Perth, Australia
We're about due for a roots injection here at S-CLUB. Abbe May has been playing around Perth with her crew, The Rockin Pneumonia, for about a year. She sings blues with some simply layered guitars, but its a kind of nonchalance in her voice which does it for me. It makes it all seem so tongue-in-cheek. She just ambles along at her own pace with her thumbs in her jeans.
She's touring the country in July and August if you wanna feel the good vibes.

MP3: Abby May - Kids
myspace

There was a once a little boy who lived in a far away land. Close to the boy's home, there was a big mountain. On top of the mountain was a little ancient monastery.One day, the air turned quite cold and the little boy could hear music on the breeze rolling down the mountain. He dragged himself up through the snow and there beheld an abomination of fat little monks dancing naked around an open fire, drumming the fresh air with chicken drumsticks, and singing this here little tune...

MP3: Our Monk - A Little Monk [exclusive]
myspace - label : none - next gig: July 3, w/ The Satics

If there's one thing that gives us the warm and fuzzies here at sandwich club, it's seeing local acts get the international recognition they deserve. All too often the best in Australian indie music fails to catch the ear of listeners in far away lands. But with ambassadors like Wally de Backer, and vigilant sentinels, like ShiftedSound.com, the future of independent Australian music is certainly getting brighter.
Shifted Sound is a US podcast scanning the globe for the best in new independent music. The latest episode is dedicated to our own Wally de Backer, who we all know by now as the mastermind behind Gotye and The Basics.
Wally describes the evolution of his interest in music, his devotion to musical independence, and his admiration for fellow musical 'bozo' Faux Pas, and the 'virtuosity' of heavy metal Western Australians, Karnivool.
The episode is available for download at Shiftedsound.com, and well worth a listen. Also, see if you can spot any other Aussies in the archives ; )

Visit Shiftedsound.com

When some people are alone, they are nothing but alone. Others choose to lie awake and wonder which of the stars belong to them. People confuse loneliness with solitude. You may choose to draw the curtains, sit in the dark and disappear. Or you could drift off with an enchantingly beautiful song and appreciate the allure of having someone, somewhere, to love.

MP3: Kelly Saunders - When You're Alone
myspace - label: Broken Stone Records

Adelaide, Australia
Forming in 2006, 5-piece Love Stereo have just released a 7-track demo which demonstrates a heap of talent. They cover everything from atmospheric folk, to shoe-gaze, to the stadium britpop of Pulp. It's an eclectic bunch of songs tied together with melancholy and despair. The demo is available for free download on their website, I suggest you snatch it. In the meantime, here's a taster..

MP3: Love Stereo - O Little Cutie
MP3: Love Stereo - Sirens
myspace - website

Brisbane, Australia
Grand Atlantic formed in 2005, released an EP, got a heap of airplay, and have just launched their debut album called This Is Grand Atlantic. It has a spattering of synthy-rock but mostly focuses on the 60's beatlesque thing that Belles Will Ring are also championing. Their sound is a cacophany of guitars, horns, violins, piano, synth, drums, bells and marracas.. Phew. They use this to create yeaning psyche-pop tunes and melancholic ballads. It's pretty goddam fantistic so you should either buy it off their website or catch them live, they're touring right now.

MP3: Grand Atlantic - Chaos Theory
MP3: Grand Atlantic - Wonderful Tragedy
myspace - website - label

Adelaide, Australia
Corey Haim, Jonathon Brandis, Doogie Howser, Jason Donovan, that little snot faced kid from 'Hey Dad' who Sorbent made us watch on the toilet, and scariest of all the dreaded Fred Savage.. These names incite terror in the hearts of any discerning kid of the 80s. Scarier still is their enduring attempts at regaining celebrity. Former child stars need to know when to walk away.. But I don't like to generalise, because some popsters out of Radelaide have provided the exception to the rule. A guitar driven 5-piece with Strokesy/KOL influences, and a growing rep for packing out their local shows. They've been around for just under a year and have recently knocked out their self-titled debut EP, which is chock full of hooks'n'harmonies. Have a listen.

MP3: Former Child Stars - I'm Waiting

MP3: Former Child Stars - Stove Pipe Dream

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne bands seem to be tearing up the local indie eateries of late. One band of four that should be taken down as a future S-town invader is Harlequin League. Don't let the playfull, 80's horror movie synths fool you. These lads will chew you up and spit you out as a court jester if you aren't careful. Word from the Melbourne Town Crier: "Hear ye! Hear ye! Harlequins are amongst us! They possess musical poison to drown all cohesion! Noises that your ears have not heard shall pierce your soul and persuade your limbs into motion like puppets. Hear ye! Hear ye!" Can't wait to have them in Sydney.

