Tag Archives: Australia

April 3, 2013 · 12:52 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes

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Already breakout stars in their native Australia, Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes, who fuse a unique blend of soul, blues, doo-wop, jazz and R&B with Clairy’s powerful, soulful vocals at the forefront–have signed with the U.S. label Vanguard Records and will release their debut album Baby Caught The Bus on May 21. Their first single “Love Letter” is now #1 Most Added at Triple A Radio this week, while Baby Caught The Bus climbs to #15 Most Added. “Love Letter” also hit Amazon’s “Hot Singles: 20 Songs We’d Like to Date”.  The band will have their Tuesday, April 9th Los Angeles, CA show at The Troubadour taped for future airing on an episode of NBC TV’s “Last Call With Carson Daly.” On Thursday, April 11, they’ll perform live on Los Angeles’ KCSN “Afternoon Music Mix with Sky Daniels.” That can be heard in the greater Los Angeles area on 88.5fm or around the world online at www.kcsn.org.

Baby Caught The Bus is gaining strong praise from the media, in his album review for No Depression, Grant Britt declared, “Melbourne’s Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Rackettes is the best stuff to come along in decades. This thing opens with a bang. ‘Love Letter’ leaps out at you like a Stax 45, blowing you back to the ‘60s through a funky time warp. Baby Caught The Bus is a treasure trove for r&b lovers, a ‘60s time capsule, a show and dance ensemble concept  that’s been away far too long. Import this one to your collection immediately for maximum satisfaction.”
The group just launched their U.S. tour at SXSW in Austin and are already blowing away U.S. audiences. In his live review for Bust Magazine at SXSW, writer Christian Detres described the group’s performance “With a peal of trumpet and a trill on a snare, Clairy Browne and her girls ginned up a stompy 60s revival that had the crowd dancing and spilling their vodka lemonades all over the floor.”
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes first gained international attention when “Love Letter” was featured in Heineken’s award-winning campaign The Switch and has surpassed 1 million views online!

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March 5, 2013 · 3:38 pm

Download: The Cannanes – “Crawler”

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“We Drink Bitter,” a Cannanes song released in the band’s native land in 1987 that later surfaced in America on its 1993 Witchetty Pole album, has been called one of the best “Is it really over?” songs of all time. Although co-written and performed by The Cannanes, the song’s lyrics are attributed to K Records founder and Beat Happening leader Calvin Johnson.

 Now, The Cannanes have answered their own tune. “It’s a nod to ‘We Drink Bitter,’” says band member Frances Gibson about “Crawler,” the latest single from the upcoming “Small Batch” EP, the Australian duo’s first release in over 11 years.

 Nearly 26 years since “We Drink Bitter,” Gibson sings “And no, I won’t say it again, There’s no good reason why this shouldn’t end. And things keep happening that can’t be true, Does what you say make sense to you?” “Crawler” even repeats “Is there love in the sound of a closing door?” one of the most stinging lines from “We Drink Bitter.”

“Even when you know someone really well, they can still shock you,” explains Gibson of the sentiment. “Things fall apart.”

Download: The Cannanes – “Crawler”

The Cannanes have been releasing modest, ramshackle records since forming in Sydney, Australia almost 30 years ago.  Though essentially underground, the band has amassed a legion of fans in that time, including Kurt Cobain, who, it was later discovered, name-checked The Cannanes as a personal favorite in his posthumously published journals.

The upcoming “Small Batch” EP is the first release in over 11 years from band members Fran Gibson and Stephen O’Neil and is scheduled for release on March 19th.

Check out last month’s post where you can download another of their new songs, “Bumper.”

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February 19, 2013 · 3:40 pm

New Music From The Cannanes

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Australian indie pop duo The Cannanes will issue their first official release in over 11 years on March 19th, 2013. The “Small Batch” EP contains the fun, bouncy songs that the band’s fans know them for (and that famously earned them a mention in Kurt Cobain’s journals.)  The Cannanes have been releasing modest, ramshackle records since being formed in Sydney, Australia by Fran Gibson and Stephen O’Neil almost 30 years ago.

