Red Riders

Red Riders had me worried for a while. Band members were leaving and time was ticking by without much action. It was a shame, not just because of the awesome music they proudce, but because they're genuinely nice guys. So it's great to see that they're back on track and sounding better than ever. They've picked up Brad Heald from The Vines and will be releasing their second album in early July. The first single to come off it was You've Got a Lot of Nerve. I liked it from the beginning, but the more I listen, the more I enjoy. Check it out if you haven't already:

You've Got a Lot of Nerve

Following this is the brand new track, Ordinary. It's quite a simple song, but that's what makes it so endearing. It skips along casually, spreading an air of warmth. I'm not sure if it was Brad's doing or more great work from the others, but damn those guitars sound good. To top it off, they've put together a cool little video to go along with it:

You can pre-order Drown In Sound from JB Hifi online. It's only $21.99 and comes with a bonus cassette of demos. Not only that, but if you pay with Paypal (or a credit card through Paypal), you'll get free postage. Great band, great deal. Get into it!

Oh and I almost forgot. Red Riders are playing as part of the Ivy League benefit gig to Save FBI. It's for a good cause they're playing more great bands. Gooooooooooooooooo.

Myspace

Dappled Cities - The Price

It begins. In just a few months, Dappled Cities will release their 3rd album, Zounds, and if past experiences are anything to go by, it should be totally freakin' amazing. I’ll save my schoolgirl swooning for the actual release, but let’s just say I’m excited. Yesterday the band unveiled the first single off the album, The Price. I’ve been drawn to this song from the moment I first heard it in a sound check. That was a full 12 months ago and since then it’s undergone plenty of transformations, evolving to become the track we hear today. This refinement becomes noticeable when you put on a pair of decent headphones and give it a proper listen. It’s a mix of intensity and intrigue. On one hand you’re getting attacked by thumping drum fills and sweeping keyboards, but at the same time discovering buried riffs and extra layers. It’s exhilarating without being overwhelming. This mix of subtlety and dynamism has always been Dappled’s trademark, but with more experience and an unprecedented level of production, expect big things from Zounds. In their own words, it's "the album we’ve always wanted to make".

The Price

Head to the Dappled Cities Website and download the full single package, which includes a b-side and two experimental film clips. And of course, don’t forget to check out the Alphabeats clips hehe.

A (not so) quick hello

Of Montreal - Live
They're probably the most mentioned band on this blog, but you can never get enough Of Montreal. They're in Australia for the first time and their Sydney show was pretty awesome. Sure, it was disappointing that they didn't play any old stuff, but when a band is over a decade old, you sort of expect it. What makes them impressive though, is that despite so many of my favourites being absent, nearly every song they played I loved. It's testimony to the strength of their catalogue. Even the songs from Sunlandic Twins pleasantly surprised me. I was really getting into it, right amongst the hilarious mix of freaks up the front.

Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider

Golden Plains
Speaking of Of Montreal, tomorrow I head off to Golden Plains (plus a night in Melbourne of course). If I was sensible, I wouldn't be here writing this, but clearly i dont care about my body, so I'll be launching into what will most likely be a 4-day blur of music and alcohol, with very little sleep. Golden Plains will be quite a different experience for me. I'm usually the economical type, going to festivals with the best lineup and running like mad between bands. This will be the first time I go to a festival and just chill out. I'll still be watching plenty of music, I just won't have a personalised timetable regimented food and toilet breaks. Most of the bands playing, I know, but not well, so it will be interesting. At least very least, I know enough them to know it will be incredible.

The Sun Smells Too Loud (Mogwai)

Decoder Ring
Speaking of epic instrumental bands, Decoder Ring's new album is coming soon, and the word on the street is that it's gonna be big. After seeing them a couple of times lately, I'm not surprised. Did I mention they are supporting Coldplay? Haha good on them. I recently put this song on and was reminded of how stupidly good they are.

