reviews
featured review:mr goodnight"...The balance of syncopation and the soulful rhythmic dance that only horns, drums, bass and keys can bring, along with well placed guitar riffs and solos that enhance the song not cheapen it - all of these are extremely evident in this recording." Craig Atkins reviews Mr Goodnight >> |
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all current reviews
Please note: Opinions expressed by the Review Panel are not necessarily shared by other Music SA staff.
| Mr Goodnight 02/02/2012 | |
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"...The balance of syncopation and the soulful rhythmic dance that only horns, drums, bass and keys can bring, along with well placed guitar riffs and solos that enhance the song not cheapen it - all of these are extremely evident in this recording."
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| The BordererS 12/01/2012 | |
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"...The band has enjoyed reasonable international success, particularly by Adelaide standards, yet they seem to defy trends and are difficult to pigeon-hole. A bit folk, a bit pop, a bit traditional, a bit Peter Paul and Mary, they just seem to write nice songs that could be sung in the backyard, the front bar, or on the world stage."
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| Esther Lamb 05/01/2012 | |
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"..Lamb’s lyrical talent certainly resonates with her desired audience; the lyrics themselves are beautifully written and very well executed. The sharp vocals play an integral part in absorbing the listener and encouraging them to feel a part of her music."
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| Sun Theory 20/12/2011 | |
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"...Sun Theory’s self-titled offering is something well worth looking out for. Everything about it is pleasant - the simple but stand out album cover (which would make a lovely t-shirt), the full but sparse recording quality, and the thoughtful but easy listening lyrics."
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| Self Preservation Society 15/12/2011 | |
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"...Indebted to legendary songwriters Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly and the like, the EP is full of Newsome’s heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics and acoustic meanderings, featuring the brooding honesty of ‘Modest Man’ and the Kelly-esque ‘Childhood’."
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| The Killgirls 15/12/2011 | |
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"...this band of Killgirls, regardless of the reality-or-otherwise of any homicidal intentions, has enough power and passion in their potent blend of beats, brains and balls to overcome any resistance to their new 8-song EP 'Animal'. Dragging you to the dance-floor, rocking you senseless, and finally reducing you to a state of sheer animal instinct - this is their aim. Mission: accomplished!"
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| Ride Into The Sun 08/12/2011 | |
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"...I would describe the overall feel of Ride into the Sun’s music as 21st century acid rock, particularly the instrumentation and as emphasised by the production on this EP, i.e.: lots of reverb on everything, 'wall of guitars' and the distortion on vocals."
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| ISAW 01/12/2011 | |
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"...ISAW’s debut full length album is 12 tracks that stand right in front of you and demand attention, with intense growling vocals interlaced with melodic backing vocals. This is layered over crunching guitars and melodious riffs, along with strong drum patterns and tempo changes. Driving bass and harmonic leads are also interlaced through well-crafted and structured songs."
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| Black Diamond Roots Band 24/11/2011 | |
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"...Recorded at Sody Pop studios and mastered at Disk-Edits, this CD could just as easily have been recorded off the mixing desk during a live performance at a working class pub in Whyalla. The overall sound of the CD is that of a very tight band playing to a lively and responsive audience, but without the added noise. The recording is excellent and the songs are well written and performed."
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| Priority Orange 18/11/2011 | |
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"... Mk II is a solid four track EP of heavy rock with an Australian flavour; think Karnivool meets Alice In Chains with a dash of Faith No More and '80s rock. The heavy turned prog-rock opener ‘He’s In The Pub’ has '90s written all over it, especially with the double kick and grinding guitars, but a mini '80s guitar solo mid-song brings out the progressive element of their sound."
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| Flat One 18/11/2011 | |
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"... The opening title track 'Outsider' caught my attention immediately with the opening guitar riff, simple as it is but with an energy that immediately gave me an impression the band had a lot of fun making this recording and that this track would be a fan favourite at their live gigs."
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| Cal Williams Jr 10/11/2011 | |
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"... I was quickly struck by Cal’s dexterous playing which made my fingers ache instantly just from listening. The vocal in all tracks on this album is very restrained and to my ears it sounds like the ghost of Nick Drake is being summoned throughout the album."
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| The Dunes 09/11/2011 | |
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"...The Dunes describe themselves as a 'dream pop' band and upon reviewing their debut release 'Going Under', they could not be more adequately labeled. Lilting reverb-drenched vocal melodies and slide guitars punctuate the two tracks on offer, 'Going Under' and 'Dress to Kill', with the former evoking harmonic memories of '90s-era Radiohead."
