U-Bahn: U-Bahn
- To say that Melbourne band U-Bahn are inspired by Devo would be as big an understatement as suggesting that the state of music festivals in New South Wales isn’t the strongest it’s ever been right now. Everything from their ostentatiously geeky art rock aesthetic to the five-member set-up of the band screams Devo, or perhaps The B-52s. After building a strong following through some memorable live performances throughout Melbourne, the band has put out their unabashedly off-kilter self-titled debut.
So.Crates, Alnitak Kid & Nelson Dialect: Sunset Cities
- So.Crates, Alnitak Kid & Nelson Dialect are set to release a new collaborative album entitled Sunset Cities. Bedroom Suck has really broadened their musical palette since its genesis: Sunset Cities being a completely unexpected example of a solid hip-hop album. The collaboration itself is between Melbourne duo SO.Crates (comprising of beat-maker Skomes and Cazeaux O.S.L.O), Adelaide rapper Nelson Dialect and producer Alnitak Kid. The result is a laidback and confident record, full of musicality.
Theon Cross: Fyah
- It's no secret that I'm enamored with London's jazz scene. 2018 was a breakout year in terms of both international popularity and the sheer amount of quality material released. Fyah follows up an incredible twelve months from its members: Theon Cross' tuba contributions helped earn Sons of Kemet a MOBO nomination, Moses Boyd released one of the decade's best live albums, and Nubya Garcia led a debut from spiritual ensemble Maisha.
Chaka Khan: Hello Happiness
- A neat bit of synergy has occurred with Chaka Khan releasing her twelth studio album twelve years after her previous studio album. In that time, she’s faced a few demons, such as addiction to prescription medication, including the one that caused the death of Prince, whose unexpected passing had a deep affect on her. Taking time out to reassess things has proven to be beneficial, judging by the seven tracks on Hello Happiness.
Uboa: The Origin Of My Depression
- Uboa’s last EP, The Sky May Be, featured a single, Thigh High Cat Tights: a brief, stunning sucker-punch of digital hardcore, power electronics and old school noise that might lead you to pigeonhole Uboa right at the most extreme end of the noise genre’s spectrum. Yet you’ll find Uboa is capable of surprising in other ways than that: as the soft, gentle opening to her latest release, The Origin Of My Depression, abley demonstrates.
11am Zedlines
This has been Jack and Dan with your 11am Zedlines.
Image Credit - Wikimedia Commons
Giant bee rediscovered in Indonesia
A group of scientists and insect enthusiasts have rediscovered the world's largest bee while on an expedition on a remote Indonesian island.
The giant bee has only ever been documented twice before: when it was first discovered by naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859, and then again in 1981 meaning it has not been seen for 38 years.
The bee was found in a termite mound after the group searched for five days in a tropical forest.
Japanese Spacecraft lands on asteroid
A Japanese spacecraft has touched down on an asteroid in an attempt to collect a sample of rock from the surface.
The spacecraft reached asteroid Ryugu in June 2018 after a three-and-a-half-year journey from Earth.
It is expected to return to Earth with the rocky material it has collected in 2020.
Retail going under in Australia
Australian retailers are currently going under at the rate of about one a month, making everyone in the industry nervous.
Over the last couple of years about two dozen chains have collapsed, with the makeup empire of Napoleon Perdis the latest in an increasingly long line of failures.
It is not just Australian-owned retailers that are struggling, but also some established local outlets of big international players.
Julian Assange issued with Australian passport
Fugitive Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been issued with a new Australian passport after lengthy negotiations over whether he was subject to an arrest warrant for a "serious foreign offense".
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official confirmed in a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday that Mr Assange's 2018 application for a new passport had been accepted.
Consular and Crisis Management Division first assistant secretary Andrew Todd says "Mr Assange does have an Australian passport".