Serac

Dappled Cities
Speaking of Sydney bands with new albums coming out, I saw Dappled Cities last night. The show was an intriguing one, and not just because over half the crowd were Bondi Bogans. Many of the new songs had evolved since I last saw them, with either different sounds or entirely new parts. In most cases, the songs had matured and improved significantly, but occassionally a change struck me as kind of odd and disappointing. But I'm sure they know what they're doing. It's kinda stupid how many times I've seen this band, but at the same time incredible because I never grow tired. Their music has a strange appeal. On record, it's quite calming. There isn't standout tracks pulling the others along, but rather a varied stream of interesting sounds, capturing your attention with its subtleties. When playing live, their music is all about energy. A profound jerkiness emerges, as they jump from one direction to another with a sudden chord change or characteristic cry. They have such tight rhythms that you can't help be lured in by the momentum. Before you know it your body is moving in step with the song's every fluctuation. It's no wonder that this band invokes such freakish devotion amongst it fans and a real shame that they aren't more widely recognised. Such is the curse of talent.

You can currently hear Dappled's forthcoming single on the Beach Road Hotel myspace page. It isn't on the band's page and I doubt it will be up for much longer so get in quick.

Valentines Day

Hopefully everybody reads this in time because you would be terribly upset if you did something wasteful tomorrow, like have a romantic picnic, when there was so much good music on offer. After all who doesn't love music?

The Alandale All Stars play Holiday Road

This is a concept born heaven: a group of Sydney's funniest musicians have gotten together, formed a cover band and play for free on Saturday afternoons. The super line-up consists of Jake Stone and Jerry from Bluejuice, Lindsey from Frenzal Rhomb, the Drummer from Mess Hall, Cameron Bruce (that awesome keyboard guy from everywhere) and Andy Kelly (founder of Ivy Leagure Records). It is a truly deadly combination. They dress like idiots, dance around and produce hilarious banter from every corner of the stage. Not only that, but they play awesome songs from Bruce Springsteen to Steely Dan. I was lucky enough to catch their first show and it was incredible. So much fun.

When: 2pm
Where: The Annandale Hotel

The Devoted Few

I am proud to announce that The Devoted Few's new album 'Baby, You're A Vampire' is finally coming out! It's been a long wait but it was definitely worth it. This is easily one of my favourite local albums so I would definitely recommend picking it up. Not only that, but they'll be celebrating the release with an in-store at the Sydney Apple Store. If you've ever had a desire to see a gig in a glass cube, now is your chance. The fact that The Devoted Few are an awesome live band is just a bonus. Definitely try and make it to this.

When: 4pm
Where: The Apple Store, 367 George St
Listen: Trigger Fingers

There's also pleeeeeeenty of music happening in the night so grab your nearest street press and get intimate!

Seekae - The Sound of Trees Falling On People

Another album which I've been listening to lately is the debut release by Sydney electronic outfit, Seekae. So early in their career, I would hardly have expected them to have an album, let alone one with 18 fully developed tracks. Their music is some sort of dramatic techno, mixing strange electronic clippings with looping keyboard melodies. I'm only just getting into it, but already I'm discovering an incredibly diverse array of sounds. My current favourite, Void, sees them really live up to 'Shoegaze' tag that they use on their myspace. I've always appreciated the way good electronic artists can build emotion without the need for lyrics and Seekae do just that. I'm not quite sure what they're doing in terms of distributing this album (anyone?), but they have a launch on Dec 10th at the Hoey, so I'm sure you'll be able to find out then.

Void

And just as I was writing this, I discovered another favourite (perhaps I should have listened more before writing this!). This one features some truly awesome keyboard sounds coming from every direction. I hope you guys don't mind me posting two tracks.

Halley Wars

| myspace |

John Columbus Residency

This Sunday will see the final installment in a Hopetoun residency by my good friends, John Columbus. The band (not a person) have recorded their second EP and will be offering it exclusively at these shows. This new EP was recorded live and is slightly quieter and more reserved than their last release. Give it a few listens and you'll begin to see that its strength lies in its subtleties. John Columbus create some of the most soothing and finely crafted music in Sydney. Catch them from 8.30, but get there early to catch The never-disappointing Statics and The recently-revived Crustaceans.

MP3: Skinny Dipping

Decoder Ring

Last Saturday, Sydney band, Decoder Ring played as the feature act of the Riverbeats festival, a multicultural arts celebration on the banks of the Parramatta River. The location was certainly out of the ordinary, as far as gigs go. The stage was set up on one side of the river, with audience on the other. Above the stage was a giant white dome, with images being projected onto it. As you went down the river in either direction, there was an assortment of lights and candles and two more giant domes. It was certainly worthy of being called spectacle.