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UK producer Richie Phoe has his own take on the first single from “Small Batch” and his downtempo remix of “Bumper” is streaming and available for download now. BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank has described Phoe as “Brighton’s Lee Scratch Perry” and fellow BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens calls his work “Bouncy dub at its very best.”

Stream/Download: The Cannanes – “Bumper” (Richie Phoe Remix)

SPIN recently premiered the original EP version of “Bumper,” with columnist Marc Hogan writing, “Cardigan-owners, rejoice! Long-running Australian indie-pop combo The Cannanes have returned with ‘Bumper,’ the first taste of their first major release since 2002’s Trouble Seemed So Far Away. The ‘Small Batch’ EP, due March 19, is helmed by veteran members Fran Gibson and Stephen O’Neil; and while the production quality seems slightly more polished, the earnest melodicism remains.”

For the “Small Batch” EP, The Cannanes have once again collaborated with Explosion Robinson producer and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Hermann.  The six-track release sees Gibson and O’Neil at their best, back on familiar territory musing on the nature of friendship, love, and outer space that has characterized their best work over the last 27 years.

Stream/Download: The Cannanes – “Bumper”

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January 23, 2013 · 2:45 pm

Newest Love: The Rubens

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Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has signed Australian rock sensations The Rubens to its roster. The band – which is brothers Sam Margin (vocals/guitar), Elliott Margin (keyboards), and Zaac Margin (guitar), plus their longtime friend Scott Baldwin (drums) – hail from the tiny rural town of Menangle in New South Wales (population 327) and have been on a whirlwind journey since forming in 2011. They have gone from being total unknowns to enjoying strong support from Australia’s influential radio station Triple J and playing the main stage at one of Australia’s biggest music festivals, Splendour in the Grass, alongside Jack White and Bloc Party. The Rubens also opened for The Black Keys in New Zealand and have been selected to support Bruce Springsteen during his tour of Australia this March.

The Rubens’ self-titled debut album, which was recorded in New York City with producer David Kahne (Paul McCartney, The Strokes, Regina Spektor), has already won over a legion of fans with its rich, soulful take on blues rock. The album debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA chart and sold more than 10K its first week, shooting to No. 1 on iTunes Australia. The album’s first single, “My Gun,” as well as the album itself, has been certified gold in Australia and has spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on Triple J.

The Rubens will make their U.S. debut performing at SXSW and touring here in March. Prior to that, the band will tour the UK and Europe with Walk The Moon beginning February 20th. The band are pleased to announce their first-ever headlining shows outside of Australia as follows:

  • Feb 19        Sebright Arms London, England
  • Mar 11       Mercury Lounge New York, NY
  • Mar 20      TBC San Francisco, CA
  • Mar 21       The Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, CA

Warner Bros. Records will release The Rubens’ album on June 11th.

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October 23, 2012 · 10:14 am

Download: Strange Talk – Cast Away (Plastic Plates Remix)

“…fantastic remix that stays true to the catchy vocals of the original while adding a healthy amount of Tropical vibes and funktastic bassline.” – Gotta Dance Dirty

“A synth-happy track gets The Goonies treatement. Prepare for three-minute music video magic.” – NYLON

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August 23, 2012 · 10:54 am

Video: The Money Go Round – “YAYAYA”

Check out this video from Sydney, Australia’s The Money Go Round.

The Money Go Round is a means of expression for five Sydney artists who have all had a passion for art and music throughout their lives. It is the product of years of experimentation, to develop a nucleus that promotes creative collaboration. Their debut single ”YAYAYA” is about wanting something you can’t have. It sounds like falling down a waterfall into a bucket of rainbow paint. “YAYAYA” was produced by TMGR and Tracked/Mixed and Mastered through 301 Studios, Sydney.

