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2024 WORLD TOUR #6 AUSTRALIA - PLAYLISTS

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2024 World Tour #6 - Australia's Best Albums Jan to Jun

2024 World Tour #6 - Australia's Best Albums Jan to Jun

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2024 WORLD TOUR #6 AUSTRALIA - ALBUMS

The Dirty Three - Love Changes Everything

Love Changes Everything

THE DIRTY THREE

Released 28 June 2024

Anchor & Hope

*****

To describe them is indescribable, but at a stretch, I’d call them post-punk-jazz. Music made with subtlety, freedom and empathy, that rides on waves, that narrates without the need for lyrics. There is a vibe…

 

Love Changes Everything comes 30 years after the trio's - violinist & pianist Warren Ellis, drummer Jim White and guitarist Mick Turner - self-titled (official) debut, though they weren’t harbouring hangovers this time around and they took more than a day and a half to create it, 5 in fact plus a year to mix it in Melbourne with  Nick Huggins who had worked with the band previously.

All the compositions carry the album’s title, except the following numeral I-Vi, and as one would expect not a word is uttered.

So of course the question is how does Love Changes Everything sound… It sounds free, free for the three members of The Dirty Three to create without boundaries. There is a freshness that 12 years apart brings, Love Changes Everything harks back to discovering the band for the first time. That maniacal response to being able to listen to Jazz, but Jazz played by punk rockers and rastas has returned.

Read more ... 13th Floor NZ

Hiatus Kaiyote - Love Heart Cheat Code

Love Heart Cheat Code

HIATUS KAIYOTE

Released 28 June 2024

Brainfeeder

*****

For its high number of pleasurable components and intricacies, Stevie Wonder-worthy changes in key and tempo, and philosophical goodwill, "Make Friends" is the band's new creative apex. Palm's morphing into a one-woman Wonderlove seals it at the end.

Early into it, Love Heart Cheat Code seems to have the makings of the first concept album by Australia's premier hardcore avant-soul/jazz/funk/hip-hop band.

(The album-opening) "Dreamboat" enables dynamic-as-ever singer/guitarist Nai Palm and the preternatural rhythm section of Perrin Moss, Paul Bender, and Simon Mavin to travel the spaceways.

It leads to "Telescope," a glimmering groove of interstellar wonderment where everything apart from an interpolation of the Temptations' "My Girl" seems otherworldly. The following "Make Friends," however, departs from any perceptible sci-fi narrative with Palm praising a he, a she, and a they for being down-to-earth companions.

"Everything's Beautiful" is one of several songs that both references the sun and incorporates flute and harp, and on the lysergic Dilla-fied funk of "Dimitri," though that could be set in the Land of Oz. 

Surprises and oddities flourish - "Cinnamon Temple," is a spasmodic eruption of technical life metal and "Longcat" pays swirling tribute to the Japanese feline whose figure became an Internet meme.

The band finishes off the album with a raucous remake of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" that shoves the acid rock classic in front of a fun house mirror. Increased chaos and whimsy only heighten Hiatus Kaiyote's ability to enchant and exhilarate.

Read more ... AllMusic

Jess Cornelius - CARE/TAKING

CARE/TAKING

JESS CORNELIUS

Released 14 June 2024

Tender Loving Empire Records

****-

On her new album CARE/TAKING, Jess Cornelius offers a poignant record of upheaval and transformation, charting her journey from New Zealand to Melbourne and now Los Angeles. 

Collaborating with LA based musician Mikal Cronin, the album navigates themes of motherhood, loss, and self-discovery.

Lead single 'People Move On' shows the album's introspective nature, blending jangly guitars and an insistent bass line with lyrics on life's changes. Opener 'Tui Is A Bird (The Work)' sets the tone with vintage '70s sounds and an expansive rock groove. 'Back to the Mainland' is a cinematic ballad, with a balance of strength and vulnerability that's shown across the record.