Such a setting could not have been more perfect for a band like Decoder Ring, whose music is truly epic. Sure, this term gets tossed around alot, but I'm talking about the expansive, emotional sounds you hear coming of bands like Sigur Ros and Mogwai. The sweeping soundscapes, compounding layers of instrumentation and descents into chaos. This is where you'll find Decoder Ring. And just like Sigur Ros, they know how to use visuals to build on the impact of their music and create that complete experience.

This particular Decoder Ring experience began with a visual montage, soundtracked by them and projected on to the giant domes. It was a fast-paced stream of images that featured, amongst other things, raindrops, monsters and giant sets of teeth. It kept things interesting while the band set up and really built the atmosphere for when they arrived on stage. Their actual set was even better. The lighting, location and nature of their music made for a very awe-inspiring show. The highlight was the final track, Welcome Shoppers, which builds with immense power and then progresses into an awesome rock-out. And if that wasn't enough, fireworks erupted as the final notes were played. It was pretty hard not to be impressed.

Welcome Shoppers

Decoder Ring recently traveled to America to record their new album. Expect to hear more of them very soon.

Website | Myspace

Top Australian Artists of 2008

Oh how I hate compiling these lists. They are damn near impossible to sit back thinking 'Yes, that accurately represents my tastes'. You just can't do it! For starters, how do you compare an awesome live show with a solid album? Does it count if I got into an album this year that was released last year? I can barely remember back to the start of the year, let alone try to piece together which bands had the biggest impact! And so the list comes to you with so many faults. Missing bands, strange orderings and plenty of bias. You name it, it's here. But I had to walk away from it because no amount of tweaking could have produced a satisfying list. 2008 was a strange year for me. There were no really stand out bands. The bands I loved had a fairly quite year, whilst many new bands entered my affection. And so I was left with about 40 bands, all on level footing. Perfect for compiling an ordered list! I used the criteria of 'Which bands delivered the most enjoyment in 2008' and the result is quite an interesting one. I've certainly discovered a few trends (and holes) in my listening habits which may indicate some exploring is in order. Feel free to post your own list in the comments. Away!

1. Youth Group

2008 was the year I came to appreciate Youth Group. Not just their latest album, but their entire catalogue. The vocals, the melodies, it's all so incredibly beautiful.

2. Cloud Control

The band I have seen more than any other. No releases this year, but more than enough memorable moments. The addictive hooks and swooning harmonies are just too good to resist.

3. Dappled Cities

It's Dappled. Enough said. Three mighty fine performances was more than enough to thrust them right up here.

4. Theredsunband

The year began with a Laneway performance, moved on to some great singles and culminated in a sophomore album. In every case, Theredsunband delivered rich, powerful music.

5. The Devoted Few

After getting a taste this year, I can tell you quite confidently that 2009 will be a big year for The Devoted Few. Both live and recorded, these guys rock!

6. Charge Group

When it comes to creating immensely powerful, vastly expansive soundscapes, Charge Group has no rival. Their music reaches such emotional highs, you're left in awe.

7. The Seabellies

This year, The Seabellies proved what I had always believed; their multi-instrumental ways are not a gimmick, but a defining strength. Their incredible single, Heart Heart Heart Out, is just a taste of whats to come.

8. Cuthbert & The Night Walkers

Bands pretty much don't come any funner than Cuthbert & The Night Walkers. In their stripped back format, they are more colourful, lively and entertaining than ever before.

9. Sparkadia

Sparkadia's speciality is in super sweet indie-pop, filled with toe tapping rhythms and luscious crooning choruses. Their debut album was no exception, earning them a much-deserved place in the global spotlight.

10. Parades

Of all the new Sydney bands that emerged in 2008, Parades are the ones who got me genuinely excited. Their songs move in complex, ever-changing directions, their instrumentation is refreshingly diverse and their vocals are incredibly refined. They've found such a great mix and its only just the beginning.

