What 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”.
Tag Archives: pop
THE NEW FUTURES – Radioactive EP
By the close of the first half of 2013, with the once great Train having derailed themselves into vacuous pop oblivion and Maroon 5 still churning out horribly autotuned music guaranteed to annoy all but the most tolerant, the field seemed more open than ever for a new adult oriented rock/pop band to impress the world’s radio listeners. Step forward The New Futures – a four piece band whose debut EP takes its cue from similar kinds of commercially savvy bands from the 90s and beyond – and with nary an autotune knob or ukulele in sight, they’re already headed in the right direction!
FAUNTELLA CROW – Lost Here EP
Fauntella Crow is a singer-songwriter/pop/folk duo from Los Angeles comprising of vocalist/pianist Sunday Lane and violinist/vocalist Jessy Green. Lane, a classically trained pianist makes her first huge steps into the music world at large with this project, while Green has an impressive resume having previously worked with Glen Campbell, Wilco and alongside the legendary Dave Grohl in his Sound City Players (a project also featuring Rick Springfield, Stevie Nicks and other household names). Fauntella Crow first came to the attention of many when they appeared at the 2013 SXSW Festival.
THE SILVER SEAS – Alaska
The Silver Seas 2010 album ‘Chateau Revenge!’ not only raised the bar in terms of what they were capable as a band, but the release also came with a strong sense of cult adoration, with the UK’s Danny Baker becoming one of the band’s most outspoken supporters. For those who were there, the band’s September 2011 performance in front of a select but fiercely loyal London crowd – just prior to an appearance on the BBC’s prestigious ‘Later…With Jools Holland’- remains something of a watershed moment. Riding the wave further and coming up with an album that was not only equal, but better than ‘Chateau Revenge!’ was always going to be tough. So, like Fleetwood Mac following the hugely palatable ‘Rumours’ with the over indulgent ‘Tusk’, with 2013’s ‘Alaska’, The Silver Seas have wisely chosen not to try and top previous achievements, but instead take a side-step and – at lease on the surface – offer their loyal fans something different. …But fear not, it’s not so different…at least not in a frankly paranoid, coked-out and bonkers ‘Tusk’ sense.
ALICE AND THE GLASS LAKE – The Evolution EP
The brainchild of singer-songwriter Alice Lake, Alice & The Glass Lake explores various dream worlds of pop on this debut EP. Taken at face value, it’s quite, quite lovely. However, it shouldn’t escape the notice of most people that Lake’s pop fantasies and soundscapes owe so much to a few other artists who have graced us before, most notably Florence Welch and her million selling Machine. Still, for those who enjoy very thoughtful pop, that shouldn’t – and doesn’t – make her music any less enjoyable.