Work on these songs started years ago as Cornelius sketched ideas on her Yamaha Portasound keyboard. “There was a lot of change happening in my life,” she says. “I was coming out of a relationship with the father of my child. It was a turbulent time being from New Zealand, living in L.A., and realizing that this family unit wasn't sustainable.”

While that dissolution was a heartbreaking shift in her life, Cornelius felt grateful for the stability she did have: her support system, the home she felt settled in, and her craft. CARE/TAKING reflects all this, serving as a poetic document of resilience in the face of change.

Read more ... RRR

Emma Volard - Alibai

Alibai

EMMA VOLARD

Released 14 June 2024

The Operatives Records

*****

Alibi sees Emma stepping confidently into their own sonic world, expanding further on their introspective storytelling and pushing the limits of the future soul sound. 

Emma Volard is one of Narrm’s | Melbourne's most enigmatic and staunchly authentic acts. Her music is entrenched in lavish harmonies, broken-beats and gut-wrenching lyricism, and has garnered attention from national and international tastemakers alike.

After the avalanche success of their debut album ‘Deity’ in 2022, future soul artist Emma Volard's sophomore album ‘Alibi.’ represents years spent honing a signature sound that encapsulates Naarm | Melbourne’s experimental neo-soul and jazz scene.

Emma has never shied away from being a warrior for inclusivity, and these themes are often at the forefront of their storytelling. This has placed them as a leader within the Naarm music community, and turned the heads of industry heavyweights such as Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Thundercat, Cory Henry and Zan Rowe.

Read more ... Bandcamp

Don Glori - Don't Forget To Have Fun

Don't Forget To Have Fun

DON GLORI

Released 7 June 2024

Deep Matter Records

****-

The musical companion to the 2023 book of the same name - the ultimate illustrated commemoration of iconic Australian musicians Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter in songs, stories, photographs and tributes.

 

A product of the not-so-underground, genre-bending melting pot that is Naarm (Melbourne, Australia). producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Don Glori's (AKA Gordon Li's) new album ‘Don’t Forget To Have Fun’ follows his much-heralded 2022 LP ‘Welcome’,

On the album’s title, Don explains: ‘The name Don't Forget To Have Fun is a nice reminder to myself about the journey of the album. How you can change the narrative by keeping a positive attitude, trusting the process and continually experimenting.’ A true work of art, traversing jazz, funk, soul, RnB, samba and beyond, this record is hard to describe, but even harder to forget. 

Read more ... Bandcamp

Crowded House - Gravity Stairs

Gravity Stairs

Crowded House

Released 31 May 2024

Lester Records / BMG

****-

Appearing a mere three years after "Dreamers Are Waiting", the 2021 album that debuted the third iteration of Crowded House, Gravity Stairs finds the veteran pop group settling into their new skin.

In most regards, Gravity Stairs isn't far removed from its predecessor. Like "Dreamers Are Waiting", this 2024 record moves slowly, not so much marching at a deliberate pace as drifting along with a wayward breeze. The difference here is, Crowded House choose to linger, dwelling upon different moods and melodies instead of letting the moments slip away. Individual tracks may be distinguished by subtle flair -- vocal harmonies, a spike of fuzztone or tremulous treble guitars, a wash of analog synths -- but the accents are never so pronounced that they distract from the overall sense of comforting reverie.

Enough of Gravity Stairs contains a distinct pulse to keep it from sleepiness -- "Oh Hi" bears a polished punch reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac circa Mirage, "I Can't Keep Up with You" fittingly breaks out into a spirited trot, "Teenage Summer (aka Life's Imitation)" conjures the slightest hint of adolescent romance in its crystalline hooks -- yet the overall record carries a distinct dreaminess. To Crowded House's credit, Gravity Stairs may feel cozy, but it never feels lazy. Some of that surely lies in how the band chooses to camouflage its strong melodic core with fluid, shifting surfaces -- a decision that winds up emphasizing sound over song while also directing focus to the familial chemistry of the band. Neil Finn still functions as the center of gravity in Crowded House but the addition of his sons Liam and Elroy, as well as his long-term collaborator Mitchell Froom -- they all join the other constant in the group, bassist Nick Seymour -- transforms the band into an empathetic collective who gain strength from their communal warmth. They're now built for comfort, not speed, a shift that can pay great dividends as Gravity Stairs illustrates.