11. The Temper Trap
12. Flamingo Crash
13. Pivot
14. Bluejuice
15. Deep Sea Arcade
16. Papa vs Pretty
17. Firekites
18. The Curse of Company
19. The Boat People
20. Philadelphia Grand Jury
21. Augie March
22. Bird Automatic
23. Mercy Arms
24. The Straight Arrows
25. British India

Homebake Incentive 2008 Grand Final

I know I've gone on about this competition, quite a bit, but if you're looking for a sample of rising talent in Sydney, you won't find much better. The grand final will be held over two nights, at The Hopetoun Hotel, with 4 bands playing per night. Here's a quick overview of who made it to the final 8:

Night 1 - Monday 3rd Nov

Jordy Lane
Jordy Lane's music has two very distinct sides. There's the warm, soft and downright gorgeous side, seen on tracks like Gallileo, and then there's the erratic, often-confronting electronic side. I'm not sure if he's found the right balance yet, but already he's produced some impressive music. Here's a track that showcases both his sides.

The Neighbours

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Songs For Surgery
Songs For Surgery may only just be starting out, but I can already sense big things. Their demos already show they can deliver in a variety of styles, including fast-paced, edgy rock, melodic indie riffs and even slower, building songs. On stage, this translates to a great show. They've been picked up by a highly regarded Sydney engineer and will be putting out some tracks soon. Look forward to them.

Sunny Afternoon

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Papa Vs Pretty
You can't talk about Papa Vs Pretty without mentioning the amazing talents of Tom. This guy can write, he can sing, he can play guitar, he can play keyboards and he can do them all insanely well. You have to come see them just to see him in action. As a band, they have an incredibly mature sound for a bunch of high school kids. It's a dark style of rock, with the occasional electronic flavouring. Though I wish they would move away from their Joy Division cover (which is actually good) because they have such excellent original material.

Citizen No. 1

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Sui Zhen
Sui Zhen speicalises in mega-cute pop music. Her delicate vocals and soft instrumentation can be deceiving because she can also be quite powerful. When joined by her band, the sound is a lot fuller and together they produce a fun-filled show that will have you smiling without fail.

Heat

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Night 2 - Tuesday Nov 4

Seekae
Seekae make instrumental electronic music. Such a fact would normally put them well out of band competition chances and beyond my personal interests. And yet in this case, neither is true. Seekae's music has a certain charm about it. It's like a warmer, friendlier version of Pivot. When Seekae are on the ball, they're outstanding. But they still have some improving to do, because when they're not on, they can be pretty boring.

Yurai

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The Statics
As far as raw energy goes, The Statics take the cake. The enigmatic Pat Delohery, with his wild on-stage persona and sudden falsetto outburts, really manages to bring the band alive. Their music, which a is mix of sloppy, Pavement-esque rock and electric dynamism, always entertains.

Space Unicorn

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Deep Sea Arcade
Deep Sea Arcade's quirky blend of pop music has been working wonders in and around Sydney. Through a steady supply of shows they've managed to build a decent following and gain fairly widespread respect. It's no surprise though. This is intelligently layered music, moving in such strange and foreign ways. It's truly worthy of the title 'unique'.

Crouch End

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Elana Stone Band
Elana Stone is the only one here that I'm still yet to see. As such, I can't really offer much of an opinion. But the two things I do know, that she is the sister of Jake Stone and has an incredible voice, have me very intrigued.

Beautiful Sound

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Predictions

Most Likely: Papa Vs Pretty
If I was organising Homebake, this is the band I'd want most out of these 8. Their youth and their energetic set make an instantly lovable combo that would undoubtedly win over early arrivers. They've already played Parklife so they're no strangers to the festival scene.

Most Deserving: Deep Sea Arcade
Deep Sea Arcade's music is like nothing else. It's a little bizarre but its also awesome. They put meticulous thought into the sounds of their guitars and vocals and the result is some highly addictive music. It's unsuspecting, but there's definitely an audience out there. If anyone deserves a big break, it's these guys.

Left-field Chance: Seekae
It really depends on the tastes of who's judging, but if Seekae put on a stellar show, I have this niggling feeling that they could sneak through. When done right, their music is the sort that everybody loves. It's got character, it's got direction, and of course, its got plenty of cool sounds.

Download all 8 tracks

Ernest Ellis

Ernest Ellis is a relatively new band out of Sydney, playing their first show just two weeks ago. I managed to catch the end of this set, and was quite intrigued with what I saw. What struck me most was the diversity of their sound. Each song seemed to remind me of a different artist. If you head to their myspace, you can hear a TV On The Radio song (Want For Anything), a Sea And Cake song (Holiday) and even a Bit By Bats song (Bad Blood). I don't make these comparisons in a negative way either, because not only the similarities are subtle, but these are all great bands to be channeling. The varying sounds are combined well to create some rather interesting music. It's early days yet, but Ernest Ellis certainly have my attention. They've also got the attention of Dew Process so expect to be hearing a lot more of them soon.

