My introduction to Bored Nothing came last year on a little compilation put together by Bleeding Knees Club. “Snacks” was the third track on the comp, featuring Bleeding Knees Club and several of their musician friends. That track appears on Bored Nothing’s new self-titled LP. (more…)

Australia’s Lost Animal is a conundrum. It’s a conundrum because I find it very difficult to describe. Preface: I’ve been enjoying the sounds of Ex Tropical since November. Far enough back that I attempted to put the album on my Top 50 LPs of 2012 list, despite noting its release date in my coverage of their superb video for “Say No To Thugs”. (more…)

There have been a lot of videos about death and murder this year. In “A Dark God Heart” by Sleep Party People, a little girl finds a body beneath the water in a bathtub. “A Game” by Ski Lodge has an American Psycho edge to it. A serial killer takes out Liars in “No. 1 Against The Rush”. There are more (these are the ones that are top of mind) and now there’s “Say No To Thugs” by Australia’s Lost Animal. (more…)

Upon first hearing “Buffalo” off Lowlakes debut, self-titled EP, I had to look up information about the band. I had to double check that the vocalist wasn’t Antony Hegarty. Of course it isn’t; but the vocals of Thomas Snowdon fronting this Melbourne-based band have a similar fragility and emotiveness to them. (more…)

Mick Harvey broke from the Bad Seeds back in 2009. Bad Seeds being the group famed for backing Nick Cave. With exception to a light project here and there, this is really the first we’ve heard from Harvey. Sketches From The Book Of The Dead is his first stab at strolling down his own path, and it’s one that should not be ignored. (more…)

Australian siren Lanie Lane‘s debut single, “What Do I Do” has a soulful, old-time jazzy feel to it. This is no surprise when confronted with her influences — all the truly powerful early jazz singers are there, from Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to the masterful Nina Simone. Within “What Do I Do” is a hodgepodge of classic sounds, from 50s pop to 30s jazz and blues. Were Lane to have it, she’d probably wander back to the underbelly of those eras — the places where art thrived and mystery hid in dark corners, smoking. She’d be the private eye, the listener her longing customer. And she’s the factory worker that riles the crowd for better treatment. There’s a cool factor to that era that Lane embodies to her very core, and it seeps through with ease in her music.

Download: “What Do I Do” by Lanie Lane

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What Do I Do (Lanie Lane) from Lanie Lane on Vimeo.

High Highs is Jack Milas and Oli Chang of Australia and they produce light pop melodies that, as heard in “Open Season”, are entirely infectious. Soft and pleasant, “Open Season” has the perfect balance of emotive vocals, bouncy piano, and laid-back guitar to be one of the year’s better finds. They’ve been spinning this band for quite a while now over at my old station, KZUU. (more…)

The Lucksmiths broke up just over a year ago now, and they’re finally giving us what they promised at the time — a posthumous single of what may have been their last original recordings. The single is titled Get-To-Bed Birds after the A-side track, and it is available via Lost & Lonesome Records of Australia and Matinee Records in the US. (more…)

Another Cover Art piece transferred over from that site, this time covering three out of print singles by one of the greatest Australian bands to ever exist — The Lucksmiths. The band may no longer be together, but their music stands just as strong as it did one the day it was released, be it from their humble beginnings in the early 1990s to their final release just a year or so ago. Here’s the original post: (more…)

I love the sound Hot Spa has; blending hyper-infectious experimental surf pop and with a group sing-a-long mentality. “Kiola Beach” uses the dated retro footage that seems so popular these days, hinting of the 1970s and early 80s. Seemingly a homage to the past, the video for “Kiola Beach” is a collection of snippets from Hot Spa’s family videos from the 70s. It fits well with their lo-fi, almost unplugged pop sensibilities. And with a surf-heavy family heritage (much of the video includes surfing), it’s the perfect song for early summer.

Download: “Kiola Beach” by Hot Spa

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