Read more ... AllMusic

Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter - Songs From The Kitchen Table

Songs From The Kitchen Table

ARCHIE ROACH, RUBY HUNTER

Released 31 May 2024

Archie Roach Foundation

****-

The musical companion to the 2023 book of the same name - the ultimate illustrated commemoration of iconic Australian musicians Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter in songs, stories, photographs and tributes.

Archie Roach AO, a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung man, was born in Victoria in 1956. Taken at the age of two from parents he never saw again, he was placed into foster care. He started writing songs after meeting his soulmate Ruby Hunter when they were both homeless teenagers. His heartbreaking signature song, ‘Took the Children Away’, from his 1990 ARIA award-winning debut album Charcoal Lane, has become an anthem for the Stolen Generations. The song was the first to win an Australian Human Rights Award and the album was featured in US Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 50 in 1992, won two ARIA awards and went gold in Australia. Archie’s recording history includes twelve albums, soundtracks, film and theatrical scores and his books include the award-winning memoir Tell Me Why, accompanied by a companion album, and the picture book Took the Children Away, illustrated by Ruby Hunter.

Ruby Hunter (1955-2010) was a proud Ngarrindjeri, Kukatha, Pitjantjatjara woman from South Australia. She forged a remarkable music career, releasing three highly acclaimed albums, while raising a family with her lifelong partner and soulmate, Archie Roach. Through her songwriting Ruby tirelessly championed the rights of Aboriginal women and children out of a deep desire for positive change and equal opportunity. Like Archie, Ruby was forcibly removed from her family when only a small child. Ruby expressed their shared story through her evocative drawings for Took the Children Away, their last collaborative project.

 

Read more ... Google Books

Rafael Karlen, The Australian Voices and Camerata, Queensland's Chamber Orchestra - Sinking Cities

Sinking Cities

TRAFAEL KARLEN,

THE AUSTRALIAN VOICES AND CAMERATA,

QUEENSLAND'S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Released 31 May 2024

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

****-

How do you articulate the heartbreak of erasing 12,000 years of history and the drowning the homes of tens of thousands of people?

This album takes us to the Turkish town of Hasankeyf: once one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, home of empires and civilisations, now deep underwater as part of a project to dam the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Composer Rafael Karlen and lyricist Pearly Black chose to focus on questioning what is gained, what is lost and how we choose what to preserve and remember. This thought-provoking and profoundly moving work is performed by two of Australia’s finest contemporary music ensembles: the instrumentalists of Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and the brilliant singers of The Australian Voices, with the plaintive saxophone of Rafael Karlen weaving its spell in and around the orchestra and choir.

 

Read more ... ABC

Robbie Belchamber - Trails

Trails (EP)

ROBBIE BELCHAMBER

Released 31 May 2024

Dune Castle Records

****-

"Trails" captures ... the bubbling rhythms of water, melodic inventions of currawongs and magpies, pervasive scents of the bush, all changing with the seasons. 

Robbie Belchamber is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Naarm (Melbourne). 

Drawing upon elements of jazz, brazilian, west african and folk music, the seven compositions that comprise "Trails" are centered around the soft timbre of fingerstyle nylon-string guitar, with subtle arrangements incorporating voice, flute, percussion, mandolin, accordion and electric guitar filling out the texture.

Speaking on the record, Robbie said “During lockdown I spent a lot of time exploring Melbourne's northern waterways, riding my bike along the Birrarung, Darebin creek and Merri creek. These opportunities to slow down, reflect, observe and spend time in nature formed the genesis of many of the compositions.

"Trails" is Robbie's first studio record, and features contributions from Melbourne musicians - percussionist Lucky Pereira (Glass Beams, 30/70), vocalists Hannah McKittrick, Aidan Ryan (NoLess) and Grace Robinson (Empress), accordionist Moses Carr,  and flautist Erica Tuccerri.

