NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH.
These guys are seriously an ace band. Producing some of that emotive indie rock that doesn’t make you cringe, Neighbourhood Youth are four Melbourne dudes nailing it. The guys have a new single out ‘My Friends’, as well as a clip for the track. The clip is bloody nice – really well shot and captures the feel beautifully.
You can stream/purchase the track below as well as the clip.
The boys are also half way through a tour to help launch the single. Deets here.
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Miks
BUCHANAN.
These gents do that big sounding indie rock that is always good.
Buchanan‘s debut full length is due out May 10, and if earlier single ‘Run Faster’ is anything to go by, then it’ll be a pretty fucking good album.
New single ‘Human Spring’ sounds even bigger than earlier tracks, but still manages to ensure that an element of vulnerability remains in Josh’s vocals. You can stream the track below, and if you dig, you can download it for free from the bands website.
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Miks
ALUKA VIDEO PREMIERE.
So, this is pretty exciting. Maamf is lucky enough to be able to debut the making of vid for one of the tracks from Aluka‘s debut full length, Space alongside a whole heap of other excellent blogs. The track we’ve got is track 9, ‘Street’. Tomorrow, make sure you check out the rad All I Do Is Listen as they premier another making of vid.
Perhaps the best thing about Aluka is that sure they’re an experimental vocal pop group, but it’s still all quite accessible and definitely not alienating. The album itself was released a couple of days ago (April 5th) and was recorded and produced by the excellent Nick Huggins, who has worked with Oscar + Martin, Kid Sam etc. The guys vary it up with their sounds (yep, that is possible with just vocals) as well as the stories that they tell. You can also hear the various locations reflected in both the stories and sounds too (each song was recorded in a unique location across their home state of Victoria). It’s a small bit wanky a concept, but my gosh does it work.
The girls are going to be doing a run of dates in support of the album. Make sure you check ‘em out. They’re heaps talented, and also heaps funny (as the clip suggests).
Album Launch Tour
Thursday 11th April- Camelot Lounge, Sydney Friday 12th April- Salamanca Art Centre, Hobart Wednesday 17th April- Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane Sunday 21st April- Nexus Art Centre, Adelaide Friday 3rd May- Uniting Church of Northcote, MelbourneBuy tickets: http://aluka.com.au/tour/
I’LLS.
I’lls are a great little Melbourne band doing some killer moody layered pop. The guys have just signed to Yes Please and are set to release their new EP, A Warm Reception on May 21. The first cut from the release, ‘Plans Only Drawn’ sounds like some excellent Radiohead-styled weird noise guitar gem. It’s an incredibly warm bit of production too, and strangely uplifting.
You can stream ‘Plans Only Drawn’ below.
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Miks
ELIZA HULL.
Eliza Hull has been kicking around for a while. Her work has never really grabbed me in the past I must say. It’s always been strong electronic infused pop music, but maybe I just wasn’t listening properly.
Coz then this happened.
There is this beautiful restraint in ‘Echoes’. Eliza’s voice has a big early Sia vibe (think Zero7 era). There’s a confident sadness somewhere in there. Produced by the legend that is Hayden Calnin, it’s simply a great bit of production and songwriting.
‘Echoes’ is off Eliza’s second EP, due out for release in July. Looking forward to it!
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Miks
CITY CALM DOWN + ZAC HAYSE
Ok, so this is simply fucking genius. Such a feel good remix of a freakin feel good track.
City Calm Down have proven themselves a heap over the past couple of months – from getting bigtime radio play to playing some killer gigs. And then Zac Hayse of excellent Melbourne duo 96 Bulls.
The best way to start your post-humpday day.
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Miks
BEACHES.
Melbourne five-piece Beaches are releasing their second album, She Beats on May 3. The band’s self-titled debut, released in 2008 (feels like ages ago), was pretty lauded – some great surfy indie guitar music.
The first taste of the new album, ‘Distance’ goes for a big driving dreamy vibe with layers and layers of some of the best guitar sounds you’ve heard in a while. So keen for this album!
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Miks
BRIGHTLY.
So Melbourne dudes Brightly released their new track a little while ago, complete with a pretty innovative way to distribute it. You can catch up on all that here.
All that’s good and everything, but then they went and made, easily, one of the best clips ever made for the track. Every time I watch this, and trust me, it’s been a few times, I get the whole goosebumps shivers thing going on. Make sure you watch it in full screen too. Or even better, check it out in it’s full interactive glory over at tweetflight.wearebrightly.com
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Miks
NEW MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS.