Bad Blood

| Myspace |

New Devoted Few

A few months back, I got my hands on an unreleased album and was told that should I leak it, I would die a horrible death. Not being too keen on such a scenario, I obeyed and kept it to myself. That album was the long-awaited third release by Sydney band, The Devoted Few. It's titled Baby, You're A Vampire and it's grown to be one of my favourite albums of the year. With it's release fast-approaching, I reckon it's about time everyone started paying attention.

The Devoted Few have had some success in the past, largely thanks to their killer single, Sleepless, but with this new album, I'm sensing something more. When I first saw them live, about 6 months ago, I was highly impressed by a set filled with unfamiliar songs. As it turns out, nearly every one of those songs appears on this album. The Devoted Few are well and truly looking forward and they've got the substance to back it up.

Look out for a full album review closer to the release date. In the meantime, check out their website and myspace page for an assortment of content, including previews of tracks from the new album. I believe they only stay up for a short period before being rotated, so get in quick.

Here's their brand new single: The Death Of Us

Charge Group - Escaping Mankind

Charge Group are a local Sydney outfit, producing sprawling, experimental rock music. The members have being playing with respactable bands for years, including Purpelene and Firekites, but together they form Charge Group and deliver something truly special. Their sound feels almost tightly wound, moving slowly in an effort to contain the emotion, before letting it all out and exploding spectacularly. This powerful effect is primarily produced by the pairing of violin with some stunning lead vocals. Both have the ability to guide the listener subconsciously, leading them through eery, deserted soundscapes and into epic moments of hear-wrenching awe. For such a deeply involving sound, I will admit that it isn't for everyone and does require you to be in the right mood, but when you do connect with Charge Group's music, it's a invigorating experience. I was surprised to learn that just the other day saw the launch of Charge Group's debut album, Escaping Mankind. Not least because I had just missed an opportunity to see them live again, but also because I've been listening to this album for a good six months. I'm not quite sure how it ended up in my possession, but I can assure you that it is of the utmost quality. It's now out for all to enjoy, so get stuck in.

Vice'd

| Website | Myspace |

Homebake Incentive: Round Final 2

A few months back I reported on the first round final of the Homebake Incentive program. It was a great lineup of Sydney bands and saw Papa vs Pretty and Seekae advance through to the final. This Monday (25th)sees the second round final and another great selection of talent. Forget the competitive nature of these nights, they allow you to see some of Sydney's best emerging bands, on the same bill and at a reasonable price. It's only $6 for 5 bands and all happens at The Hopetoun Hotel. Here's who'll be playing:

Sui Zhen

The sounds of Sui Zhen center around the sharp, almost childish vocals of Becky Freeman. Combined with some lovely, subtle instrumentation, she is able to move from soft and delicate to moments of immense power. It's all wrapped in a warm atmosphere and is quite intimate when you see it live.

Heat

The Ringleaders

The last time I saw The Ringleaders, I walked away incredibly impressed by everything they did. They were one of those straight-up rock bands, who had good songs and played them well. But that was a long time ago, and after listening to the songs on their myspace, their sound seems to have much more of a distinct flavour than I remembered. Should be interesting to see them again.

Awake

Songs For Surgery

I've spoken about Songs For Surgery before and I definitely think they're one to watch. They're young and they make some great music. What more do you need? I only caught the end of their set last time I saw them, so I'm looking forward to seeing a whole set.

Sunny Afternoon

Jordy Lane

Jordy is a singer/songwriter with an electronic flavouring. His combination of a laptop, electric guitar and his own strong vocals always make for entertaining performances. Especially when he plays the absurdly brilliant Galileo. He may have other good songs, I don't know, I don't care. This one is just too good to get past.

Galileo

Captain Nemo

Out of this bunch, Captain Nemo are probably the band I'm least familiar with. I've seen them once, and I remember enjoying it, but that's about it. For some reason, their music sounds like its coming out of the 90s, from one of those seminal, under-appreciated bands. Hardly an adequate description, but it will have to do for now.