 

Read more ... Bandcamp

Finn Rees - Dawn Is Melody

Dawn Is Melody

FINN REES

Released 31 May 2024

Mr Bongo

****-

“An effective snapshot of the talent and versatility of the young Melbourne jazz scene, and positions Rees as a bandleader, composer and musician whose profile, like that Tasmanian sun, is guaranteed to rise." - Jazzwise 

Expert keys player for 30/70 and Elle Shimada, one-half of Close Counters and an exemplary jazz artist in his own, Finn Rees has fast become one of Melbourne's finest talents.

In Finn’s own words: “My intention with Dawn Is A Melody was to create a world; a microcosm of colour. Something rich and beautiful that allowed the melodies and compositions to reach their full potential. It was driven by hope, curiosity and the search for beauty and reassurance in this ever-changing world. The emotion behind the music is really about the journey of life, growing up and changing, as well as my relationship with Tasmania’s natural landscapes where I grew up, a part of the world that is incredibly unique and beautiful.”

Plotting a course from Alice Coltrane, through Herbie Hancock, to Arthur Verocai, this is a debut nourished by the past but firmly made in the present. A record unable to be age-stamped, casting ambiguity as to when, what era and by whom it has been crafted. Like a vintage lens capturing a current scene, Dawn Is A Melody is warm and familiar yet focused on the here now. 

Read more ... Bandcamp

Rowena Wise - Senseless Acts Of Beauty

Senseless Acts Of Beauty

ROWENA WISE

Released 24 May 2024

Beloved Recordings

****-

“Life is confusing. Sometimes we wanna eat the rich, sometimes we wanna be the rich, sometimes we wanna make-out with someone cute, sometimes we wanna slow-dance around the room like our grandparents did, sometimes we wanna be good, and sometimes we just wanna be bad.”

Rowena Wise is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist hailing from the Western Australian surf town of Margaret River.

She is a songwriter, inspired by poetry and storytelling. She believes truth lies in fiction. With a voice that can caress you in one breath and carve you apart in the next, she has been praised for her sharp storytelling and raw performances, earning the moniker 'lyrical assassin' from the Australian triple j community.

An artist whose ruminations on love, alienation, and self-empowerment are fast catching attention, her music has been described by CLASH as “carefully etched indie folk”.

Rowena Wise’s musical journey began at a young age. Together with her mother (a folk musician from Chicago) and father (a luthier who builds the custom guitars she plays today), they performed as a family band throughout her youth, playing folk festivals all over. Now, grown up and living on the opposite coast in Melbourne, Rowena is on the precipice of something exciting of her own.

Inspired by the strong storytelling sensibilities of 60s folk icons and making a sound that sits her snugly alongside the likes of Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin, and Waxahatchee, Rowena found her spark during a down moment while traveling at the end of a relationship.
 

Read more ... Bandcamp

Don't Thank Me, Spank Me! - Don't Thank Me, Spank Me!

Don't Thank Me, Spank Me!

DON'T THANK ME, SPANK ME!

Released 24 May 2024

Don't Thank Me, Spank Me!

****-

“Life is confusing. Sometimes we wanna eat the rich, sometimes we wanna be the rich, sometimes we wanna make-out with someone cute, sometimes we wanna slow-dance around the room like our grandparents did, sometimes we wanna be good, and sometimes we just wanna be bad.”

Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! are a genius combination of sublime songwriting, good hair and matching Fender Mustangs - Aussie Fran Fines on dexies, sipping cheap chardonnay and wielding loud guitars. The soon-to-be cult Melbourne outfit is made up of best friends Nitida Atkinson (vocals and guitar) and Esther Henderson (vocals and bass).

Their self-titled debut album packs a punch. “This album is basically a love affair between our greatest musical influences. We love girl bands from the 70s like the Runaways and the Slits for their attitude and badass-ery and girl power. We love the crass 80s pop/rock aesthetic. We love 90s RnB. We loved Britney Spears with all our hearts! And of course we couldn’t make an album without our parents’ taste in music creeping in - you can hear some real ELO moments and Cate Ceberano themes going on.”