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| Hawks of Alba 03/11/2011 | |
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"...Very much in vouge with the female fronted acts of the '90s era (The Breeders, Veruca Salt, Hole), ‘Dear Punk Rock,…’ has a throwback feel, full of hazy guitars and melodic visions."
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| Caper 26/10/2011 | |
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"...With few exceptions this album provides hooks galore and it’s not hard to imagine this getting a decent amount of play around the place on the appropriate hip hop radio shows."
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| Surviving Sharks 26/10/2011 | |
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"...This 5 piece band sits on the heavier side of the rock continuum. Built upon a solid rhythm of drums and bass, the driving chords, slashing solos, and heavy keyboard undertone, this band doesn’t quite cross over to Metal, but it is definitely a heavier rock machine. Like the classic 'Smoke on the Water', it is the keyboard that deceptively adds the power and heaviness to the riffs."
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| Imogen Brave 20/10/2011 | |
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"...This is a band that should not be taken lightly, with vocalist Stef Crowley standing out front and delivering the goods with a classic rock-chick attitude reminiscent of the likes of Joan Jett, Suzie Quattro, and Chrissy Amphlett, Steffi oozes power and raunchiness from the scorching opener 'Walk Away' through to the powerful 'Love is like (Open Heart)'."
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| Mase N Mattic 20/10/2011 | |
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"...The album's playfulness is asserted from the first track, with ‘Set It Off’ announcing the arrival of hip hop’s newest superstars. Mase N Mattic spit rhymes over a banging beat featuring the explosive sound of horns, a staple of many of the tracks on their debut. Similar to American act Dilated Peoples album opener ‘Live On Stage’, the track is a fist-pumping, beer-swilling anthem that you can imagine sending crowds into hysterics."
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| Vows Of A Massacre 13/10/2011 | |
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""Battle with the Sub-Conscience" is the six track debut release for freshmen Vows of a Massacre. The EP opens with 'Parasitic Interactivity', a wise choice for the opening track featuring as it does an intriguing fade-in of chops before launching into the main riff, alternating cookie-monster and dry-throat vocal techniques (somewhat reminiscent of Cradle of Filth), the vocal style being characteristic of most of the tracks on this EP."
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| Mere Theory 05/10/2011 | |
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"It’s hard to believe ‘Walking In Storms’ is only Mere Theory’s second album. In a career that has spanned over a decade, the hard working alternate rockers have established themselves as not only one of Adelaide’s, but also one of Australia’s most captivating and committed live acts."
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| Joe Man Murphy 30/09/2011 | |
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" it quickly becomes apparent that Joe Man Murphy’s debut long player would be best filed under blues in your cd collection, but it definitely explores much further afield then that. There’s a fair smack of Bootsy Collins funk going on"
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| Debra Gibson + The Rising Lotus 14/09/2011 | |
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From the strong-yet-warm, gentle-yet-jazzy opening track, Debra Gibson and her musicians (known as the Rising Lotus) lead us through a suite of songs that cover universal subjects like loyalty and betrayal, forgiveness and disappointment, personal connection and spiritual awareness, but which do so in a very individual and personal manner.
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| Palky 01/09/2011 | |
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I’ll be the first to agree that undergoing a regimen of song writing over a period of time is good for you; you get in to the habit of regularly writing, you learn in what circumstances you write the best and, under pressure, you may produce some higher quality work than you would otherwise and be able to use it in more considered songs, further down the line.
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| Emily Davis 01/09/2011 | |
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Emily Davis is a local singer / songer-writer with a bluesy voice and a silken touch. This CD “Undone” was recorded with her band “The Open Road”, and throughout the release the songs maintain the consistency you might expect from a well tuned unit.
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| Tomorrow Is 25/08/2011 | |
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The debut record from Tomorrow Is introduces a seven track collection of uplifting pop rock tunes that explore majestic melodies and soaring choruses, interlaced with passionate lyrics that are the backbone of this group. It’s all present on first track ‘Everything Has Changed’, a soul quenching pop number very much in the vein of Snow Patrol. Jangly guitars and lead singer Paul Platt’s vocals feature strongly on the track, as do the female harmonies provided by pianist Tahlia DeCorso.
