<p><span><span>- When you decide the best name for your hip hop crew is Order Sixty6, either you don’t take yourself too seriously, or you’re <strong>MC Frontalot</strong>. The Brisbane outfit of that name doesn’t appear to be New York’s nerdiest in disguise, so they must be pretty relaxed about how people take them; but I mean, couldn’t you have chosen a better Star Wars film to reference?</span></span></p>

<p><span><span>- There’s always a small case of pride when you follow bands from their first release onwards and I’m always beaming when Jade Imagine<strong> </strong>put out a new record. A brainchild of their namesake <strong>Jade McInally</strong>, the band’s ranks have now been bolstered by <strong>Tim Harvey </strong>and <strong>James Harvery</strong>, both<strong> </strong>becoming regular members.

<p><span><span>- Within the Australian Gothic landscape of dark, endless plains, <em>Partially Here</em>, the new album from formerly Brisbane and now Melbourne based post-punk prodigy Locust Revival, emerges mirage-like as a still-life of fruits &amp; flowers; a vanitas whose dark beauty reminds us of the importance &amp; impermanence of life's most coveted delicacies; love &amp; happiness.<br />

<p><span><span>- Playing to your strengths, or tugging on old rope? Reinventing the wheel, or going back to your roots? Playing it safe, or embellishing a solid track record? When an artist as ubiquitous as Lady Gaga releases a full-length work, the analysis offered by the commentariat can be, usually, divided into two. Either it’s “disappointing”, “been there – done that”, “past it” or she is lauded for using her nous as a songwriter and an ear for a good, thumping dance tune to produce a decent record. </span></span></p>