Breaking Records

Pivot

Tonight Pivot will be launching their second album, O Soundtrack My Heart. Why am I telling you this only hours before the show? Why am I not waiting until its over before reporting? Well because its sold out. For those of you who got tickets, you'll already be on your way. The rest of you are stuck with me. At least we all get our fix of Pivot tonight.

In The Blood

UPDATE: Check out the crazy video for this song.

If you didn't already know, Pivot are an instrumental band out of Sydney. They're sound is centered around the insane talents of brothers Richard and Laurence Pike. To put it in perspective, I would probably rate Laurence as one of the finest drummer I have ever witnessed. He was actually the first to make me really appreciate the art of drumming. As for Richard, he may not be the most technical guitar player, but he certainly has an ear for when to play and what sounds good. These two are joined on stage by Dave Miller who plays a rather unorthodox role. Armed with a laptop and control desk, he's in charge of samples and some live mixing of the others' feeds.

Their new album is quite an impressive release. I listen to very little instrumental music, so its out of the ordinary for me, but within a few goes I was hooked. It's defintely not your average, easy-listening album. Everything from erratic drum beats to strange computer noises have you guessing. But this experimental side is then given some of direction when they lock into a particular riff, building just enough before moving on. There's also a number of more spaced out moments which I enjoy. Rather amusingly, the keyboard sounds in the final track always seem to remind of the movie Bladerunner. It's not often you get hear the sounds of Vangelis being channelled by a modern band. This album is a compelling listen, and one I'd highly recommend, but I'm still unsure how well it will stand once the intrigue wears off.

In live the department, I'm in two minds. On the one hand, its awesome. These are top class musicians performing top class music. I saw them the other night when they supported Sigur Ros and was fully engaged the whole time. It was only the second time I'd seen them and I knew none of their songs, but something drew me. I think the lack of vocals means you aren't distracted and can really focus on where all the sounds are coming from. Its quite a diffferent experience. But on the other hand, the use of samples really bugs me. There's alot going on in these songs and yet there's only two people up there playing instruments. At one point it seemed like a lead guitar part was being sampled, while Richard was playing the occasional note. This just disappoints me. I dunno, perhaps I'm missing the point, but I would like to see them scrap the computer guy and play with a full band, as they did when they formed.

O Soundtrack My Heart

One way or the other Pivot are making some interesting music which you should definitely look into. Hopefully they'll play again soon before being whisked off overseas.

| Website | Myspace |

Sparkadia: Jealousy Video

Sparkadia have put out a video for their current single, Jealousy, and it's quite an interesting one. In tune with the song's lyrical content, it features the ceremony and subsequent celebrations of a couple getting married, whilst the best man looks on enviously. This wouldn't be anything special, but for the fact that these parts are played by the band members themselves. Alex (lead) and Tiffany (guitar) are the happy couple, while Nick (bass) plays the dejected outsider. Is it reflective of the bands true relations or is it merely a marketing ploy to get people lick me to spread it? Probably the latter. But its a good clip either way. Not sure what Nick thought of the idea of being made to look like an idiot, though I bet Alex wasn't complaining. And best of all, the clip features a cameo by the always amusing 'Fast Eddy' from The Seabellies.

Levity Liasons

I'm not sure if they've always existed, but the presence of 'fashion bands' seems to be rapidly expanding. These are the bands whose popularity derives not just from the quality of their music, but from the sense that it's somehow cool to like them. It's not the fashion side of things that bothers me. If bands want to dress weird and fans want to copy them, good for them. It's the fact that certain members of these bands seem to think they're so damn hot that they're actually better than others and can do and say whatever they please. What's almost worse is that people keep coming to see these jerks, fueling their egos and widening the gap between their music and their image. Don't do it people! These individuals need help. Watching and supporting them is only going lead to a greater inflation of their sense of self and even more pain when they realise just how shallow they are. Do what's best for them and for the wider musical community. Quietly turn away.

Alright then! Sorry for the rant. The actual topic of today's post are the two bands signed to Levity Records: Mercy Arms and Cut Off Your Hands. Now when a band is signed to a label that grew out of a jeans brand, I can't help but yell "fashion band!" (hence the tie-in). But I know both of these bands from earlier days and I know they are capable of making good music. There is hope. By pure coincidence, I've had the chance to see both these bands in the last week. Did their music stand up on its own or were people just there for the social pages?

