed out drift of indie rock recalls American Analogue Set, with its scrawling guitars and wispy, Mazzy Starr-like vocal performance. It’s a gentle and atmospheric effort from Sydney’s Devotional (formerly called A Casual End Mile), but it doesn’t improve on its predecessors. Read More
The Count With... Sketch Club
0 Comments. 826 Views. Posted 23 Feb 2012 @ 7:29am.
  Ten bands everyone should know about: Snowden, Drawn From Bees, Expatriate, You Am I, Joy Division, Doves, Julian Plenti, Boxer Rebellion, Wooden Shijps, and um…Sketch Club.     Nine food items that you need to make a kickarse dinner party: Flour, water, salt, garlic, caramelised onion, tomato paste, mushroom, prosciutto, and mozzarella = good pizza, and we... Read More
Angus Stone : Broken Brights
0 Comments. 1,515 Views. Posted 8 Feb 2012 @ 9:40am.
  The first single from Angus Stone’s new solo album is yet another milky, seductive indie pop tune. Amidst a slow spatter of drums and rich strums of acoustic guitar, his voice creeps like honey, hypnotic and melancholy, like a latter day Elliot Smith.   Read More
Various Artists : The Great Australian Songbook
0 Comments. 985 Views. Posted 26 Jan 2012 @ 11:10am.
  The Great Australian Songbook is a double-CD compilation of what is billed to be “40 of Australia’s finest recording artists performing 40 of the best Australian songs from ‘Last Century’ and ‘This Century’”.   As you can imagine, any collectionwith such noble and lofty ambitions is likely to generate heated debate amongstmusic fans as many listeners will have strong feelings about... Read More
Various Artists : Sound Of Melbourne Records Sampler 2011
0 Comments. 1,905 Views. Posted 18 Jan 2012 @ 8:42am.
  Innovative new indie label Sound of Melbourne Records, which was established by Liverpudlian Joe Grimes and is admirably dedicated to supporting and showcasing unsigned local artists, has positioned this interesting 15 track compilation as the first in a series of annual samplers. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Tash Parker, who has supported performers such as Clare Bowditch and Missy... Read More
Georgia Fair : All Through Winter
0 Comments. 1,111 Views. Posted 13 Jan 2012 @ 8:54am.
When I first saw Georgia Fair play it was in a support slot for Oh Mercy, and the Sydney duo of Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley performed a sublime rendition of Crosby Stills & Nash's Helplessly Hoping. A gutsy play no doubt, but they were able to pull it off - so much so that the pedant in me didn't even get riled up about the ignored third harmony part.   The wistful acoustic finger-... Read More
Single Of The Week No. 2 - Howler : Back Of Your Neck
0 Comments. 1,025 Views. Posted 14 Dec 2011 @ 9:46am.
This clattering fusion of west coast sunshine and jangling garage rock has got me smiling from ear to ear. The debut single from Howler, taken from their forthcoming debut album, is melodic, agitated indie rock somewhere between The Drums and Black Lips. A mangy, effortless backyard party tune to get you through summer. Read More
Tigertown
0 Comments. 4,580 Views. Posted 9 Dec 2011 @ 8:24am.
To many artists, the prospect of playing with their brothers and sisters might be a nightmare thought - not to mention that it only takes a short look into the music history books to find that more than a few sibling rivalries have spelled the demise of bands in the past. However, Chris, guitarist from bohemian, alternative indie Sydney-siders, Tigertown, reassures us that this is not the... Read More
Kurt Vile : So Outta Reach
0 Comments. 1,238 Views. Posted 1 Dec 2011 @ 9:24am.
Outtakes from the Smoke Ring For My Halo recording sessions have been cobbled together to make the So Outta Reach EP, a treat for fans who can't seem to get enough of current indie darling, Kurt Vile. Vile's melancholic, hazy drone of a voice is something you either appreciate as a non-negotiable feature that is somehow aesthetically pleasing as well as monotonous, or you move on... Read More
Bell Weather Department : The Pursuit Of Blue
0 Comments. 882 Views. Posted 30 Nov 2011 @ 8:43am.
As happens disturbingly often, this song sounds a lot like the last one. Sydney's Bell Weather Department use the angular guitars and heart stirring drum patterns of Brooklyn's finest, lifting their sound from bands like Interpol, The National and etc, but adding a softer pop vocal melody. It's not bad, but it isn't particularly memorable. The Pursuit of Blue has a grand scope and a feverish... Read More
