Labels: Ned Collette

Labels: Sparkadia

Labels: The Ripping Dylans, Tom

The first time I saw these guys it was at @Newtown RSL in September last year supporting Howling Bells, and we had no idea who they were. They played well and we were impressed but on stage, they looked like the gangly little brother of your best friend who stands in the living room while you're watching videos, showing off his mad Gameboy/skateboard/cartwheel skillZ. Six months later and I don't know, they grew facial hair or bought some new clothes or something, but Holy Crap.

Their sound has changed just as much. Their faint emulation of the indie new-wave that was all the rage back then has now matured into something deeper, something that dapples tentatively in prog, shoegaze and post-rock - but still holds onto that straight-up danceable pop reminiscent of early Red Riders. Noise and distortion built up climactically around melodic swirls that tied their set together, and the vocals were incredible. I'm extremely skeptical of hype, especially hype of the 'will they/wont they' Modular variety, but I left my self-righteous, self-imposed cynicism at the Annandale on Friday night. Yeah fine. Okay. The Ghosts are awesome. Maybe soon I'll even get into Klaxons..

RED RIDERS
Following the Ghosts, a dramatic opaque screen was lowered to shroud the on-stage arrival of the headlining Red Riders. It was a bizarre gimmick that I'm still confused about - intended ironically, or vaguely ostentatious? Is it still showy if it's well-deserved? [27.02 : I'm happy to report I am an idiot, and was unaware of the Annandale tradition of screening before each new act. It is not ostentatious or showy, and in fact I kinda enjoyed the build up - Stephbot]

IN ANY CASE, the screen was eventually lifted to the opening bars of 'Come On', and they moved on to play a tight mix of favourites from Plan A and Replica Replica. The band was loving it as much as the hordes of fans, exuding the confidence they picked up over 2006, and revelling in a contagious energy that bounced around the room. It was clearly a year spent well, not just producing a strong LP and dealing admirably with all the buzz, but perfecting their live act. Sure, they didn't experiment with their sound or play around with their songs as much as they could have, but they gave the crowd exactly what they wanted and then some. Except for the disappointed first three rows of groupies who went home to empty beds... Ahh... So much love for the Riders out there.

Photos by Natto

Labels: Red Riders, The Ghosts

Labels: Fionn Regan, Tom

Labels: Lady Strangelove, No Through Road, Poly And The Statics

Labels: Bird Automatic, Diamond Daggers, The Holidays

Labels: Eagles of Death Metal, Frente, Holidays On Ice, Leonardo's Bride, The Watt Riot

Labels: Art Of Fighting, Love Of Diagrams

Sydney, Australia
Gotta love a good band name, and this Sydney four piece have hit it on the nose with theirs. They have just released their debut EP through Illumination Records which you can buy online. There is a noticeable thread of melancholy in their tunes, created with atmospheric synths and sparse keys, but most of all through the enchanting vocals of female lead, Tanya Horo. EP opener and first single, 'Spooked' plays off their name incorporating music-box and dreamy vocals. At times they sound like a sedated Goldfrapp, but mostly I can't put my finger on what they are. This music has medicinal properties, it will cure insomnia.. but in a good way.

"There's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering." Aldous Huxley

MP3: Soma for Kinder - Spooked
MP3: Soma for Kinder - Wait
myspace - label

Labels: Soma For Kinder

Labels: The Comas

Brooklyn, New York
Right at this moment in the cold and grey suburb of Williamsburg NY, one man stands alone in his small, cramped bedroom, doing something offensive. Not in an "oh God, Sebastian why don't you ever lock the door" kind of way. More like, "how can ONE guy do SO much, this is just indecent".

Inlets are Sebastian Krueger; his voice, his clarinet, his bells, his ukulele, his accordion, his -well, what have you got? He's contributed in the past to My Brightest Diamond, but his solo project he describes as "bedroom fidelity", which I guess is like lo-fi but... more private and confined. The lightly haunting music couples an earnest intimacy with elusive lyrics, poetic imagery with intricate arrangements, detailed vocals with an unpredictable melody. And I discovered him at the best time and place I could.

The place? Union Hall, a teeny pub/venue/bowling-alley in Williamsburg where he was supporting a Deerhoof side-project the Curtains at the beginning of this year. Other than the music, the highlight of the night was Krueger's charming confession during one of the early songs that he'd forgotten the first line, needing an off-stage friend to prompt him. The time? Three days after I'd finally vowed to end to my five-month addiction to Sufjan Steven's Come On Feel The Illinoise, thus leaving a decidedly Sufjan-shaped hole in my playlist. SO, if you're into a bit of the Soof, you'll love a bit of the Inlets - and you'll be happy to know that Krueger has given the go-ahead for everyone to download the whole delightful EP online.

