FLAGFALL – Flagfall EP

FlagfallWhat to do with a bunch of guys from Sydney who claim to make music for misfits, drawn together via a love of The Black Keys and Kanye West?  Keep an open mind if you can…since this Australian quintet make some interesting music on their debut EP.  The four tunes are driven by obvious funk grooves but their eclectic sound draws from a wider palate, incorporating a hefty dose of pop, and elements of soul and rap for good measure.  The funk elements – seemingly high on their list of musical priorities – come courtesy of some rather large and warm sounding lead bass parts, which in turn are brought to life by a terrific production job by sometime John Butler producer Tony Buchen.  It is instantly obvious that these tunes have not been recorded “on the cheap”.

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DE LA CRUZ – Street Level

DE LA CRUZ sl COVERThere have been some great bands exported from Australisia over the decades.  Crowded House have blessed us with near-perfect and often very thoughtful pop; Cold Chisel raised the bar for no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll; Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil proved – perhaps more than any of their American counterparts – that hard rock and politics can go hand in hand and still shift millions of units.  Something UK and US audiences rarely associated with the southern hemispheres is sleaze/glam rock.  Frontiers signings De La Cruz are here to help fly that flag.

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