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| Two Way Radio 25/08/2011 | |
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"T-Shirts" Fade by Two Way Radio is an offering of 5 tracks clocking in at just under 20 minutes total, which I guess makes it an EP. Preliminary research on Two Way Radio reveals they are an Adelaide-based trio of various origins with a standard live line-up of bass, drums and guitar, which orchestration is augmented for studio purposes with the addition of the keys apparently, although I confess to being unable to hear them anywhere (except maybe in the track 'T-Shirts Fade'?).
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| Shane Steer 11/08/2011 | |
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Popping Shane Steer's new release ‘Interlusion’ into the cosmic destruction player I was quick to notice the production values of his debut long player. Mastered by Neville Clark at Disk-Edits, this album has a lush sound from the get go with a great flamenco sound from Shane’s nylon string acoustic - which is not always the easiest thing to capture.
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| The Amcats 11/08/2011 | |
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The Amcats have gone along way to winning me over before I even had played their latest release. VINYL, ladies and gents, VINYL! When will the world realise how great it truly is? I can’t remember where I read the quote recently or who it was by, but someone said we should just forget about cds and only release digital and vinyl recordings. The benefits are immense the sound is way better (even for the little dust pops and crackles which only add to it for me), bigger packaging which makes for more interesting art work and something you’ll actually display in your house - PLUS it forces the listener to LISTEN… amazing, I know.
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| She Said You 27/07/2011 | |
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“Faces” is a five track EP from Adelaide based Alt Pop band “She Said You”. The band is a three piece, citing its members as Greg Horan (Vocals/Guitar), David Peter Britvec (Guitar) and Simon Marafioti (Drums). On this release Nathan Bills is credited as contributing bass guitar, but not as a member of the band.
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| Menagerie 27/07/2011 | |
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‘Cut Off Your Hands’, not to be confused with the New Zealand act, is the latest single from dreamy folk four piece Menagerie. The track itself is an elegant combination of subtle guitars and brooding harmonies, in particular the female vocals of Gina Somfleth that send shivers down the spine.
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| Red Apparition 22/07/2011 | |
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Adelaide quartet Red Apparition’s latest single “Silverfish” is a thundering burst of indie rock goodness. Rollicking guitars and crisp bass are anchored by thumping drumming interlaced with frontman Stuart Sanderson’s strong vocals. These lad’s certainly have a knack for catchy hooks and guitar driven rock, with Silverfish the perfect driving song.
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| Nat & Sienna 13/07/2011 | |
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Over a gentle jazz-styled rhythm comes a melancholy minor-key melody mapped out by country/folk-style acoustic and electric guitars, topped off with sympathetically yearning male vocals, and filled out by striking and unexpected harmonies in the bridge. This is Return Later, the enticing entry point to Nat and Sienna’s self-titled album.
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| Abyzmal 07/07/2011 | |
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It’s always exciting getting home from work and finding a little package from Music SA with a record to review and today was no exception. The packaging definitely got an old school metal vibe to it, so much so that reading the front logo with the ‘z’ in abysmal and the flaming…well I’m not really sure what it is let’s say rock, I was worried that we may be heading into mock metal territory – thankfully I couldn’t have been more wrong.
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| Soursob Bob 01/07/2011 | |
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I must confess to an initial feeling of disappointment to observe that so, so much plastic has been used to encase exactly 3 minutes and 31 seconds of music as presented by Adelaide folk music icon Soursob Bob with his single release, Monkey Off My Back. I re-engaged my objectivity mode however and gave it a spin, not knowing whether to expect Mr Bob in solo or rock band Kelshey modes. As it turned out, it was a bit of neither and somewhat reminiscent of old Adelaide band Redgum, but rockier.
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| Jay Hoad 23/06/2011 | |
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Receiving the mail and unwrapping Jay Hoad's latest release ‘Stories for the Soul’ from the postal box was a mighty exciting treat after a long slog in the office. The artwork for this album has to be one of the best I’ve seen this year by quite a way. It features some great renditions of Australian life all themed in the earthy colours favoured by this branch of roots music. Popping the record into the mobile cosmic destruction player (e.g. car stereo) I was mighty surprised and pleased by what I heard. Initially maybe somewhat stereotypically I was expecting something straight from the John Butler school of roots but Jay Hoad really makes this genre his own.
