We all listen to music for different reasons. Sometimes it makes you feel sad, sometimes it picks you up again, sometimes it’s just a soundtrack to your working life; and then sometimes it just makes you want to dance.
This week’s playlist will certainly do that. Bung on this set of ten and get sweaty.
If you’ve been listening to Horrorshow for a while, you’ll know they never rest on their laurels. They are continually reinventing themselves, pushing themselves to experiment, keeping us on our toes. The inner-west Sydney duo haven’t had a huge break since the release of Bardo State, just under two years ago. Rescue sees producer, Adit, dropping one of the danciest beats we’ve heard for MC Solo to rap/sing over. This up-beat love track flows sweetly with a sub-tropical beat and even with a more laconic than usual delivery from Solo, there’re those trademark inflections and vocal rhythms that we love. So great to have a new track, which probably means an album is around six months away? (hoping!)
The duo of Liz Drummond and Hannah Field have not stopped writing music, even if the band took a little break. Now they are ready to bring Little May back into our consciousness with Apples a follow-up to last year’s Lover; a beautifully rocky little indie-pop gem with a ’90s edge. The warm harmonic voices of the pair drive this song into an area that is distinctly different from the more folky sounds of 2015. A new band, a new sound and a new album; Blame My Body is due out on the 3rd of May.
A breakthrough EP of 2018 was Tasman Keith’s Mission Famous, but the Bowraville lad wastes no time in 2019 with a new track that drops as he finishes a support tour with Haiku Hands and before a run of his own dates. move up explores the dancier side of hip-hop, definitely a great set starter with almost a grime feel. It’s short and sweet, but shows off Keith’s diversity.
One of the best discoveries of Laneway Festival was Chicago act, Smino and now they’ve teamed up with AUGUST 08 for a shit-hot track. Named in tribute (or in spite, depending on what you read) to his father, AUGUST 08, from Koreatown in LA brings a bit of everything to this track, Blood On My Hands. It starts out sensitively before a semi-jungle beat kicks in and we get the influence from Chicagoan, Smino, almost R&B-like over the still pumping beat. I love the smooth vibe to this one.
I was lucky enough to meet Adrian Mauro, aka Machine Age, a few years ago after a beautiful constructed track, Chivalry. This was a (super nice) guy that’s not afraid to try new things, experiment with sounds and his voice whilst creating powerful songs. With a relatively quiet couple of years, I was intrigued to find out what’s next, but with Dust, he’s made the wait worth it. Once again, taking the adventurous step of trying something new, he layers Roland synth over an intense dance beat, almost, dare I say it sounding a little Muse-like. Don’t think of this as bad, think of this as creating a big, exciting sound that will slap you in the face and make you grin at the same time. It’s fun, exciting and a welcome addition to his catalogue that will culminate in a debut album, Point of Departure, later this year.
If you’re a fan you know what to expect from Ceres. Passionate lyrics, driving guitars, punchy drums and a polished indie-rock song, but sometimes…they can be a bit of a downer. As they dive head-long into their third album, Me & You will certainly be one of the rockier numbers on the album, but all the while, they’re singing about love. We Are a Team is due out on the 26th of April and it’s said to be positive, uplifting and inspirational. I can’t fucking wait.
When your second song released is this good, you’ve got to take notice. Wollongong’s Cry Club are ‘back’ with a song that justifies the hype they’ve already received for first song, Walk Away, and their ultra-rad live show. DFTM, standing for Don’t Fucking Touch Me is an exciting pop-punk track that steps up the parallels between being angry, getting even and just saying exactly what you feel. Lead singer, Heather, has a voice that is searing over this track and also balances a great bass sound and savage synth. It’s anthemic, it’s powerful and really bloody good. Keep ’em coming!
Lights low but I see you clearly
Reaching out like some kind of creep
I told you not to fucking touch me
She’s been kicking around Sydney haunts for a few years since moving up from Melbourne, gathering fans wherever she goes, but finally Annie Bass has announced her debut EP called Comfort (due on the 10th of May) and a groovy track to go along with it. In Your Arms shows off Bass’s electronic skills along with production from Kito (Jorja Smith, Mabel). Glistening one second, thoughtful the next and definitely one you can throw yourself around to with abandon. Inspired by her sister saying, “just so you know, you’re not alone”, the lyric forms the basis for an inspirational song that sets the stage for a big year from the artist.
Since teaming up with B-Wise on a couple of joints from his huge album, Anfa Rose has been on my radar and has hit his first song out of the park in 2019. Sin, infuses Spanish guitar with a trap beat giving Rose a chance to guide his strong vocal over the top – it’s a damn sweet mix. The man from Sydney (via Morocco) has been making more and more waves with each release, but I reckon his nailed the direction he should head. I’m looking forward to a bright future.
Littlehampton is a seaside town in the South of England (not to be confused with the one in the Adelaide Hills) and in this blissful setting, a three-piece rock act called gloo have caught my ear this week. Stop and Stare is the track and quite simply, it’s a 2 min 47 straight ahead rock song that just, well, rocks the fuck out. It’s so nice to find a group in a location you might not expect, making a track that is just a bit of fun. It’s got a raw punk video as well, recorded in a small club in Worthing (down the road. It holds like 120 people). Go on. Indulge your rock side.
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