Tag: Australian

VIDEO: The Griswolds – “Heart Of A Lion”

"Heart of a Lion" video clip

Sydney group The Griswolds have been on my radar ever since I saw them support Last Dinosaurs. It’s lucky, because they just released their video for “Heart Of A Lion”, which I’ve been holding my breath for, and it’s really quite good. It’s just under three minutes of bright, fluorescent, tropical pop – in short, it’s a bit of a summer jam. From that description, it could easily be stale and dull, but The Griswolds manage to balance all of those warm influences out, and focus it into something great.

Check it out below, and download it for free from their triple j Unearthed page if you like it.

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VIDEO: 360 – “Hope You Don’t Mind Ft N’Fa”

360

If there’s one thing you can’t deny, it’s that 360 has been working hard lately.

I don’t care about all the flack he’s getting from “hardcore” hip-hop heads. From all the people who like his older stuff more, or think he’s “sold out” (“OH NO, A MUSICIAN EARNING MONEY!”, they cry).

Even they have to hand it to him – the guy puts in the miles. Between competing regularly in battles, doing signings, and getting ready to work on his next album, he decided to do a proper video for everyone today. And unless it was planned in advance – which I doubt – he did it on the spot.

At 3.42pm on Facebook, 360 announced that he was going to do a video for “Hope You Don’t Mind Ft N’Fa”, and that it’d all be in one take.

At 9.05pm on Facebook, he delivered the clip.

Take a look below. It was done with the one and only Kane Hibberd – who has done stellar photography for countless Australian and international artists! So it’s no wonder it looks great.

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REVIEW: Georgia Fair – “All Through Winter”

Georgia Fair - All Through Winter

It’s been a while coming for Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley – the duo also known as Georgia Fair. Their debut album – All Through Winter – is due for release on the 21st of October, and it’s fair to say there’s been a few people waiting on it. Touring with The Panics, the band have been showing off their new work recently, but how does it sound recorded?

Starting with the slow-burning “Times Fly”, the album kicks off with a strong start. “Blind” brings out intense, rolling drums, and “Where You Been?” is the perfect first single from the release.

Georgia Fair weave these beautiful vocal harmonies into folk music that goes beyond the whole cutesy idea of finger-picking some guitar chords. With lush strings and deep guitar, the songs sound mature and layered. It’s a much fuller sound, and it’s all the more interesting because of it. The best bit: the production is beautiful and sounds just as it should.

What it lacks for the most part, are stand out hooks. All Through Winter is rewarding when it has your attention, but rarely does the album grab it naturally. “Blind” and “Simple Man” both seem to take it up a notch, and so do a couple of others, but nothing really jumps out. Aside from that, too often do Wilson’s vocals feel under-stated. He has an amazing voice, and when really pushed out during some choruses, it explodes, sounding stronger than ever. Unfortunately, too often it feels restrained.

Maybe this album isn’t for me. When cherry-picking tracks for analysis, everything positive I’ve said stands – beautiful folk harmonies alongside a matured sense of song-writing – and it’s consistent in this sense too! But as an album, the release can’t sustain my interest. I feel I’d enjoy it more as an EP. Chances are, that’s more a reflection on my personal tastes.

Whether or not you listen to this as an album or not, if you dig great melodic folk music, you should have a listen. Georgia Fair have made leaps and bounds in many ways, and while I don’t think they’ve found their feet just yet, they’re getting pretty damn close.

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TOUR: Gyroscope

Gyroscope have just announced the Choose Your Own Adventure tour! It’s going to be their only headline tour for 2011, and will see them hit the road through October and November to play a handful of dates. Sydney and Adelaide punters are especially lucky, as the band have managed to make the shows there all ages.

But more interestingly, this is a tour where you (yes, you!) will choose the setlist! By the democratic process of a Facebook vote, fans will be able to choose which songs Gyroscope practice and take out on the road with them.

Keen to vote? Run over here and like their Facebook page so that you can vote when it’s open.

All the tour details are below.

Tickets on sale Thursday August 25

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20
PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY WA
Heatseeker: http://www.heatseeker.com.au – 08 6210 2850 – Heatseeker Outlets
Venue Box Office: 08 9721 2016

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21
SETTLERS TAVERN, MARGARET RIVER WA
Heatseeker: http://www.heatseeker.com.au – 08 6210 2850 – Heatseeker Outlets

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22
STUDIO 146, ALBANY WA
Heatseeker: http://www.heatseeker.com.au – 08 6210 2850 – Heatseeker Outlets

SATURDAY OCTOBER 29
L’ATTITUDE 28,  GERALDTON WA
Heatseeker: http://www.heatseeker.com.au – 08 6210 2850 – Heatseeker Outlets
Venue Box Office: 08 9965 3776

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16
THE ZOO, BRISBANE QLD
Oztix: http://www.oztix.com.au – 1300 762 545 – Oztix outlets

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17
THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA *Lic. All Ages*
Moshtix: http://www.moshtix.com.au – 1300 GET TIX – Moshtix Outlets
Venuetix: http://www.venuetix.com.au – 08 8225 8888

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18
CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC
Oztix: http://www.oztix.com.au – 1300 762 545 – Oztix outlets
Venue Box Office – http://www.cornerhotel.com – 03 9427 9198

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19
THE FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW *Lic. All Ages*
Oztix: http://www.oztix.com.au – 1300 762 545 – Oztix outlets
Ticketek: http://www.ticketek.com.au – 02 9550 3666
Venue Box Office: http://www.factorytheatre.com.au – 02 9550 3666

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VIDEO: Jebediah – “Control”

How this video has so few views, especially after the huge popularity of “She’s Like A Comet”, really astounds me. It’s not a brand new video, but I feel obliged to share it in the hope that a few more people give it a listen. It’s a brilliant song and it deserves a bit more recognition.