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| The Sea Thieves 08/06/2011 | |
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“The Sea Thieves” comprises Zac Coligan and Naomi Thompson who are also the owner/operators of well known Adelaide entertainment venue The Jade Monkey. “They Will Run” is the band's second release, with the local duo teaming up with Zac’s former “Bergerac” band mates Jed Palmer, Steve Griffiths and Zoe Barry to add colour and shade.
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| The Beggars 19/05/2011 | |
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“Australian Songbook Volume One” is the latest release from Adelaide folk trio The Beggars. This Songbook includes cover versions of 15 iconic Australian songs, dating from Banjo Patterson’s 1895 composition “Waltzing Matilda” to Paul Kelly’s 1987 hit ”To Her Door”. The material in between includes songs from The Seekers, Chad Morgan, Slim Dusty, Johnny O’Keefe, and Spectrum and more.
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| Two Way Radio (Live) & Guests 12/05/2011 | |
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On a proper winter’s night in Adelaide and on the eve of Good Friday, Two Way Radio took to The Promethean to launch their EP, T-Shirts Fade. The band was joined by a great line-up of local bands, each playing impressive sets.
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| Brenton Foster Band 05/05/2011 | |
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‘You Said’, the Brenton Foster Band’s first release is an excellent debut album, brimming with musicality, punctuated by polished song writing and topped off with superb production (Brett Taylor). Led by vocalist and keyboardist Brenton Foster and backed by accomplished Adelaide musicians; Cam Blokland (Guitar), Marty Holoubek (Bass) and Joel Prime (Percussion) this pop rock album can most easily be aligned stylistically to bands and artists such as Thirsty Merc, Billy Joel, Elton John and John Mayer.
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| Mick Kidd 27/04/2011 | |
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Mick Kidd’s second release following his debut solo album in 2009 is a collection of bluesy, rock ballads that have a quintessential Aussie flavour in both the lyrics and the guitar sounds.
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| The Leitmotif 20/04/2011 | |
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Together less than a year, The Leitmotif has certainly made its mark on the Adelaide music scene. This self-described “post punk band” already has a number of gigs under its belt, least of all supporting the likes of The Holidays, Young Heretics, and The Cairos. Now they’ve released their first EP. Formed late in 2010, it’s still early days for this trio. However, listening to the CD, you wouldn’t know they hadn’t been together long. Every track is tight and well recorded.
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| Oscillators 15/04/2011 | |
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For a band who have reportedly only been operating for around two years, The Oscillators’ debut EP ‘Waiting for This’ is surprisingly strong, easily worthy of a lot of attention from the clubbing scene here and abroad. Sporting tracks like opener Assume the Position, Deck of Cards and, my personal favourite, Broken; it would be small surprise if this group soon finds itself in high demand within the scene and their songs becoming playlist favourites of a great number of DJs.
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| Incarnadine 15/04/2011 | |
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The music industry, as much as any other, is experiencing major changes due to the low cost and highly effective recording, production and distribution technologies that digital media has made available. The changes are ongoing and will be for some time, as the industry starts to shed outdated and unnecessary concepts and starts to find its feet in the new digital frontier.
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| Squeaker 08/04/2011 | |
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Squeaker is a pop/rock outfit known around town for its strong live performances and full stage sounds which are enhanced by pre-programmed loops and effects. Squeaker’s new CD “Fly Baby Fly” seeks to capture the essence of the band's live work. Considering the lone guitar is the only melodic instrument, the sound is very full for a four piece band. The electronica fills out the sound nicely.
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| Olivers Army 31/03/2011 | |
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Artistically spliced together on the sleeve of their debut release, the two gentlemen that make up Oliver’s Army (Barossa twins Ryan and Todd Oliver) appear to resemble a fusion of Ben Lee and Josh Thomas! Whether or not this visual prospect appeals to you, dear reader, let me hasten to add that some outstanding music awaits anyone wise enough to purchase this excellent EP...
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| Nothing To Undo 24/03/2011 | |
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They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and that phrase should also apply to album covers. With stick figure characters adorning the front and back of the album and an ambiguous band name, I was expecting another run of the mill modern indie record from local kids Nothing To Undo. Oh how wrong was I.
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| The Timbers 22/03/2011 | |
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Greet the Sun is the first EP from the folksy-roots Timbers, to be released at The Promethean on Friday 25 March 2011. The Timbers have been together for only two years - their synergy is impressive. The EP features an interesting range of sounds and instruments.