So finally, some brand spankin’ new Midnight Juggernauts. These guys would easily have to be one of my favourite Melbourne bands, so news that the gents are ready with some new stuff forced me to go buy a new pair of pants. And that’s a double win, coz I needed a new pair.
And if Russian pop music shows (ala Countdown) are your kinda thing then I reckon the clip will be up your alley. Even if it’s not your thing, then you’ll love the freaking clip. Too good. Fucking ace song too!!
Ballad of the War Machine is the first taste off the bands 3rd album due out for release mid 2013 via Siberia Records / Remote Control.
If you’re a Juggers fan, then make sure you check ‘em out as they tour the new single. They’re always ace live.
MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS
‘Ballad of the War Machine’ Tour
Friday 19 April – The Zoo, Brisbane
With special guests YesYou and Young Men Dead
Details here.
Saturday 20 April – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
With special guests YesYou and Four Door
Details here.
Wednesday 24 April – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
With special guests YesYou and Client Liaison
Details here.
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Miks
TOMAS STRODE & THE TOUR GUIDES.
Wow. I could listen to this all day. This is easily one of the loveliest songs I’ve heard in quite some time.
Tomas Strode & The Tour Guides are responsible for making me feel pretty warm and fuzzy and contemplative this afternoon. What a freakin great start to the week.
Their new single ‘Broken Road’ features the excellent girls from Aluka - those vocal harmonies add this beautiful extra level of warmth that, in my eyes/to my ears, make the track. I’m actually sitting at my desk kind of wanting to cry.
You can download the track for free below, and if you dig, make sure you check out their other stuff on their soundcloud.
The bands debut full length Graceful Mistake is due out later this year.
If you’re in Melbourne, make sure you check out the guys launch the single at The Workers Club on Wed 27th March.
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Miks
BACK BACK FORWARD PUNCH.
Great name for a band aye? Back Back Forward Punch are outta Melbournetown and producing some really catchy disco pop. Complete with piano lines, filters galore and some smooth silky vocals.
Their latest single ‘Zero To Disco’ has gotten the remix treatment from Sydney’s Coupons as well as Melbourne dudes Dublin Aunts. Both are excellent, but I think it’s the Coupons remix that takes the cake for me – they’ve taken the original and made it their own.
You can stream the original as well as the two remixes below. SO GOOD!
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Miks
SUPER WILD HORSES.
2010′s album Fifteen from Melbourne garage rock two-piece Super Wild Horses was easily a fave of mine.
The girls are finally back with brand new single ‘Alligator’ as well as an ace clip all about pie face! But pie face as in the classic cream pie slapstick kind, not the 24/7 joints you visit at 4 in the morning.
Seriously ace track too. Their second album Crossroads is due for release April 5 on excellent label Remote Control Records. Definitely one to get your mits on.
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Miks
DEJA.
DEJA are always going to do something a little outta left-field. Their left-field electronica infused pop music always manages to fit a mood, and never goes go far outta left-field that…well…there’s no more field. It’s just stands.
Their clips equally hit it out of the park (to keep that tortured, pretty crap analogy going). Featuring some pretty stunning photography, the clip for their latest single ‘Holiday’ also includes a small bit of expressive/interpretive dance, but hey, the clip looks absolutely amazing.
Check it out just below, and if you dig the track, you can download that one just below too!
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Miks
THE RED LIGHTS.
Is there a better pop-tinged angular punk band out there?
At the risk of leaving that question mid air, it perhaps pays to suggest that Melbourne gents The Red Lights may be the answer.
Their newy, ‘Lesser Today’ gives a moody punch with a catchy as hell (these guys have a knack for that) chorus. Dean’s vocals, yet again, sound amazing. Nah actually, the whole band sound amazing. Sorry Dean.
Stream below and if you dig, you can download from their triple j unearthed profile.
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Miks
THE CORSAIRS.
The Corsairs know their way around an indie pop song, but this one has added swagger.
I first heard ‘Rich Kids’ when they did a gig for the excellent Tram Sessions – you can check out the vid here. Being acoustic though, I must say I wasn’t sold on the track…but then I hear this version and it kills. Also reminds me a fair bit of fellow Melbournians and swagger bringers extraodinaire’s Money For Rope.
If you dig, the boys have it up on their triple j unearthed page for a free download too!
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Miks
BIG SCARY.
