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Miss Blanks: Good Good D (Single) (Trench Records)
- Launching last Friday night with a flawless performance at The Foundry, Good Good D is a surging club track that prioritises expression of power and authority, via "next level witch art kink" visuals that pay careful mind to represent the BDSM community with accuracy and respect. Miss Blanks has openly declared she's ready to make this year her bitch and we are very much here for it. (Liz Ansley)
Niterunner: Stay Tonight(Single)(Independent)
- Niterunner via Brisbane and Byron Bay have weaved a dreamy and ethereal pop single in ‘Stay Tonight’. The brother / sister trio blending warm synths and syncopated electronic drums as a foundation to the dualling vocals ode to lovers and lust.(Jasmine Dunn)
Clea: Cool Days (Single) (Mirror Records)
- Brisbane’s rising pop-folk star returns with a bright and catchy single titled Cool Days. Lyrically reminiscent of 70’s folk singer Nick Drake but with a more upbeat tempo, Cool Days provides a relaxing listen with the right amount of sun drenched pop to boot. (James Chadwick)
Your Man Alex Smith: Guilty (Independent)
- Have you ever asked yourself while eating breakfast "I wonder what the baby of Queen, Tim Minchin, Pink Floyd, and Billy Joel would sound like?" Me too, and it seems we have as close an answer as we're ever going to get with YOUR MAN ALEX SMITH's latest release GUILTY. Ska, musical theatre, classic rock, acoustic ballads, progressive/art rock, blues, and even more genres are represented in this solo-effort rock opera monster. This record is a wonderful surprise and one to be enjoyed in its entirety. (Peter Strasser)
Germ: Left Behind (Single) (Independent)
- Brisbane-based industrial/electronic artist Germ makes her crunchy, angular and endlessly fascinating debut with Left Behind, taking cues from the likes of The Knife, Alice Glass or Smerz to merge faded, nihilistic vocals with skittering immersive production. (Liz Ansley)
Cassowarys: Cheers For The Boogie (Raindrop)
- Cassowarys are unleashing their truly psychedelic debut EP upon Brisbane, and it is a corker. All caution thrown to the wind, the four tracks on display are a mish-mash jumble of various psychedelic sounds, at times sounding like Captain Beefheart commanding and conducting a cabaret performance, at others, a howling cacaphony of surf-rock reminiscient of Jon Dwyer's various musical projects. See them live, see them loud. (Clayton Bick-Paterson)
Chong Ali: Rose Coloured Tint ft Amy K Ashton (Single) (Independent)
- Chong Ali's ode to the past and nostalgia is a low tempo slow burn track featuring his long time collaborator Amy K Ashton. Slow guitar strums are a perfect backdrop to Ali's flexible flow and Ashton's vocals are the perfect reprieve for this track which unsurprisingly found itself as a finalist in the Queensland Music Awards in Hip Hop. (Peter Strasser)
Chakra Efendi: Grow Up (Single) (Mucho Bravado)
- Chakra Efendi’s haunting new single, Grow Up, is both a cautionary tale and a wakeup call about suburban youth and mental issues glossed over by pop culture. Supported by dazzling electric guitar work and relating the message lyrically through two characters, a third person and himself, Efendi creates a meaningful cry to stay sober and fight through your troubles at whatever cost. (James Chadwick)
Australian
Tasman Keith: My Pelopolees (Single) (Skinny Fish Records)
- Merging hip-hop, R&B and 'new wave' funk, Gumbaynggirr artist Tasman Keith, son of MC Wire, proves he's a force to be reckoned with via this world class hip-hop track that's as catchy as it is powerful. "In its most raw form, My Pelopolees is an ode to my grandfather, William Jarrett (better known as Billy Jack) and my uncle Mark Ballangarry, who was better known as Uncle Spits," said Tasman in a statement about the track. "Uncle Spits originally coined the term ‘Pelopolees’ (meaning people) long before the early 2000s but it wasn’t until then that my Grandfather pulled inspiration from the word and recorded a song, which told Uncle Spits’ story. Sadly, Uncle Spits passed away in 2016 and in 2017, I began to write my version of the song, now titling it My Pelopolees. "The song itself speaks on personal triumph, overcoming odds that Aboriginal people face in today’s society. It also holds reference to ‘our spirit living on after we’ve died’ – which is the exact inspiration that I held from Uncle Spits’ passing and many relatives before him. Although the word itself is dope, it really hooks you in for an amazing chorus but it also gave me a chance to introduce Bowraville slang whilst speaking for my people and conquering these ideas that society places on us." (Liz Ansley)