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| Red Apparition 17/03/2011 | |
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Red Apparition has presented us with 6 (+1 secret?) original tracks on a numbered CD release, this particular copy being number 51 out of 100, apparently. The first point made by this release is that of the packaging, 100% post-consumer recycled paper, presenting itself as an almost purely aural artefact with only the most tenuous physical presence. Overall the 7 tracks, as produced by Matt Hills, bang out a big drum sound, big up-front vocals with the guitars a trifle understated, which may work better on the slower tracks than others.
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| Where There's Smoke 10/03/2011 | |
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On the CD cover is a photograph of a lone guitarist, cast in semi-darkness with his country check shirt, Fender Telecaster and a buckled old Billy-Bob hat. This clearly stakes out the musical genre as some kind of Country, but all Country ain’t Country no more. Like the Labor Party with its millionaire celebrities and ex-wharfies, the Country Music genre has broadened and now ranges from the syrupy commercial sickness of the Lee Kernaghan’s, to the corny the Good Old Boys to the grating dust bowl rock of Son Volt and the like.
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| Dorian Black 02/03/2011 | |
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You really do need to give Dorian Black credit for their sense of aesthetics. They’re aiming for a very specific dynamic and they certainly hit it; particularly visually and in the little details, such as the Bassist’s assumed moniker – Decay.
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| Self Preservation Society 25/02/2011 | |
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Releasing a live album is not something you would expect from a local artist, but then Tristan Newsome is no ordinary muso. The former member of Adelaide '50s rockabilly act The Flying Squad, Newsome now fronts his own solo project, Self Preservation Society. Taking influences from traditional songwriters such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Paul Kelly, Newsome blends folk, roots, blues, county and even a little spoken word into his acoustic creations.
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| The Irresponsibles 15/02/2011 | |
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“Let it Out” is a consistently professional and hard rocking release from the powerful rock quartet The Irresponsibles. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable LP that never disappoints with its strong melodies, pulsing rhythm section, edgy vocals and structured songs that distain archaic formula rock.
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| Jamie McPherson 10/02/2011 | |
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First time I ran into Jamie was at a gig he was playing at Higher Ground on Light Square and I proceed to talk at him for quite a while about the high ornamentation of the rosette on the feedback stopper of his twelve sting Takamine guitar. In addition he had on a Johnny Cash t-shirt which was instantly appealing. Nice chap looked like he’d just come down from the mountains with his beat up hat on (which he effectively has coming from Strathalbyn). What I saw on that day was an almost traditional folk performance, great and heart felt lyrics as much at home on stage as around a campfire.
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| Pagey 03/02/2011 | |
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Opening the package I received in the mail and looking at the cover art for Pageys album ‘Reload’ I was immediately struck with the thoughts what psychedelic beatlesesque trap have I gotten myself into, Deanna prepare the adrenal gland…. The packaging for this CD is somewhere between fear and loathing and a psychotropic pot roast. Good start? Yes.
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| The Colourphonics 20/01/2011 | |
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This release by The Colourphonics is an interesting and eclectic collaboration of songs that shows off a group of talented musicians who aren’t afraid to take a walk on the wild side. No surprise given their influences include artists as varied in style as ABBA and ZZ Top. The trouble however with including numerous genres and ideas in the one album is that you can lose a sense of cohesion and risk leaving the listener without something to hold onto. The music on this album includes blends of rock, funk, fusion, blues, reggae, jazz and latin. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
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| Orsino Nation 06/01/2011 | |
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Orsino Nation is a two piece local act comprising a vocalist, Yasmine Amber, and a keyboardist/producer, Paul Hilton. The name is from Count Orsino, the despairing lover who opens Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. From what I can gather the music offered on their CD “Picnic on a Whale” is appropriate to that image; a bit dramatic, songs of love and the pain that love entails, wrapped up in a classically inspired soundscape but contemporary and just a little "goth".
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| Self Preservation Society 29/12/2010 | |
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“Gone with the Wind” is Tristan Newsome’s (aka Self Preservation Society's) third and final EP in the trilogy that chronicles a semi-fictional road-trip with the elusive conspirator HW Bones. In order to properly appreciate the context of “Wind” listeners should acquaint themselves with the two previous EPs (“#42” and “Tamworth City Streets”), however, this is not essential as this short collection of 5 tracks can be sampled in isolation.