The album’s themes speak to the duo’s experience as women moving through the world.

Read more ... Bandcamp

Jordan Rakei - The Loop

The Loop

JORDAN RAKEI

Released 10 May 2024

Decca

****-

London-based, Australian-raised singer Jordan Rakei has spent the past decade or so steadily growing, both in popularity and quality. That growth continues in 2024, as his fifth album The Loop sees him in better touch than ever.

Rakei's voice has always been a treasure, and he sounds both at his most relaxed and most confident here. The deep digging he started on 2021's What We Call Life continues here, as the artist navigates both his own emotions and the world around him.

His often-introspective explorations help lend a sense of intimacy to the record, ensuring its stunning sound, which is far more opulent than anything from Rakei's past, doesn't dull the emotional impact of these songs.

The Loop is packed with dusty beats, sleek orchestral swells, and deft yet unimposing guitar lines. Its production owes a fair bit to 70s funk, but much like how golden age hip hop gave new life to old records, Rakei's voice makes a classic artform feel current and vital.

"I wanted to get back to why I fell in love with music in the first place," he explained in a statement.

"I found myself listening to my favourite artists again and I wanted to make an ambitious record that was centred around my vocal. I had a no-judgement approach when it came to production and songwriting choices."

That means a fairly broad remit when it comes to the music, but Rakei's voice ensures every one of its grand sounding tracks works in symbiosis.

It's not entirely fair to say this is Rakei at his most ambitious – there are four other albums that prove he's an artist that has always looked to push into interesting new musical spaces – but it's his most accomplished work to date.

Read more ... DoubleJ

David Versace - Eye To Eye

Eye To Eye

DAVID VERSACE

Released 3 May 2024

La Sape

****-

Eye To Eye is composed by eight meticulously built tracks and invites us towards an introspective journey, delving into the complexities of human experience through captivating melodies and David's masterful rhythmic storytelling.

From Brisbane | Meanjin, Australian multi-instrumentalist David Versace unveils his sophomore album, Eye To Eye, on La Sape Records. Following up on the mesmerizing Okra (La Sape Records, 2022), this new records explores with more detail the serene soundscapes that were present in its predecessor, maintaining influences of jazz and latin music textures.

Versace leads with his signature groove-oriented rhythm section but creates ample space for exploration.

Eye To Eye is composed by eight meticulously built tracks and invites us towards an introspective journey, delving into the complexities of human experience through captivating melodies and David's masterful rhythmic storytelling.

Read more ... o sotao

Karate Boogaloo - Hold Your Horses

Hold Your Horses

KARATE BOOGALOO

Released 3 May 2024

Colemine Records

****-

This is ancient-to-future music, rooted as much in psychedelic blues, funk and rock as in the trancey, propulsive rhythms of northern Africa's Maghreb: Gnawa, Amazigh, Hassani and Houara music. 

Sitting at the heart of Melbourne’s burgeoning instrumental soul movement, Karate Boogaloo (Henry Jenkins, Hudson Whitlock, Callum Riley, and Darvid Thor) have been playing music together since their playground days. Meeting as high school preteens, these four friends explored the teachings of the great small combo instrumental bands à la Booker T & The MG’s and The Meters.

Their latest album, Hold Your Horses, is their first album of all originals since "Carn The Boogers" and follows 2021 release "KB's Mixtape No. 3"

What’s particularly interesting about the Boogers album is that it was recorded back in 2017, then set aside until College of Knowledge Records convinced Karate Boogaloo to release it in 2020. So there has really been seven years between albums, and Hold Your Horses showcases the group’s progression.

Recorded and mixed by bassist Henry Jenkins, the album spotlights a new maturity in Karate Boogaloo’s distinct interpretation of instrumental funk and is a fantastic listen from beginning to end.

The band’s style is rooted in instrumental funk, drawing influences from the deep funk of the late ’60s and early ’70s, European film music, and the new wave of instrumental soul. Their sound is characterized by a restrained instrumental approach consisting of drums, guitar, bass, and organ, creating a consistent and distinct tone throughout the album.

