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Keeskea: You Did (Single)(Independent)
-Brimming with quiet power, this arresting and frankly quite heart-shattering debut from local singer songwriter Keeskea (pronounced ‘keys-kai’, really Vanessa Marousopoulos) masters a visceral, human use of space and tension between her voice and guitar. ‘You Did’ is deceptively simple-sounding but there’s so much going on beneath the surface, and beautifully phrased.(Liz Ansley)
May Lyn: Keep Up With Me (Single) (F) (Dub Temple Records)
- With sprays of self-assured progression and guttural punches of unwavering low-end, this is a huge new single from May Lyn. Teaming up with Brisbane beatist Ealing, this vibe has the same distilled prestige of Drake but May Lyn isn’t biting, the impressive stature of this track is all her. (Nicholas J Rodwell)
Paces: Don't Run feat. Doolie (Single) (etcetc)
- Gold Coast legend Paces is back at it again with new single Don't Run - premiered last night at Festival 18 as part of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.Paces's signature catchy electronica is paired with powerful vocals from young Gold Coast/Brisbane singer Doolie, who recently cemented her name on the airwaves with single KOLD. I'm a fan of both these artists, and their social media updates had left me anticipating this single for months. Definitely not disappointed. (Molly Jackson)
Tape/Off: Day In, Day Out (Single)(Independent/Sonic Masala)
-Tape/Off are back with a blistering critique of your typical business-minded male individual, perpetually unbothered by the presence of the homeless outside of his front door. The sarcastic, scathing vocal delivery, heavy, tight riffs ala 80s hardcore/punk and bone-crushing bass tones are all spectacular, but those bemused, acid-tongued indictments of the humans who inspired this track keep me on the edge of my seat, p*ssed off and mad about it. (Clayton Bick-Paterson)
Terra Pines: Kidult (Single)(Incremental Records)
-'Kidult' is Terra Pines' new single of their upcoming self titled album. The sludgy bassline and heavy guitars combined with the delicate yet demanding vocals of Kelly Hanlon make for a great piece of grungegaze. The Brisbane trio are definitely one to keep your eyes on. (Harry Bain)
Australian
Astral Skulls: This Place / Take It Away (Psychic Hysteria / Independent)
-Kurt Eckhardt and Kalindy Williams have mastered the art of future-punk despondency and manage to make it sound more fun than ever on this double single release. The gated, bouncing beat of Take It Away is a perfect salve to This Place’s shimmering shoe-shuffle; both inspire a wry sense of defiance that’ll follow you for hours. (Liz Ansley)
El Tee: Radio Silence(Independent)
- Settling in between Jess Locke and Angel Olsen, Melbourne songstress, El Tee, procure’s an electric folk that both is serenely acquiescent and individually resolute. (Nicholas J. Rodwell)
Gamjee: William H Vanderbilt's Vampire(Single)(Independent)
Gamjee, yes like Samwise, are here. Imagine THEE OH SEES (or another random garage/psych group) crafting an homage to Metallica's "Kill Em All". THE MUMMIES performing right in front of you. The Cramps taking speed and acid, and their music following accordingly. This song is HUGE. This is music to get absolutely out of control to. If Gamjee's EP is anything like this track, I will actively tear my house apart and chew up the asbestos when it comes out. (Clayton Bick-Paterson)
Good Morning:Escalator (Single) (Bedroom Suck / Remote Control)
-Escalator is the second single off Good Morning's new album 'Prize//Reward'. It's about having a panic attack in a shopping centre. Like alot of Good Morning's songs, the guitar is simplistic but you can't help but get drawn in. Great track. (Harry Bain)
Mansionair: Violet City (Single) (Liberation/Mushroom)
- SUPER impressed with today's new Mansionair single 'Violet City'. Following up from 'Astronaut (Something About Your Love)' was always going to be a feat with the previous track amassing millions of streams seemingly immediately. I was instantly drawn in to the new track, particularly by such soothing vocals. 'Violet City' seems to take a step back from the heavy vocal focus and manipulation featured in 'Astronaut', instead creating an ambience which surrounds the listener instead of coming at them head on. Definitely recommend giving this one your full attention for its first listen before adding it to your 'Favourites' playlist and adopting it as the soundtrack for all of your daily activities. (Molly Jackson)
Mod Con: Kidney Auction Blues (Poison City Records/Split Singles Club)
-Mod Con take retro-pop, surf rock, desperate guitar blues and blend them into an unholy matrimony of raw, fuzzed out post-surf-punk mayhem. Recently signed to Poison City Records, Mod Con are Erica Dunn on guitar(of Palm Springs/Harmony/Tropical Fuck Storm), Raquel Solier on drums, beating out those quintessential surf-rock fills, and Sara Retallick holding it down with some harsh, driving, groove-laden basslines. Kidney Auction Blues is an in your face contemplation of capitalism, consumerism, and the price of a human kidney on the black market. Dunn's vocals, and her way of conveying atmosphere through the guitar perfectly captures the grotesque hold that money has over society and consequently, our innermost desires. Here are yet another band that have me very excited for 2018.(Clayton Bick-Paterson)
Sophiegrophy: Bag (Single)(Independent)
- This track dropped on International Women's Day, and it dropped me too. I've had my head out of the hip-hop scene in Australia for a while, (see:Kerser,360,Hilltop Hoods etc, Hip-hop is a black art form and white Australians are great at butchering it) but there is a resurgence of something strong, something honest happening in Australia at the moment, pretty much every single from up and comers to the scene are just massive, irresistably so. Sophiegrophy is here, she doesn't care what you think, she doesn't need to care. She's dropped the hardest track I've heard in 2018 so far. (Clayton Bick-Paterson)
Overseas
Eleanor Friedberger:Make Me A Song (Single (Frenchkiss Records / Independent)
- Friedberger is back with a strong single release off her upcoming album 'Rebound', with the track 'Make Me A Song'. Sonically the track is a departure from her traditional sound with the use of programmed drums, a Juno synthesizer, and muted guitars replacing her traditional live drums and folky melodies. This change is refreshing though with 'Make Me A Song' representing Friedberger's journey to self-enlightenment through her songwriting, as well as expressing the fact that through reigniting her creative pursuits she can attain some sort of emotional fulfillment through her own music. It's an energetic and reinvigorated sound that I'm really digging. Looking forward to the album. (Harry Bain)
Goat Girl: Throw Me A Bone (Single) (Remote Control)
- Cool new single from London all girl band, Goat Girl. Chill gypsy-like tune featuring echoy rings of a tamborine. Imagine the listening experience to be magical when in a room full of fairy lights. This single is from Goat Girl's self-titled debut album, which is out now. (Jade Rodrigo)
Natalie Prass:Sisters (Single) (ATO Records)
-Natalie Prass' new single 'Sisters' is a call for solidarity between women during uncertain times. It's an addictive and funky Feminist anthem which stands tall. Confident and powerful. Awesome. (Harry Bain)