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| Cal Williams Jr 23/12/2010 | |
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Long time staple of the Adelaide live music scene Cal Williams Jnr has released an album, ‘All That I Learned From The Sea’. The upbeat, bluesy twang of opening track ‘Coal Town’ instantly separates this offering from the plethora of monotonous solo acoustic performers gracing sticky front bars around the country. That’s right, Cal Williams Jnr has released something interesting.
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| Booster 15/12/2010 | |
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Sean Kemp, Craig Lewis and Josh Biggs form Booster, a high energy rock outfit who regularly storm audiences at the Grace Emily. Their new, third EP is loud and impressive, and builds on six years of solid development together.
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| Mammoth Logic 09/12/2010 | |
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Mammoth Logic: Peculiar name aside, this electro pop duo have a release that’s sure to attract a lot of attention. They have come up with a commercial and well produced EP with songs that are catchy and very current in their musical stylings.
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| The Fridays 25/11/2010 | |
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The Fridays are a relatively young band, by all accounts, having celebrated their one year anniversary as recently as April. To their credit, the quality of their debut EP ‘Woh Oh’ is very high. However, I can’t help but escape the feeling that its release may prove to be a little too premature for either the band or the songs to be all they could have been.
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| Loren Kate 18/11/2010 | |
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When (oh when) will Music SA stop sending me CDs that are almost impossible to criticise or find any fault in...? I was certainly not expecting my latest assignment to even come close to generating the level of enthusiasm that I felt for Gemini Downs, but I am helpless in the face of the musical evidence: Loren Kate has produced an EP entitled Your Own Little Ocean that (to these ears) sounds practically perfect!
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| World Beard Day 11/11/2010 | |
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As my companion and I approached the hallowed venue for what I expected to be a one-of-a-kind gig, just before walking through the front door, we were given the clearest and cutest possible reminder of what we (and the rest of the audience) were in for: a fully-bearded evening of facially-hairy fun! This reminder came in the form of two or three of the longest and most impressive beards I had ever seen (outside of news reports about the Gypsy Jokers et al.)
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| Radio Spectacular!!! 11/11/2010 | |
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Radio Spectacular!!!’s new EP Sugar Baby, Honey Child is a great example of a strange little sub-genre of electronica driven pop that’s been emerging in the past decade. It’s a little bit retro, a little bit Beck and quite a lot Freezepop. It makes you want to dance, but has an understated quality about it which makes it more of a soundtrack to a great party than something you want to sing along with.
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| Gemini Downs 17/10/2010 | |
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This is a rave review, okay? Let’s get that crucial fact established, so that you now have the choice of either reading all the way down to the bottom of the page and finding out exactly what I liked about Gemini Downs’ debut EP (i.e. everything) or you can just go directly to their artist page on this site and start discovering for yourself why I think they’re the best new local band of their type (hell, of any type) that I’ve heard in ages!
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| The Yearlings 13/10/2010 | |
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Chris Parkinson and Robyn Chalklen are The Yearlings and “Sweet Runaway” is the fifth release from this local alt Country / folk duo. This collection is well produced, the mix is top-notch, and the instruments deliver a sound that I can only describe as juicy and oaken-honey soaked.
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| Projected Twin 13/10/2010 | |
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Now this is CD has a bit of an adventure story behind it, it seems, and I think, perhaps, there’s a little of that adventure, that worldliness that shows through in the music. Projected twin is mostly, it seems, the project of one Shaun Holton, Adelaide native recently returned from several years doing club gigs in Oman, Thailand, Iraq, Indonesia, and the USA, including a 6 month residency at the Dubai Hard Rock Café.
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| Happy Ghosts 23/9/2010 | |
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Listening to Happy Ghosts’ latest EP, ‘It Is’, leaves me strangely conflicted. The self proclaimed Indie-electro-pop duo have been plugging away solidly at their craft since 2004 and have released, somewhat surprisingly, ten releases in that time, including four LP albums. That’s not including the numerous re-releases and ‘extended’ releases they’ve unleashed as well. What is confusing is that...
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| Dialect & Despair 17/9/2010 | |
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A fresh, inspiring and raw show case of talent has emerged in the Adelaide hip hop scene. At such a young age, with a large amount of talent, Dialect is the hip hop artist to look out for. Dialect and Adelaide music producer Despair have come together to produce their debut album The Vortex and are pushing the boundaries of hip hop Australia.