So this is a freaking incredible tune. Like, really fucking good. Big Scary are back at it, producing some of the greatest, almost sombre music, that yep, I really dig. Phil Collins is taken off the bands 2nd album Not Art due out later on this year.
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Miks
BRIGHTLY.
This is a great little track. That cut up guitar that the song is built upon give the track this real organic feel, something when melded with some great electronic glitches, works freakin well.
This is the first single taken from Brightly‘s debut full length…and it’s streaming below. But, there is a way you can get your own copy of ‘Preflight Nerves’. And then the possibility of scoring a copy of the album not with cash, but lots of love.
The Beginnings & Endings Project is all about spreading that love and seeing where in the world your love ends up.
More details over at the site itself, but make sure you sign up and grab a copy of the single. And then of course, share the link you get and hopefully you’ll score an album out of it! Check it all out over at beginnings.wearebrightly.com.
These guys are a really hard working Melbourne band…and the track is proof of it. 2013 might just be a great year for them.
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Miks
RIPLEY CALLAHAN.
An acoustic guitar and a voice. Pretty simple. And a heap of people fuck it up royally.
Ripley Callahan doesn’t though. And for a young dude (the fella’s only 17), he’s creating some really easy, honest straight up singer songwriter stuff. There’s this level of restraint it what Ripley does – he uses space really well (especially in some of the melody lines he sings).
You can check out his most recent track ‘Smile’ just below…I’ve also included the first track he uploaded to his soundcloud, ‘Bloom’. It’s over a year old, but I reckon it’s one of the best of the 8 he has up on his soundcloud. I definitely recommend you check out all the other stuff though.
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Miks
VANCE JOY.
Ok, so this guy seems to be doing a fair bit right lately. He’s just signed with Liberation and is releasing a new EP in the next couple of weeks (pre-order here). Vance Joy‘s latest track, ‘From Afar’ has gone pretty gangbusters…and the clip is, by far, one of the best I’ve seen.
If you’re keen, you can check out an interview Sabi did with the man himself over on MISMATCH.TV right here.
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Miks
THE STEVENS.
Ace Melbourne band The Stevens have signed to equally ace label Chapter Music. Chapter are rereleasing the bands 6 track Cassette/CD-R EP of last year as an excellent 7″ vinyl on April 5. But if you’re that keen to get your hands on it, then you can grab a digital copy right now via the Chapter Music bandcamp page.
You can stream my fave cuts from the EP below (make sure you purchase it if you haven’t already got a copy). Also good news is the fact that Mikey Young is currently working with the guys in the recording of the bands debut full length due out later on this year. The Stevens make some seriously catchy indie pop music. This will be an ace album.
Make sure you check the dudes out as they support UK’s The Wedding Present on Feb 27 at the NSC too. Details here.
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Miks
YOUNG MAVERICK.
So these Melbourne boys are back with a new single. There seems to be a pretty big ‘trop-pop’ scene in Australia, and to be honest, it’s getting a little much. But these guys were one of the first, and with those signature high guitar lines and Robbie’s really easy going vocal vibe, Young Maverick continue to stand out from the rest.
The boys have also gone and done a clip for ‘Janitor’. You can stream that below too.
Check the gents out tonight at Ding Dong Lounge too if you’re in Melbourne!
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Miks
THE DRONES.
The Drones are back! Their sixth studio album, I See Seaweed is out next month, and the first taste, ‘How To See Through Fog’ is one of those sprawling pieces of work full of that wonderful light and shade that The Drones are known for.
The album was recorded in regional Victoria last year with help from the rather prolific Burke Reid.
This is going to be an album a heap of people are eagerly anticipating – and rightly so!
You can download the single right now on iTunes. And make sure you pre-order the album over on the bands website ahead of the release on March 1st.
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Miks
THE CORSAIRS.
The Corsairs recently did a gig on a tram for Tram Sessions and the St Kilda Festival. This is seriously ace – even the dude that joins in in the chorus nails it.
As with every year, St Kilda festival has once again nailed it – the lineup is massive. More details of that one here.
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Miks
WIL WAGNER.
Wil Wagner from The Smith Street Band has a solo EP entitled Laika coming out in a bit over a week (Feb 4) through Poison City Records. For fans of The Smith Street Band, and in particular Wil’s honest and pretty funny vocals, I reckon this EP will nail it. Just Wil and an acoustic guitar, I am so fucking keen!
Two tracks from the EP have already been released, and are just below. If you like, make sure you pre-order the whole EP over on the Poison City Records site.
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Miks
