by Christina Lauren | Jan 24, 2024 | Music SA News, News, Reviews, SA Industry
Photo credit: Samuel Graves – Aleksiah performing at the 2023 SA Music Awards MusicSA is committed to promoting, supporting and developing contemporary music in South Australia and 2023 was a huge year! Thank you to everyone who created, recorded,...
by Tristan Newsome | Nov 5, 2015 | Reviews
live at mixmasters volume 1 **** Live at Mixmasters is the latest release from Adelaide stalwart Zkye Blue and is of the road worn and tested quality anyone who has seen Zkye Blue live would come to expect. Recently Live at Mixmasters won the album of the year at the...
by Kyle Opie | Nov 5, 2015 | Reviews
gentle warrior ****1/2 Eight piece band, Local Revolution, perform a style of music that boasts an impressive mix of Afro-Latin and Indian styles which are merged together over a jazz foundation. After two EP’s and four successful national tours, 2015 brings...
by Jonty Czuchwicki | Nov 5, 2015 | Reviews
Trouble **** Kitchen Witch’s debut EP Trouble opens with its self-titled track. The band encapsulates their sound instantly with the blues driven lead riff, hearty vocals and down beat centric drumming. The guitar sound is full of life while the solo adds a neat bow...
by Michael Hunter | Nov 5, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
til night meets the sun ***** It might just be me, but listening to this Loren Kate EP I couldn’t help getting a sense of eavesdropping, as if I was hearing a very honest conversation about feelings, family histories, love and death – and wondering if I really...
by Phil Catley | Oct 22, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
nothing’s going on ***** William Street Strikers sounds like a comic strip from a 1960s Boys Own Magazine, but it’s really the name of a rocked up four piece Indie rock band with plenty of experience and talent behind it. Having listened to a few of their...
by Kyle Opie | Oct 22, 2015 | Reviews
now & then ***1/2 Five track EP, Now & Then is the follow up to Christian Andrew’s debut release in 2013. It showcases Andrew’s abilities as an acoustic folk artist to capitalise on the timbrel power of a small backing band without...
by Patrick Lang | Oct 22, 2015 | Reviews
nimbus **** Familiar Exploration, the last release from one-man downtempo machine Sirins, was a fairly mellow affair, marrying pealing bass tones with skittering percussion and a strong melodic sense over the course of four intertwined and connecting tracks. His...
by Michael Hunter | Oct 22, 2015 | Reviews
bye ole heart ****1/2 It’s pleasing to know it’s still possible to simply grab an acoustic guitar, maybe add one friend for a few extra instruments that don’t overpower the main event, and come up with a collection of songs that manage to sound not only original, but...
by Matt Saunders | Oct 8, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
big nothing ***1/2 The latest from post-punk outfit Black Coral is consistent and cohesive; the songs on Big Nothing share mostly similar grooves, complimentary instrument tones, and fuzzed out vocals that are obscured to the point that words often fall prey to...
by Michael Hunter | Oct 8, 2015 | Reviews
brighter than the sun **** 23 albums from SCALA in 25 years is a remarkable tally by itself; made more impressive by the fact they’re all compilations of various Adelaide singer songwriters and composers. Right there is an indication of how much talent there is to be...
by Savvy | Oct 8, 2015 | Reviews
oculus magnus *** Before even listening to Surviving Sharks music, I was interested in their album name Oculus Magnus, So I did a quick internet search to find it’s meaning. As far as I could establish, it means, “a great round or eye like opening” so there ya go....
by Patrick Lang | Oct 8, 2015 | Reviews
the missing ***1/2 Adelaide songstress Jay Power has been putting out soul-heavy albums for some years, but on The Missing it’s clear that several things have changed – not the least of which being her stage name (she was previously known as Jayne-Anne...
by Tristan Newsome | Sep 24, 2015 | Reviews
fracture **** Drown This Fury are a metal core band on the up and up. Another single was recently published on the cover of a well known magazine, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this single in the same position very soon. Starting off with a Queens of the...
by Matthew Jolly | Sep 24, 2015 | Reviews
be the revolution *** This is a strong record, well written and recorded and in their own words “jammed packed with big guitars, loud drums and soulful singing.” Stephanie Ann has voice that sounds like it should be on the radio – FM Country-Pop-Rock radio that plays...
by Tristan Newsome | Sep 24, 2015 | Reviews
single malt blues **** Lazyeye are relatively new on the scene forming in 2013, but they certainly have hit the ground running. They released their debut album Move Me and promptly won Album of the Year at the South Australian Blues & Roots Awards followed by a...
by Savvy | Sep 24, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
self titled ***** iiah have been kicking around the traps of Adelaide for a couple of years now and this is the first time I have come across them. I hit play on their self-titled EP, not sure what to expect. This genre of music – post progressive ambient rock...
