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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Matt Saunders | May 21, 2015 | Reviews
all f’d up ***1/2 The ReadyMades have returned with a three-song EP of fun, danceable indie-punk-pop that’ll put a spring in your step and provide a ten-minute respite from your worldly cares. Guitarist/vocalist Kate delivers solid howls that do her punk...
by Matt Saunders | May 14, 2015 | Reviews
the whole half ***** Skythief’s new single is a frequently spectacular headphone odyssey: densely-composed, impeccably performed and immaculately produced. ‘The Whole Half’ sounds like if some of the more psychedelically-inclined mope-rock bands of fading recent...
by Matt Saunders | May 7, 2015 | Reviews
inside upside down ****1/2 This debut single from Holly Younger and Ross Simpson, aka Hyrs, is an indie pop gem.Reverbed guitar arpeggios and syncopated toms revolve around Younger’s perfectly breathy and detached vocal delivery, and the result is nothing short of...
by Matt Saunders | Apr 23, 2015 | Reviews
squatters quarters ***** Adelaide Producer/MC Elapsed Time (aka Lachlan Scott Emes) has returned with this, his third EP, and it’s a triumph from start-to-finish; an action-packed one-man show that does it all with memorable rhymes, beats, and hooks. This is textbook...
by Matt Saunders | Apr 16, 2015 | Reviews
red dress *** The debut album from Benny C & the Associates offers an impressive platter of blues, funk, and jazz, but its sonic achievements can’t overcome underwritten songs.Technically speaking, the music is faultless, with sharp performances and a polished mix...
by Matt Saunders | Apr 2, 2015 | Reviews
third in the first world ****1/2 The debut album from Gorilla Jones is energetic, danceable, and irresistibly fun. Combining soul, funk, rock, lounge, and more, this ensemble comes to party and won’t leave until your feet are sore and your spirit is replenished....
by Matt Saunders | Mar 26, 2015 | Reviews
jungle city ii *** “I think I might kill myself today just to see what happens next.” So begins Jungle City II, and while they probably won’t be providing the backing track for any Beyond Blue advertisements anytime soon, Jungle City have self-produced a fine-sounding...
by Matt Saunders | Mar 12, 2015 | Reviews
in colour ***** Featuring memorable songs, engaging performances, and perfect production, this E.P. from folk pop duo Buffalo Boyfriend arrives with a seasoned and fully-developed sound, uncommon for a debut release. Their soulful voices complimenting each...