Mercy Arms
Cut Off Your Hands

Mercy Arms

When I went to see Mercy Arms last Sunday, it was after a long and gradually drift away from their music. Two years ago, I thought they were great. Half Right was a killer track and I was excited to see where they were heading. Unfortunately, apathetic performances, a disappointing EP and a general sense that they were more concerned with their image had begun to turn me off. But I was willing to give them another chance. Hopefully I had been imagining things.

Sadly, their live show did nothing to change my mind. They seemed to go through motions, failing to really capture the audience. Their music may have an experimental nature to it, but that's not an excuse for the lack of connection I felt. Even the songs I knew well failed to have an impact. But it wasn't all bad news. One of the newer songs, where the chorus repeated a girls name (i think it was susana), sounded great and I look forward to hearing it again. But by the same token, another new song, which had Kirin howling and doing spoken word, was just woeful (I'd be quite impressed by his guitar work if he didn't act like such a freak).

Everything good about this band seems to be followed by a 'but'. If only they stopped messing around they might be capable of becoming a great band. I'm yet to hear their new album, though I must admit I'm quite doubtful. The new recording of Half Right is sounding as good as ever, BUT the cover art is atrocious. Lets hope the but stops here.

Half Right

| Myspace |

Firekites

Firekites make some great music. Really great. Their recordings show a band creating soft, intricate sounds that sit nicely alongside the likes of Yo La Tengo. There's so many subtleties in it that every listen offers something new. It's the kind of music that really comes into its own when you pop on some headphones and immerse yourself in it. BUT. There is a problem. Apparently they fail to recreate this atmosphere live. I don't want to judge them before I've seen them personally, but I've heard this from at least three respectable sources. Everything from instruments that are all in the same frequency range, acoustic guitars that fail to cut through and a general inability to physically produce all the necessary sounds have been put forward as possible reasons for the let down. But who knows, maybe these people were just being pedantic or maybe these were one-off issues that have already been attended to. Whatever the case, you can catch them this Sunday (27th July) at The Annandale Hotel and see for yourself. It's an early gig (Cloud Control, the main support, are on at 7pm) and costs just $5. Nice!

Same Suburb Different Park

| Myspace |

Catchups

Apologies for the lack of decent content in the last couple of weeks. I'll make up for it soon, I promise. Maybe. In the meantime, here's a few things I'd like to say.

Youth Group's new album is great. I've been giving it plenty of play time and it's really paying off. I always knew they made beautiful music, but now I know how addictive it can be, once you get to know it. The Night Is Ours is one of those albums where every song is as good as the last.

In My Dreams

The Curse of Company's album, Leo Magnets Joins A Gang, is now out on Dangerbird Records. Read about the band here and visit them there.

Keeping to the Sydney theme, you should all get excited because The Devoted Few will soon be making a return. Their new album is sounding terrific and inside sources say their live show, which they secretly showcased last Thursday, is as good as ever. Download one of their new tracks from their website and look out for some shows (and the album) very soon.

Completely killing the Sydney theme, it's also worth mentioning that Sunny Day Sets Fire, the band who did the impossible, are continuing to impress me. I must admit, some times I feel like I've heard it all before, which could indicate their sound is a rather generic one. But at the same time, I don't care. Every track has it's own personality and they all form a great pop album. I always know I can stick it on and not be disappointed.

Teenagers

Bird Automatic EP

It's been a long, hard road for Sydney band, Bird Automatic, but they have finally arrived with their debut EP. Intitial impressions (and reactions) suggest that it was worth the effort. I've always liked Bird Automatic's live shows. In fact, the last few times I've seen them, they were incredible. But it's always felt like something was missing. Talking to others, it seemed to be that while their music was enjoyable, it failed to make a lasting impression. The songs didn't stand out enough for you to really remember them the next day. But listening to this EP, things are starting to fall into place. It all comes down to their sound being a rather subtle one. The hooks aren't hitting you in the face, but as you listen more frequently, they start to emerge. There are some great indie tracks here that will keep you coming back. They may not be there yet, but I feel like Bird Automatic are on the brink of something big. Keep an eye on them.

Suburbs