by Matt Saunders | Sep 10, 2015 | Reviews
self titled ****1/2 West Thebarton Brothel Party’s new self-titled EP is raw, loose, energetic fun. This is a no-frills rock ’n’ roll record that you can turn up and forget the world. The songs are unapologetically NSFW and sound like they’d pair nicely...
by Tom Gaffney | Sep 10, 2015 | Reviews
cold shadow *** Sunny Sizer appears to be a very honest musician – seriously, go read her comprehensive biography on her website and you’ll be sure to agree. Much like her tell-all musical journey, her music highlights her transparent musical nature through...
by Kyle Opie | Sep 10, 2015 | Reviews
powderkeg **** American born singer Jac Dalton and his band have made their mark on the city of churches this year, scoring a spot at the Clipsal 500 concert series was no mean feat. On the back of this performance was the release of PowderKeg, Dalton’s third...
by Tristan Newsome | Sep 10, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
self titled **** Banjo Jackson has been traipsing the streets of Adelaide for quite some time now, formerly of Jimmy and The Mirrors and currently forging a great solo path on a worldwide scale. It is easy to pick straight away – this is folk pop done at its...
by Tom Gaffney | Aug 27, 2015 | Reviews
an imaginary life **** Orelia are a fantastic two piece with piano and delightful vocals at their core, underlay by solid, dynamic drum work. The duo have been cruising around the Adelaide scene, playing – quite suitably, given their Dresden Dolls vibe they output –...
by Jonty Czuchwicki | Aug 27, 2015 | Reviews
self titled *** At their worst Favour the Brave come out as a new millennial combination of Disturbed and Fall Out Boy, but at their best the band boasts a lot of great riffs, productions values and instrumental proficiency. ‘Don’t Know Don’t Care’ opens with...
by Tristan Newsome | Aug 27, 2015 | Reviews
drunken monkey **1/2 Cozmo Beregofsky is a emcee based out of Adelaide who has been plying his trade in local scene since late 2012. ‘Drunken Monkey’ is his first full length release and he has received national radio airplay within this short period – an...
by Tom Gaffney | Aug 27, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
stay in ****1/2 Grunge, alternative, hardcore, indie, rock. Whatever you want to call it, Horror My Friend are doing it right. The trio appear to be the go-to poster band which Adelaide music lovers reach for when bragging about our best acts – and for good reason,...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 30, 2015 | Reviews
forever’s just a word *** Bianca Jane’s ‘Forever’s Just A Word’ endearingly starts with something reminiscent of an Atari video game sound track before kicking into the real deal riffs – and, my Lord, are there riffs. The track almost sounds like hair metal...
by Kyle Opie | Jul 30, 2015 | Reviews
only when **** Five piece indie rock outfit It’s a Hoax, released their EP, Only When, in September last year. They have supported Adelaide musical royalty of the likes of Julia Henning with this material and for a good reason. The five guitar lead tracks are...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 30, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
reign ****1/2 There is an absolutely wonderful aura that surrounds REIGN, in that they’re just so easy to love. Whether you’re a metal/hard rock lover or hater, I’ve got a pretty good feeling you’ll find a soft spot for the five piece quite easily. They’ve just...
by Tristan Newsome | Jul 30, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
flux ***** Timberwolf, or Chris Panousakis, is an upcoming indie folk artist from Adelaide. It seems in a relatively short space of time he’s built quite the swell of support behind him and after listening to his five tracks available online it’s not hard to see why....
by Matt Saunders | Jul 21, 2015 | Reviews
oncoming clouds ***** Clocking in at a brisk 26 minutes, Tom West’s Oncoming Clouds blow through and disperse before you know it, but the comparatively brief time spent in their shadow brings with it a shower of riches that cleanses the spirit and invigorates...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 21, 2015 | Reviews
okay **** There’s been a pretty big rise in bedroom artists over the last five years, with recording equipment easier to obtain, and huge acts such as Flume and Baths influencing left-field production work. With this movement, there are some hidden treasures buried...
by Matthew Jolly | Jul 21, 2015 | Reviews
making maps ft. joel braithwaite ***** I know Luke Carlino as a live solo performer who combines a sweet soulful voice with acoustic guitar and imaginative use of loop pedals to produce sparse but eloquent tunes. ‘Making Maps’ takes these ingredients and...
by Savvy | Jul 21, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
hiding to nothing ***** Adelaide rockers Bad//Dreems have released single “Hiding To Nothing”, taken from their upcoming album Dogs At Bay. You could compare this single to fishing, in that you’re the fish, and you’re definitely going to get hooked and reeled in. Once...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 16, 2015 | Reviews
in transit *** If Rapid Transport were a food, they would be a fast-food beef patty. That is, they have potential to be very appealing to the right person – but to a layperson, nothing really stands out. Bands such as Rapid Transport sort of exist to appeal to a...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 16, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
fear the night ft. jesse davidson ***** As soon as this track kicks in, you can instantly identify the trademark production style of Luke Million. His sound reminds me of the awesome 80s and early 90s, the time where people really started to experiment strongly with...