The Money Go Round would very much like to embody the rock/psychedelic genre, TMGR are set to achieve a sound with longevity that is both modern and vintage, and drive their music with strong and memorable live performances.

For fans of: The Black Keys, Tame Impala, Kasabian, Black Lips, The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys.

AND, if ya fancy, you can go download “YAYAYA” for free, too.

Download: The Money Go Round – “YAYAYA”

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July 2, 2012 · 11:13 am

Newest Love: Oceanics

Rock-pop four-piece, Oceanics have a brand new video for their single Jukebox. Simply put, the video is a video about making a video, directed by Genki Yamasaki and starring actress Cleo Massey of television show H20: Just Add Water. The single is the first from their recent EP, Bright People, recorded with Aria award winning engineer Wayne Connolly (Josh Pyke, The Vines, The Living End). Bright People has seen success in the US and was featured on MTV, MSN and AOL music, and even had a Glee moment, receiving acclaim on the blog, You, Me & Charlie (Dianna Agron of Glee’s blog).

Oceanics are on tour in July with shows along the east-coast of Australia with Hey Geronimo, Velociraptor, and Rockets.

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June 19, 2012 · 2:04 pm

Video: The Griswolds – “Heart of a Lion”

Check out this fun video for the second single from The Griswolds, “Heart of a Lion.” The video was filmed over one day in a film studio, and took 5 days to clean up. The Griswolds are now banned from that studio.

The band have had a fast start to 2012, with support shows around Australia with Last Dinosaurs, Millions, San Cisco, Hey Geronimo, and Kids of 88. Their first single, “Mississippi” has also received high acclaim, featured on over 100 blogs worldwide, and charting on college radio in the USA. Both songs are from an upcoming EP due for release in August 2012.

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· 9:52 am

Brand New: Tin Can Radio – “It Goes On”

After hibernating in a song writing induced coma for the last 6 months, Tin Can Radio are back with their awesome new single “It Goes On,” produced by ARIA award winner, Magoo. The indie inspired art-rock track takes you through a series of symphony sweet vocals and foot tapping guitar hooks leaving you at the end of a dreamy indie electro journey.

Go listen: Tin Can Radio - “It Goes On”

 

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May 22, 2012 · 4:16 pm

Brand New: Atlas Genius – “Back Seat”

Listen to the brand new track “Back Seat” now!

The song “Trojans” by Atlas Genius has taken over our heads and our hearts over the past few months. Now, we’re finally getting more!

Listen: Atlas Genius – “Trojans”

The Adelaide, Australia-based indie band has signed with Warner Bros. Records, and will release its debut EP, Through The Glass, on June 12. The three-song collection will include Atlas Genius’ breakout hit “Trojans,” which had sold more than 45,000 downloads in the U.S. alone before the band was even signed. The band members are currently at work in their home studio on their full-length debut, which is due out this fall.

The band wasn’t in a rush to sign with a record label. In fact, it wasn’t until about a month after the Neon Gold blog post that they even realized that Atlas Genius’ inbox was full of inquiries fromlabels, publishers, lawyers, booking agents and management companies.

“We had begun to think that music was a pipedream and we had all gone back to university to pursue more realistic careers,” recalls vocalist/guitarist Keith. Buoyed by the outpouring of interest, the three brothers – Keith, Steven and Michael Jeffrey – quickly got back to writing and recording more songs.

NYLON praised Atlas Genius’ “double whammy of high-flying pop melodies and instantly catchy lyrics” and Billboard tipped the band as part of “The Next Wave” of up-and-coming alternative bands. The three-track Through The Glass – produced, engineered and mixed by the band in their home studio – captures Atlas Genius’ singular combination of sophisticated musicality and warm, wistful spirit. In addition to “Trojans,” it features the shimmering “Symptoms” and “Back Seat,” which blends its pulsing bass throb with a sweetly infectious beat and tender vocals that alternately soar and sigh.

Listen: Atlas Genius – “Back Seat”

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