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| Dexter Jones 3/9/2010 | |
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Dexter Jones want us to remember their songs which are as obviously stylised and memorable as the “DJ” logo emblazoned so boldly on the cover, not a bad thing at all. This comes across as a commercial release, it’s well produced and executed, it’s catchy and driving, it has hooks!
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| The Battery Kids 26/8/2010 | |
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The Battery Kids are emerging talent onto the local indie rock scene. After meeting five years ago as music students, they have received worthy attention from the likely audiences at Triple J and Three D, with their 2008 single Ghost Town getting to number 28 of Three D's top 100 for the year. We're Just Hanging while the Rats All Gather and the Vultures Circle Overhead is their first full-length album and it's mature for its age.
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| Self Preservation Society 19/8/2010 | |
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Tristan Newsome is the smooth voiced troubadour who fronted the now disbanded local group “The Flying Squad”. Self Preservation Society is Tristan’s new venture; a pared back vehicle for presenting his acoustic tunes and stories of life on the road.
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| The Timbers 12/8/2010 | |
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The Timbers are a more recent addition to Adelaide’s music scene. Their folk/roots sensibilities have been gracing stages since mid 2009 and this EP is their first publicly available release to date. Comprising a mere three tracks, the EP is more of a sampler of greater things to come than a release in its own right, however wanting more is not a bad thing for an audience to desire.
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| Roadside Slasher 22/7/2010 | |
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Roadside Slasher’s ‘Friend of the Moon’ is not an album for the faint of heart. This is angry chick pub rock at it’s ballsiest. There are songs about prostitution, erotic hypnosis and swearing aplenty.
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| Goldstein 7/7/2010 | |
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Australian folk act Goldstein’s (pronounced Gold-Steen) third long-player “Bin Night” (2010) sees the four-piece treading the same ground as their previous releases “Out To Sea” (2007) and “Spurs On My Boots” (2006). Australian folk act Goldstein’s 3rd long-player Bin Night (2010) sees the four-piece treading the same ground as their previous releases Out To Sea (2007) and Spurs On My Boots (2006). There is however something commendable about the band’s confidence in their own sound.
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| Mick Kidd 1/7/2010 | |
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This is a collection of blues focused, rootsy songs written, composed and performed by Mick Kidd, who in a Prince-like effort has not only sung, but played all guitars, bass, and percussion. Impressive to say the least. This album is the perfect accompaniment to a lazy Sunday afternoon; it’s not challenging on the ear and doesn’t try to achieve too much. Herein lies its success. These old Shoes is what it is - a man with soul doing what he does best, singing the blues.
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| The British Robots 24/6/2010 | |
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The British Robots. Sneaking under the radar, secretly recording this EP - their self-titled debut - without so much as a whisper. The result? A neat concoction of melodic indie pop, swampy acoustic guitars, uncomplicated percussion, slick yet organic vocals and their most endearing quality - five friends having a blast. Albeit a relaxed tea-soaked hang-out, as opposed to a beer-fuelled dodge-fest!
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| The Readymades 1/6/2010 | |
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The Readymades are an Adelaide three piece band who have been performing together since November 2006. Their current EP titled Hook, Sinker and Line was released May 1st 2010 and is a great insight of what is ahead for this quirky trio.
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| TJ Collective 20/5/2010 | |
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"Through the Ruins of Midnight" is a collection of nine, mostly short(ish) tracks by TJ Collective. The "TJ" in collective question is one Terry Jones, who authored the music and lyrics on this album as well as playing a mean saxophone. He also appears to grace the album cover in a stylishly rendered portrait in keeping with the rest of the CD graphic design which is tasteful and entirely apropos the musical content.
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| Brillig 29/4/2010 | |
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Hale to Brillig's first full (acoustic) feature offering! This is a brilliant album from a band bold enough to offer audiences something different. Brillig are story-tellers from another time who successfully channel wonderful elements of colonial era folk music for 21st Century audiences.
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| A Clearing 29/4/2010 | |
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Matt Saunders (under the nom-de-plume of A Clearing) is a one-man-rock-band producing music in his home, including six tracks which have been collected under the title To Live Without Fear. Though Saunders' photographic likeness on his web-page may have you wondering momentarily if Billy Corgan has taken up a new alias (though viewed in action on one of the videos to found on the page, Mr Saunders has slightly more of an Angry Anderson look) but his music is generally simpler and happier than that of Billy, and more varied and sensitive than that of Angry, though he certainly knows how to rock out!