Read more ... Bandcamp, The Blurb

Audrey Powne - From The Fire

From The Fire

AUDREY POWNE

Released 26 April 2024

BBE Music

*****

Audrey Powne's stunning debut album is set to be one of those must have LPs in any music lover's collection. Something of an auteur release it features nine tracks all composed by Audrey, with all string arrangements and all produced by her.

UK-based Naarm/Melbourne artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Audrey Powne is a creative force carving out a distinctive path in the future jazz and soul world.

Having honed her craft in the vibrant Melbourne music scene Powne can now be found performing in some of the most visionary musical circles globally. 

Audrey's decision to produce the whole album herself came from a desire to take creative control of her music and apply techniques developed from the influences of the producers she had previously worked with.

If all of the above were not enough Audrey also wrote the lyrics for those tracks on which she sings, and as a multi-instrumentalist contributes piano, Rhodes and organ. She also features as a trumpeter with dextrous and soaring solos,

Read more ... Bandcamp

Ngaiire, Sydney Symphony Orchestra - Live at The Sydney Opera House

Live at The Sydney Opera House

NGAIIRE

AND THE SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Released 26 April 2024

Dot Dash Recordings

****-

It is an extraordinary performance, heaving with her trademark energy and rhythmic drive but now coupled with the power and textural richness of the Sydney Symphony. Even after all this time, Ngaiire is still pinching herself that it ever happened.

 

Hailing from the Eastern Highlands & New Ireland provinces of Papua New Guinea, Sydney-based Ngaiire has a career that crosses genre and artform.

Recipient of 4 National Live Music Awards & the inaugural Australian Women in Music Award for Artistic Excellence, Ngaiire’s music is celebrated around the world & seen her grace the stages of Glastonbury to to tours with Sufjan Stevens & Alicia Keys.

In 2022, Ngaiire and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra gave a sold-out performance on the Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, with thousands of people captivated by this extraordinary performer. 

The concert feature many of the songs from Ngaiire's exceptional 2021 break-out album "3".

 

Read more ... Bandcamp, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Emma Donovan - Til My Song Is Done

Til My Song Is Done

EMMA DONOVAN

Released 19 April 2024

Jindahood / Cooking Vinyl Australia

*****

"I know this album is just the start of continuing to stand strong not only for my daughters but for all the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women working in the Australian music industry today".

Faced with an opportunity to record her first solo album since the 2004 EP project titled Changes, and her first album after eight years without The Putbacks ensemble, Donovan says she was propelled into some deep introspection.

“I wanted to approach the album as a clean slate, but looking back at what makes me who I am,” Donovan explains. “I began by asking myself, who am I? Who is Emma Donovan? And what do I want to do? I want to be the deadly granddaughter, niece and daughter. I want to make my family proud.

Til My Song is Done is honouring that legacy of our family country music ways.

“That's exactly what this album is for me, like if they're proud and they're happy, if the family is honoured, that's all I need to know. And mum would be proud.

Read more ... Emma Donovan

Milan Ring - Mangos

Mangos

MILAN RING

Released 13 April 2024

Astral People Recordings

****-

It's another accomplished body of work from an artist who's deserving of much wider recognition and acclaim.

Australian artist Milan Ring is a certified polymath. A seasoned producer, songwriter, and music director who sings and slays on the guitar, she's a respected figure in Sydney/Eora's local R&B scene.

Her impressive credits includes collaborations with Questlove, Ta-ku, Sampa The Great, B Wise, Winston Surfshirt, and an LA studio session with Chance The Rapper's band The Social Experiment and SZA (who she covered for Like A Version).

That rap sheet is a solid indication of the quality and sound of Milan Ring's own solo work, beginning with her 2021 debut album I'm Feeling Hopeful.

After showcasing the breadth of her talent and heritage on that too-good-to-ignore release, Milan Ring continues her artistic journey with her second accomplished album.
Mangos is every bit as juicy and summery as that title suggests. Like its predecessor, it's ripe with world-class R&B, sensual neo-soul and funkified grooves that's as good as any coming out of this country.