by Jonty Czuchwicki | Jul 16, 2015 | Reviews
moonfaker *** Moonfaker’s self-titled release opens on ‘Cut Your Hands (Get Your Teeth Dirty)’, with its strengths pointed specifically at the fill heavy drumming, breaking down into a double time high hat groove to great effect. While the mildly crunched guitar...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 16, 2015 | Reviews
truce *** Trent Worley has a knack for a tune and a chorus. This is a solid set of songs entrenched in a tradition of Aussie rock that might be described as rootsy pub-rock. The arrangements give evidence to Trent’s roots leanings with lap-steel combining with...
by Matt Saunders | Jul 9, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
the chosen few ***** Full Tote Odds’ sophomore album begins with an intro that serves as a love letter to hip-hop, collecting samples from Public Enemy, the Wu-Tang Clan, and many more, but the love doesn’t stop there. It’s the through line of the...
by Kyle Opie | Jul 9, 2015 | Reviews
deadbeat *** Chasing Claire is a three piece punk outfit and “Deadbeat” is the latest single from their upcoming debut EP ‘Options’. Deadbeat encapsulates a raw garage punk crunch with coarse, emotively charged vocals. Encroaching on...
by Michael Hunter | Jul 9, 2015 | Reviews
playing dog **** Considering this is Goldstein’s fifth album (already!), it’s no surprise they have developed their own sound, with very Australian themes and delivery and entertaining, relatable vignettes in the lyrics. However, with a slight line-up change,...
by Tom Gaffney | Jul 9, 2015 | Reviews
growing pains ****1/2 It’s so lovely to listen to musicians who are talented in the purest form. Nothing is more of a delight to the ears than a song that flows perfectly well from start to finish. Lucky for us, Mackenzie’s Growing Pains is plentiful of these...
by Tom Gaffney | Jun 27, 2015 | Reviews
dm-3 ****1/2 Adelaide is full of unique music, and quartet Urtekk are living proof of this. They’ve been kicking around our city for a while, playing big shows such as WOMADelaide, PilotFest and Blenheim music festival, as well as just generally turning heads...
by Matthew Jolly | Jun 25, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
rest **** Opening with the cathedral ambience of Fleet Foxes, this song by Juno drew me in with its simple arrangement of voices, finger picked guitar and sparse percussion. The narrative of a broken heart told in two voices is reminiscent of the Indigo Girls – clear...
by Matt Saunders | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
glass fool ****1/2 The debut album from roots singer-songwriter Kaurna Cronin announces itself with the sharp shuffle of, ‘Inside Your Town Is Inside Your Head,’ a flawless pop confection that bounces along with an airy harmony and trumpet-bolstered chorus....
by Phil Catley | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
goddamn anything ***** Most followers of the Adelaide music scene would have encountered Dusty Lee at some point in their travels. For a man who is still quite young he has fronted or played in a good number of bands, but his latest line up “Wasted Wanderers”...
by Tom Gaffney | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
call for my heart **** SKIES were born incredible, I swear. Since the three piece threw themselves head-first into Adelaide’s music scene, they’ve opened for SAFIA, George Maple, and so many more amazing electronic acts. They’ve since released “Call For My...
by Kyle Opie | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
calling his name **** Local songstress Sasha March has just released the first single from her up-coming debut album “Don’t Go Falling”. Sasha is about to head off on a 4 month long tour of Europe before touring Australia late November in conjunction with the album...
by Matt Saunders | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
rule of thirds ****1/2 Adelaide sextet Rule of Thirds has delivered an album of assuredly gloomy post-punk that defies deconstruction with its unified sonic palette and effortlessly entrancing songs. The hypnotic dirge of opener, ‘Any War’, with its ambiguous...
by Michael Hunter | Jun 25, 2015 | Reviews
nocturnes ****1/2 There is a lot to be said for this debut EP by Koral & The Goodbye Horses, and all of it is good. Very good, in fact. This applies to not just the music itself, but the thought that has been applied to its presentation, down to the way the...
by Tom Gaffney | Jun 18, 2015 | Reviews
back to you **** Mio is Adelaide’s answer to the best dream pop you’ve never heard of. The duo, comprising of beatmaker (and all-around godlike musician) Mario Spate, and the elusive Annie, make incredibly crisp and addictive electronica. Luckily for us, their...