Number Station : Hold On
0 Comments. 1,073 Views. Posted 30 Nov 2011 @ 8:38am.
Points for style - Number Station have the most beautiful and environmentally responsible CD packaging I've seen in a while - an origami sleeve that unfolds into a Rothko-esque mini poster. The track walks a fine line between angular Brooklyn style indie rock and a fluid, straight up pop melody. It doesn't smack you over the head with a killer hook or a radically distinctive sound, but the song... Read More
Lester The Fierce : The Summer Deluge
0 Comments. 1,785 Views. Posted 25 Nov 2011 @ 12:00pm.
Though still largely unknown, local artist Anita Lester has already done more in her four year career to push the envelope in music and performance than many do in their lifetime. Lester's first exposure was as the singer songwriter of unorthodox acoustic trio Me And The Grownups, a group whose rich fusion of folk melodic sensibility, classical composition and poetic lyrics, was all the richer... Read More
Oscar And Martin
0 Comments. 1,237 Views. Posted 25 Nov 2011 @ 9:09am.
Much like the mythological Phoenix, local art-pop duo Oscar and Martin rose from the ashes of well-regarded five-piece musical ensemble Psuche after it imploded last year, its various members having decided to move on to continue school, travel overseas, get married and start other bands. Now, with their debut album For You garnering positive reviews and preparing themselves for their... Read More
Dusken Lights : Little Shelley’s Bottom Is The Top
0 Comments. 1,210 Views. Posted 16 Nov 2011 @ 1:22pm.
This song is such a gentle exercise in twinkling indie pop that it took me a couple of listens to register that it is about someone's arse. Read More
Snow Patrol : This Isn’t Everything You Are
0 Comments. 815 Views. Posted 16 Nov 2011 @ 12:44pm.
Snow Patrol break out all the stadium rock standards here, with a bombastic all-in chorus and a bit of Arcade Fire baroque pop fairy dust towards the end of the track. They are earnest sons of bitches and I sort of admire them for it, but six albums in I would hope for a little more sonic experimentation. They just keep writing Run over and over, with ever-decreasing emotional impact. Read More
The Vasco Era : The Vasco Era
0 Comments. 1,806 Views. Posted 16 Nov 2011 @ 10:18am.
I firmly believe that the Vasco Era are consummate professionals. I hear you scoffing and rolling your eyes, but hear me out (can you hear someone rolling their eyes?  Hmmm, for the sake of this review… yes) In a day and age where indie rock bands find a blueprint, get some fans and repeat until no one cares anymore, The Vasco Era have released their third Long Player and true to form it... Read More
The Better Mousetrap Treatment : Sidewalk Glass
0 Comments. 1,243 Views. Posted 2 Nov 2011 @ 11:29am.
Brisbane's The Better Mousetrap Treatment walk a careful line between sweet and saccharine with their anachronistic indie pop, which comes barreling out of the late nineties like the noughties never happened. They sound like The Lucksmiths, with more instrumentation, or The Earthmen, with less, hearts bouncing away on their tidy little sleeves. Cute. Read More
I, A Man : Sometimes
0 Comments. 1,007 Views. Posted 19 Oct 2011 @ 3:06pm.
Sometimes is the lovely debut single by Melbourne's I, A Man, a rolling wave of indie rock with a strong psychedelic flavour. On paper, the lyrics are kind of sad - Daniel Moss sings "you're always on your own" over and over again - but in context he sounds more curious than anything else, like a boy interested in a girl who doesn't like crowds. Read More
The Big Pink : Stay Gold
0 Comments. 1,065 Views. Posted 12 Oct 2011 @ 11:42am.
If ever a band slit its own throat, it was Big Pink. They released a spectacular debut record a couple of years back then played a frankly embarrassing set at The Hi-Fi, in which singer/guitarist Robbie Furze strutted around like a great posturing eejit, making it impossible to take seriously their stadium-scale indie rock anthems. Stay Gold has the same bombastic thrust as Dominos, and the... Read More
J Mascis Sideshows
0 Comments. 1,733 Views. Posted 6 Oct 2011 @ 1:30pm.
In yet another set of Falls sideshows announced this week, Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis will be returning to Melbourne.  Mascis, who was last in the country in 2010 alongside Dinosaur Jr., which included a stopover at Golden Plains, returned in 2011 with his latest solo album Several Shades Of Why, which one Beat reviewer crowned "a solid display of an alternative side to one of... Read More
Ignite Festival
0 Comments. 1,260 Views. Posted 7 Oct 2011 @ 10:15am.
The Centre of Creative Industries at Box Hill Institute is getting ready to stage their bangin' Ignite Festival, featuring live music, art, digital media, design, dance and fashion. Performing on the day will be two live acts – alternative rock outfit No Love For Lexi, and indie folk act Language Of The Birds. The members of both acts all fittingly met whilst studying at Box Hill, and now well... Read More
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