Jebediah really manage to balance out the racing rock and poppy bites in this one, and Kevin Mitchell’s voice can change to suit accordingly. They’ve been around for quite a while, and I think they’ve well and truly earnt their place as one of Australia’s best modern rock bands that can consistently deliver good music.

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VIDEO: Regurgitator – “One Day”

This video really really creeps me out, but also makes me laugh a little bit.

Have you ever had the urge to just go into a room, cut up all these body parts, do a voodoo dance, then watch as the limbs and intestines move across the floor and merge together to form some giant monster thing, which then subsequently eats you, and then you escape by forcing your way out of its stomach? ‘Cause I sure know I have. I get that urge all the time.

This is the first single from their latest album, SuperHappyFuntimesFriends, which I only discovered today that you can download for free! Well, it’s “name your price”, but if you’re a poor uni student such as myself that may equate to “free”. I rationalise it by the fact that I’m gonna go and see them live on Sunday (you should probably check out the tour dates as well – MusicFeeds have them all over here). Anyway: you can get the album here if you want.

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BRAND NEW/VIDEO: Phrase’s “Bablyon” and new clip!

Aussie hip-hop artist Phrase just released the video for his new single “Apart”! It’s the first single from his brand new LP Babylon, and features Davey Lane (You Am I guitarist), whose vocal parts bring the whole song together. Even though the clip sees Phrase killing his troublesome piñata brother, the song is about as sunny and bright as they come.

Phrase has also put the whole of Babylon up to stream before it’s released, for those of you interested. Well worth a listen, especially as I’ve got a feeling there’s gonna be a few big ones on this release. triple j would be mad not to throw some of these tracks on high rotation.

You can stream the whole album over here, and grab a free mp3 of “Shut Em Down”, provided you part with an e-mail address.

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VIDEO: The Living End – “Song For The Lonely”

Aussie rockers The Living End have just released their sixth full length album, The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating, and “Song for the Lonely” is the second single from the release!

Check out this brand new video from the guys. Not sure how I feel about the artistic choice to blur the guys “parts”, would’ve been better to cover them up another way. Overall the video has some cool slow-mo footage, but that seems to be about it. You can weave together any explanation you want about the water and paintball bombardment being a metaphor and how these people are lonely or oppressed or whatever, but it really doesn’t seem all that revolutionary. That said, it’s a cool song, and well, the video is at least interesting.

See what you think.

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TOUR: Phatchance and Coptic Soldier’s “Hey, Where’s Your DJ?” tour

So you may have noticed I recently reviewed Inkstains (Acoustic) and The Sound of Wings 2, the most recent releases from Phatchance and Coptic Soldier.

Well, they’ve recently announced a co-headline acoustic tour around a few of Australia’s major centres to showcase their new material, and if you’re a fan of hip-hop this is not something you want to miss. They’re touring with a full live band, alongside collaborator and musician Jon Reichardt, and if their recent EP releases are anything to go by, this tour will be special indeed.

It’s a shame they can’t make it to more cities, but if you can make it out to see them you really should. Best of luck to everyone involved, I’m sure you’ll smash it!

See the below poster for details.

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REVIEW: Coptic Soldier – “The Sound of Wings 2”

In case you missed it, I reviewed The Sound of Wings quite some time ago. Over here. Ultimately I felt it was an alright release, but that better things were to come from Coptic Soldier. The Sound of Wings 2 proves I was right.

For those of you unaware, The Sound of Wings 2 is an acoustic EP from Coptic. If you’re worried, don’t be, because the acoustic atmosphere suits Coptic’s rapping style more than ever, and it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes. This feels like a niche Coptic could easily slot into on a regular basis, because it works really well, and as a result the release sounds much more cohesive.

Like Inkstains (Acoustic), there’s new material, this time in the form of “I Hate Sleep (Acoustic) feat. Charlie Mayfair” and “Fight for the Fame (Acoustic)”, both of which are brilliant. The latter is a personal standout: musically with the guitar picking and strong back-up vocals, and lyrically.

Vocal melodies and hints of jazz instrumentation throughout the EP help it retain the soulful feel its predecessor had, and I don’t think that’s a sound you hear too often. Which is great, because ultimately The Sound of Wings 2 wins through its diversity. It really sets itself apart. Not content with being any normal acoustic release, it goes that step further to differentiate itself (an increasing trend I seem to be seeing with I Forget, Sorry!’s releases). Which is exactly what makes it such a strong release.

And the effort put into it shows. Coptic and Phatchance both reached capacity at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory three weeks in a row to showcase these acoustic tracks. That alone should tell you there’s something special here.

The Sound of Wings 2 represents what feels like a natural progression for Coptic Soldier. It’s a big step from his last release (despite both sharing tracks), and it’s where Coptic’s real talent starts to shine. Amongst the mountains of musical trash thrown at us every day, The Sound of Wings 2 proves there is always something special out there – you just have to find it.

Grab lead single “I Hate Sleep (Acoustic) feat. Charlie Mayfair” from Coptic’s triple j Unearthed page here, and pick up The Sound of Wings 2 online here!

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