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| Mr Goodnight 15/4/2010 | |
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I had never heard of Mr Goodnight before their CD came up on the reviews list recently. Usually I have even a fledgling insight into what a band sounds like, but not on this occasion, and boy howdy was I pleasantly surprised.
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| Hoy-Hoy! 14/4/2010 | |
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This DVD captures some of the legends of the Adelaide Blues scene live on stage at The Gov, celebrating Hoy-Hoy!'s 18th Birthday. Some may be surprised that this is only the 18th birthday for Hoy-Hoy!, as they seem to have been around for ever. However, when Frank introduces some of the guests in final song it becomes apparent that show is also a 34th birthday celebration for a group of Adelaide Blues stalwarts who kicked off way back in 1976 at The Windmill Hotel in Prospect.
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| Semi-Normal 17/3/2010 | |
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Semi-Normal from the Indie/Rock scene have released their debut album "Half Open Minds" on Indie-a-Go-Go Records. The band formed in 2002 and the release of their debut album has been a highlight of their career. Half Open Minds successfully delivers the band's quest to produce musical guitar leading rock. Ben Downing, lead vocals and guitar, creates an interesting tone to the album. His thoughtful and crafty use of lyrics really does portray the band's professional approach to the Indie/Rock scene.
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| Courtney Robb 11/3/2010 | |
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I'll cut straight to point here. Courtney Robb carries two instruments; a melodious Maton guitar and a marvelously mellifluous voice. I believe they may be inseparable, conspiring to caress the walls of bars, clubs and country barflies across this land. Courtney has traveled broadly and done just that; I can hear it in her lyric.
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| The Neverbells 4/3/2010 | |
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'Dreamland' is a brand new release from brand new Adelaide outfit The Neverbells who have been causing a bit of a stir in local media of late. The Neverbells are comprised of members of various other Adelaide bands from the last 10 years, and thus one can appreciate that the for a first release, the quality of music, song writing and recording is naturally better than that of most Adelaide band's debut.
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| ISAW 24/2/2010 | |
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The first thing I noticed when I unpacked Isaw's self-titled 3 track debut CD was the snap on the back cover of five "strapping young lads" posing before a no-nonsense industrial background and looking serious. The same style of picture is repeated inside the CD booklet and this, coupled with the close-focus eye graphic and saw-blade title font on the front cover, led me to suspect that I would not be reviewing a string quartet.
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| Oliver's Army 18/2/2010 | |
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"I would stare at the sky and think of you, remember the way I died, Left the earth and forgot who I was, I may have missed my chance, and we sit by and wonder why..." And thus begins Oliver's Army's release, moody and foreboding without coming across as being desperate or self indulgent. It was a real treat to sit down and listen to this EP, as twin brothers Ryan and Todd Oliver have written and recorded a very accomplished, fresh work that insists on repeat listens.
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| Andy & Marta 11/2/2010 | |
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Andy Armstrong and Marta Bayly have teamed up for a first album, Harmony of One, which is characterised by an upbeat sound on tracks like 'No One to Blame' and the title track. The album features simple, honest folk lyrics and appealing, 'ups and downs of life' themes like love, travel, music and friends. A country flavour permeates, with Andy's guitar flourishes on 'No One to Blam'e and rural scenes like the final track 'Every Time a Magpie Calls'.
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| 4 Kings Loud 21/1/2010 | |
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'Mortal Coil' is Adelaide band 4 King Loud's debut album. An ambitious feat for any band's first, delivering 10 tracks of rock songs that have been well worked on various South Australian stages over the past 12 months or so. While the album kicks in immediately at a high tempo with 'Ambition', what is also immediately apparent is the production that hasn't quite cut it on this release. While the vocals take the steady middle, the guitars and drums are a reedy backdrop to what are ultimately strong songs.
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| Double Handed 7/1/2010 | |
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Double Handed's latest release "A Book of Back Pages" is a strong Prog Rock album that shows a band with a lot of diversity to offer. It is then sad for this reviewer to have just found out that the band has recently split. However, if Double Handed have decided to call it a day then they have finished off with a bit of style. So point me in the direction of some sporting memorabilia and call me OJ Simpson cause here we go into the world of "A Book of Back Pages".
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| The Vampire Project 7/1/2010 | |
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The Vampire Project label themselves as "Alternative/ Gothic/ Rock" and certainly these influences are here present on their debut self-titled EP as well as an overall urbanity complemented by tight performance and production both.
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