MP3: Harlequin League - I'm The Alien
MP3: Harlequin League - Harlequin
myspace

Sydney, Australia
You could be mistaken for thinking The Chaperones are an all out rocking four-piece. In fact they number two and one is left feeling slightly perplexed but in awe of just how full sounding a two can be. An indie rock, garage infused, bass driven joy of listening pleasure.

The Chaperones have been gigging around Sydney since 2006 but 2007, they say, marks a new beginning after they dumped their third member due to 'mutual disliking'. Tough kids (although given the cirumstances maybe three is too many). Next month they release their self-titled debut EP at Ruby Rabbit. Not to be missed I say. It's a bloody ripper and the band is definitely one to look out for during the latter half of the year.

Here's a teaser off the EP.

Sydney, Australia
When you think whiskey-soaked vocals, Tom Waits comes to mind immediately. It's hard to find a voice of similar calibre in Australia, but Joe Kelly from Sydney 4-piece, The Religion, is the closest thing. It was only a couple of years ago that this self taught pianist was close to quitting music altogether, but one listen to this song and you'll be as grateful as I that he didn't. And listening to the many alcohol references in his lyrics, I would say he takes his whiskey gargling pretty serious.
The Religion are launching their debut EP, Innercile, tonight (Friday) at Fringe Bar on Oxford St, Sydney. Check em out live and be blown away.

MP3: The Religion - The Furies Quelled Hotel
myspace - label : none

Sydney, Australia
Whether it be experience or intuition, different people rely on different methods for recognising great potential in a band. For me its simply a loss of bodily functions. Last time I pissed my pants was listening to The Coshercot Honeys. This time its Flying Foxes from Sydney.
The melody draws you in, but it's the subtleties that carry you away, and underline this bands true potential. A shy glockenspiel, marching percussion, distorted base, and a cacophony of bubbles and squeaks that pump tingles down your spine. This intricate layering suggests a pursuit of artistic expression that will surely fuel even more interesting music. And with a bedroom demo this fucking good, just imagine where they'll fly to in the studio...
Flying Foxes play their first gig at Bar Broadway, Sydney, this Sunday with The Straight Arrows and Ghosts Of Television, before flapping to the New York jungle for a host of shows.

MP3: Flying Foxes - Lost In Low cloud (Bedroom Demo)
myspace - label : none - gig details

Sydney, Australia
The Mares are back with their debut EP and a tongue twister in one. Its called 'Love Billows From My Soul To Consume You People As An Avalanche Does A Mountain'. Phew.. After a little break, they have come back strong, to record something that really translates their schizophrenic live sound. It features a couple of their dirty older tunes such as Biscuit Tin and Silver Scream, as well as some thumping new ones. You can buy the EP off their myspace.

MP3: The Mares - Copilot
myspace - website - label

Sydney, Australia
It must be hard writing one of the coolest songs ever made. Forever famous for 'that song', playing your hearts out to the fans trying so hard to be recognised for something else when all they really want to hear is 'that song'. Tough. And The Paper Scissors probably know this all to well.
But given they wrote 'that song' (not to be mentioned here), The Paper Scissors stand out. Musically and on stage they are a flawless act combining rhythm, soul, blues and indie rock with an incredible kooky presence which is just plain fun. Everyone who has seen or heard them knows this and that's why they're one of the most respected acts on the circuit. And in standing a little out of line by not picking any favourites, The Paper Scissors are my favourite band in all of Australia and it's not because they wrote 'that song'. In fact 'that song' I've probably heard way too much for my own good. No it's because they write songs like this...

MP3: The Paper Scissors - Yamanote Line
myspace

and it's available to pre-order through Waterfront and in stores June 9 (3 other tracks available).
Pre-order here.

Sydney, Australia
I've heard a lot of people from many different circles talk about John Columbus over the last couple of months which makes me think that either they have a hell of a lot of friends or they are worth the hype. Well I've finally got to listening to a few tracks and without seeing a live performance of theirs (yet) I'm thinking the latter (hopefully they have friends too).
Rich, melodic with well written vocals, everything folk music should be. Dylan, Neil and a slower Okkervil River come to mind. They give me that warm, fuzzy feeling - perfect for a cold winters day.

Sydney, Australia
Almost a year and a half ago Soft Tigers made it into my heart for writing one of the coolest urban pop songs ever made. But after hearing nothing more from the band for almost a good year, I was having terrible thoughts they were going to disappear as quickly as they arrived. Finally a beacon in the distance, a few shows, new songs then 'M.A.R.I.A.' - no one hit wonder these kids, they're here to stay.
Their debut album, Gospel Ambitions, is set for release this month and the lads have been releasing a string of videos to mark the release. Here's their newbie, 'Karate'...

Video: Soft Tigers - Karate


Oh and for a bonus here's a nice little cover from the group - 'Heart It Races' by Architecture In Helsinki. Thanks to Pix from Whiteboydancefloor for sending this across. Enjoy!