MP3: Pictures of Trees
MP3: See Her, Seer
Download the whole Vestibule EP from LuvSound

Myspace - website

And just quietly - I proclaim this to be the year of the ukulele in independent Australian music.

Labels: Electrelane, Tender Forever, The Blow, Tom

Im having flashbacks of Christmas, when all the blogs around the world bowed to the pressures of convention and posted some really crappy Christmas songs.
Once again we find ourselves playing nicely into the hands of greeting card companies, cracking under the expectation of having to spend money on a 'loved' one. It may be a bad excuse to buy pointless gifts but it is a great excuse to play lovey dovey indie music to close out the day.

And thats just what will be happening on FBi Radio tonight, as Eliza Sarlos impersonates Richard Mercer for an evening, on my favourite radio program in Australia, Unputdownable.

Ive submitted my dedication to the one I love. Myspace Tom. Because he invented a whole new way of searching for love, more compatible with my inability to look a girl in the eye. Admittedly, I can't touch any boobies online, but I can look at pictures of unsuspecting teenagers, and swoon over their 'about me' sections, without them even knowing, and just pretend! Thanks Tom!

Tune in online from 11pm AEST tonight (Thursday) here.

Labels: DC Cardwell, fbi, Tom

Labels: Faux Pas, Gotye, The Avalanches

Adelaide, Australia
The end of last year saw a new release from Special Patrol, Handy Hints from the Undertaker, and once again it's a shiny melodic nugget of pop. That's pop, not poop. It's obvious from their earlier stuff that the song writing has been honed to a fine art, meaning their attention seems to be turning towards experimenting with sound, structure, and storytelling. It's still acoustic-guitar driven, but the layering is growing more complex and the instrumentation more unusual. I'd say their sound sits somewhere between fellow Aussies Gelbison and The Anyones. A bit of a country influence, harmonies, and clever lyrics delivered with an endearing Adelaide accent.
I swear Adelaide has an accent.

They're touring a lot this year so you shouldn't have a problem catching a gig.

MP3: Special Patrol - Changing Emily (Handy Hints From the Undertaker, 2006)
MP3: Special Patrol - Chin Up Cynical Tim (The Golden Mean, 2004)
myspace - website

Labels: Gelbison, Special Patrol, The Anyones

Labels: Expatriate, Interview

Labels: Muscles

Labels: Group Seizure

Labels: Crowded House, NZ

Wellington, New Zealand
Our brethren across the Tasman Sea have birthed a number of high intensity, shred-happy bands of late. However during the sweating and the drunkenness and the confusion of this new breed, a charming little album has crept under the radar from indie pop mainstays The Phoenix Foundation. Their second album, Pegasus, was released in New Zealand in 2005 and got an Aussie release last year. It's folk, psychadelia, dub and country, all squished up together, with a spattering of Nintendo. Their music has a wistful quality about it, most probably forged from a deficiency of sun and a surplus of sheep. If you need to brood, grab a big ole pair of headphones and make this is your soundtrack.

Whilst they're critical darlings at home, they haven't been shown the love they deserve overseas. With a recent trip to New York for a CMJ show and and a signing to Young American Recordings, hopefully all this will change.

MP3: The Phoenix Foundation - Sister Risk (from Horsepower)
MP3: The Phoenix Foundation - Nest Egg (from Pegasus)
myspace - buy through Young American Recordings

Labels: NZ, The Phoenix Foundation

Sydney, Australia
Just as soon as you think a band is forging a name for themselves in the already hard-nut-to-crack oz music industry, a dreaded grinch-like email hits the band's inbox stating that another band is threatening legal action over the use of same name. Shaky Hands had their shakes fixed and have transformed into Cut Off Your Hands as a result of such an email. Closer to home, one of my favorite tasty little tidbits, The Vendettas are now hailed as The Hate Game. No doubt this affects the band's website hits, downloads and overall momentum. In turn the ability for everyone to stay hungry for their sambos is also hindered. So from now on you can eat these:

MP3: The Hate Game - Running
MP3: The Hate Game - Too Many Days
mypace - unearthed

Labels: Sydney, The Hate Game