by Tom Gaffney | Jun 18, 2015 | Reviews
hanabi / starcrossing **** There’s a fantastic quote that reads “music is useless unless it can make a complete stranger break down and cry” – a statement which I’ve never felt comfortable to link a music release, until now. Mischief The Cat are an underground hard...
by Max Tulysewski | Jun 18, 2015 | Reviews
don’t pretend ***1/2 After forming in 2012, disbanding in 2013 and re-forming in 2014, Pink Noise Generator (PNG) have come a long way as a band and matured considerably in their songwriting and performances. Having been described as an “exceedingly polite Joy...
by Matt Saunders | Jun 18, 2015 | Featured Review, Reviews
great mistakes ***** Adelaide rockers Paper Arms have emerged from the studio with their third album and it’s a heartfelt monster that combines aggression with big-time songwriting and production. These 13 tracks are lean and focused, with only one...
by Savvy | Jun 11, 2015 | Reviews
nicaragua nights ***** Why beat around the bush? I’m just going to say it up front: Nicaragua Nights is amazing. It’s sonic art at its finest. The audio textures work in harmony and the songs are very well constructed. Production is 100% and I expect no less from...
by Max Tulysewski | Jun 11, 2015 | Reviews
hanabi / starcrossing **** Since forming in June 2011, local indie-noise-punkers Horror My Friend have established themselves as one of Adelaide’s most promising young bands. After a string of releases and an impressive run of support slots for bands like The Cribs...
by Matthew Jolly | Jun 11, 2015 | Reviews
caribbean gold **** There is a lot to like here, especially if you like your dreams electric. Rolling bass, walls of synth pads, electric hand-claps, TR-808 beats, oscillators arpeggiators and big choruses – this is the sound of 1983 synth-pop; Duran Duran, Human...
by Matt Saunders | Jun 11, 2015 | Reviews
below average **** The Funkoars have returned with an anthem for the disappointing, complete with sharp lyrical delivery and a sing-along chorus that proudly declares, “I am a f*ck-up, I am a letdown, I’m below average.”This is a direct track comprised of a four-beat...
by Kyle Opie | Jun 4, 2015 | Reviews
summer **** A little over 4 years ago three piece rockers Grenadiers released their debut album ‘Songs The Devil Taught Us’. Since then they have rocked stages at Big Day Out, won Triple J Unearthed, and supported the likes of Everytime I Die, Kingswood, and The Smith...
by Matthew Jolly | Jun 4, 2015 | Reviews
your room ***** Released on the upcoming compilation ‘Oz Do It Better, Volume 2’ by the antipodes-appreciating French label Beko Disques, this song by Blush Response is like a time machine ride back to 1989. Breathy vocals drenched in reverb, guitars chiming and then...
by Tom Gaffney | Jun 4, 2015 | Reviews
heartaches & drum breaks ****1/2 Time and talent are two huge aspects of creating fantastic music. Luckily for us, Tim Whitt (aka DJ Bottlerockets) has a whole lot of both. The renowned deck spinner (and self-proclaimed serial procrastinator) has just put out his...
by Matt Saunders | Jun 4, 2015 | Reviews
heart & soul ****1/2 The beautiful thing about folk music is that when it’s done right, it can cast a spell with the sparsest of ingredients…a fingerpicked guitar, a comforting voice or two, maybe a harmonica swell here and there, and you can pave a reliable road...
by Matt Saunders | May 28, 2015 | Reviews
fault lines **** We Do This have crafted an entrancing three-track EP that hovers in a space between synthpop and indie rock, creating a melancholy sound that’s still catchy and danceable. Live instruments are interwoven seamlessly with programmed beats and synths,...
by Savvy | May 28, 2015 | Reviews
time **** Boston April was set up by Kelly Breuer and Alicia Hettner, who sing very well together. The harmonies are awesome and are complemented by acoustic guitar. ‘Time’ is stripped back and easy to listen to. I have seen a lot of artists in my time who have got...
by Phil Catley | May 28, 2015 | Reviews
don morrison’s raging thirst ***** Don Morrison is a legend of the Adelaide blues/folk music scene, known and loved for his work as the front man for The Bodgies, The Lonely Cosmonauts, Prawnhead and more. If you haven’t heard of him or you don’t have any of...
by Michael Hunter | May 28, 2015 | Reviews
journey to myself **** I’m not sure if this is the first recording for Adelaide singer songwriter Kylie Brice, or just the first that has come my way. Regardless, what we have is a folk pop, or perhaps acoustic pop, song which has several positive characteristics....
by Matthew Jolly | May 21, 2015 | Reviews
songs and stories *** On the 6 song EP ‘Songs And Stories’ Fergus Maximus has delivered a set that can probably best be described as charming. Recorded live at the Austral it is a raw and honest account of his song-writing. It also includes between-song banter which...