Purient: Lose(Single)(Burning Rose Records)
- We’re a bit spoiled for choice at present with Australian women in electronic music creating excellence and this new single from Melbourne’s Purient is no exception. We’re sucked in deep with some pretty brooding synth and that repetition carries us from start to end. Shut the blinds and put this track on repeat, keep the ominous mood lingering for just a little while longer. (Jasmine Dunn)
Dro Carey: Atmosphere feat. Kwame, Renz & Raj Mahal (Single) (Soothsayer)
- Can a track sound any more like the UK? Thick accents, huge grime sounds, and lyrical passages that jump and wind Atmosphere has its MCs sitting up front and centre. Meandering from his usual electronic stlye, Dro Carey's production is as detailed as it is assaulting. Feeling mad? Put this on, they gotchu. (Peter Strasser)
Dallas Woods: 9 Times Out of 10 (Single) (Independent)
- Woods turns up the cheek in his outing of police power abuse in Aboriginal communities 9 Times Out of 10. With a swung flow, powerful vocal style, and classic hip-hop beat the track allows Woods to cover personal experience of growing up in Kimberley, WA and expose the prejudice experienced by black Australia. Do yourself a favour and get clued in. (Peter Strasser)
MEZKO: They Like. We Like. (Single) (Inertia)
- Described by the Sydney-based darkwave duo as "an acid riff dropped into electro-trash", this spiky, bratty party track has been my personal highlight of their arresting live show for some time now. Great to see it out in the world! (Liz Ansley)
Dark Fair: Off Into My Head (Single)(Poison City Records)
- 2 piece guitar and drum Melbourne duo Dark Fair have been burning away for a little while now. Their latest offering ‘Off Into My Head’ is introspective and melodic, intertwining and sonically beautiful but still with plenty of guts. Their upcoming album has been co-produced by Adalita Srsen (Magic Dirt) and Marcieca Page (Iron On) giving us a pretty exciting insight into what more we can expect from this powerhouse duo. (Jasmine Dunn)
Ro: Diary (Single)(Independent)
- A wry conversational confessional for fans of warm tones and word play, Ro's Diary is a sunny, shuffling pop track with spades of personality. Originally from Margaret River, the now Melbourne-based singer/songwriter has delivered one of the most charming debuts of the year. (Liz Ansley)
Overseas
Lizzo: Boys (Single) (Atlantic Records / Warner Music Australia)
- BET Award nominee and all-round powerhouse Lizzo has been making waves for some time - she recently toured with HAIM around the US, her 2016 Coconut Oil EP featured pride anthem Good As Hell, and she's constantly using her voice for positive change. New single Boys is no different, with its bombastic visuals celebrating sexuality, body positivity, diversity and acceptance. (Liz Ansley)
Kamasi Washington: Heaven and Earth (Young Turks / Remote Control Records)
- [WARNING, CONTAINS SAXOPHONE] Kamasi Washington's second album has so much momentum behind it that it's almost a surprise it didn't crash and burn. Delivered in two parts labelled "Heaven" and "Earth", the saxophonist produces incredible jams for both those partial to jazz and the uninitiated. While the stellar performances from his band help, it's more the consistent level of quality over the entire release which is the most impressive part. Not suitable for children, elevators, or lounges. (Peter Strasser)
Nile Rodgers & Chic: Till The World Falls ft. Mura Masa/Cosha/Vic Mensa (Single) (Sumthing Else Musicworks)
- A welcome time-warp in a week of packed full of experimental electronica! Nile Rodgers has been around for years, but his new single welcomes current favourites Mura Masa, Cosha AND Vic Mensa - bringing fresh energy to timeless groove. This track will definitely peak ears across the ages. Picture Vic Mensa doned in his flares having a good old boog' - who could resist. (Peter Strasser)
Hana Vu: How Many Times Have You Driven By (Barely Dressed Records)
- Backed by toe tapping programmed drums and dreamy synth keyboard and guitar lines, Hanu Vu’s 10 track LP How Many Times Have You Driven By comes in full force welcoming indie and bedroom pop fans into its arms. Driven by a need for love and social acceptance, Vu paints a highly emotive picture of a woman trapped in inescapable feelings who just wants to stand out to a special someone. Sure to relate to a multitude of different listeners, Vu stands out amongst the crowd by delivering a worthwhile debut. (James Chadwick)