Inspired by a summer fling, and the deeper philosophical digging that romance prompted, the album encompasses music that organically glides between poignant and playful.
If there's a blemish to the otherwise spotless Mangos it's that there's simply not enough of it to savour (it's 10 songs come and go in just 31 minutes).

But, nothing on the record feels especially underdeveloped, quite the opposite – you can feel the care and craft put into it. But by the time you emerge from this immersive listening experience, you'll only be satisfied with diving back in and soaking in the details again.

Read more ... ABC Listen

Grace Cummings - Ramona

Ramona

GRACE CUMMINGS

Released 5 April 2024

Sugar Mountain Records

****-

Ramona is a work of raw truth rendered in its most beautiful form. 

Melbourne-based Grace Cummings traveled to Los Angeles to work with producer Jonathan Wilson (Angel Olsen, Father John Misty) and dreamed up a lavishly orchestrated sound that fully accommodates the depth and scope of her vocal prowess. With its visceral reflection on grief and self-destruction and emotional violence, Ramona brings a stunning new grandeur to Cummings’ music while refusing to soften or temper its humanity.

Where her previous arrangements were often achingly bare, Ramona luxuriates in lush orchestration, creating the set dressing for the performance that is the character of “Ramona.”

The record consistently reaches for the biggest emotion possible, with every song the last one before intermission. The fact that it works as often as it does is a testament to Cummings’ sheer power as a performer, her voice a force arriving with force and star power. Ramona can be overwhelming when taken in as a whole, and that’s something that might ultimately keep many at arm’s length from the album. But, if you let Grace Cummings in, Ramona might just surprise you yet.

Read more ... Bandcamp, Pitchfork

Fluxcore 94 - Fluxcore 94

Fluxcore 94

FLUXCORE 94

Released 7 April 2024

Get Fluxed

****-

Fluxcore 94 uses improvisation to bridge the gaps between musical ideas, creating free-flowing sets that take the audience on a journey through funk, jazz and more abstract breakdowns of musical conversation.

Fluxcore 94 don't give much away on their Bandcamp and they rate barely a mention anywhere else on the web, but they're yet another dazzling combo from that seemingly bottomless, hip Naarm|Melbourne scene.

The band comprises

Clyde Saniga - alto/baritone sax, vocals. Archie Beattie - guitar, tenor sax.

Stan Saniga - synthesisers.

Max Hazeldine - percussion

Sanaga's musical pedigree extends back to the Australian Boys Choir, its adult version The Vocal Consort and Jazz (saxophone) at Melbourne University.

Percussionist Hazeldine's reputation precedes him too, with a background in bands including Grace Robinson State of Grace and with spiritual and free jazz trumpeter Marly del Prete. 

All we can say is this combo cooks - like an antipodean Sons Of Kemet.

Sam Anning - Earthen

EARTHEN

SAM ANNING

Released 5 April 2024

Earshift Music

****-

Sam Anning’ earthen draws on the resilience of spirit in a dedication to music icon Uncle Archie Roach.

Melbourne bassist-composer Sam Anning’s third septet album Earthen, is dedicated to the indomitable spirit of Indigenous Australian music icon, Uncle Archie Roach. Featuring an ensemble of long-time collaborators, Andrea Keller, Kyrie Anderson, Mat Jodrell, Carl Mackey, Julien Wilson, and Theo Carbo, the album draws on the deep well of Roach’s wisdom, connection to the moment, resilience of spirit, and the medicinal power of music. 

Anning’s experience as bassist for three years with Roach before his passing in 2022 was a profound and musically enriching journey. Roach was an award-winning singer-songwriter, musician and respected elder, known for his songs that often told powerful, poignant stories about Indigenous Australian experiences, particularly the pain and trauma of the Stolen Generations. The experience offered Anning a unique opportunity to contribute to a powerful legacy of social activism and healing through music, providing a profound connection with his music and his audiences, reflecting on the themes of loss, resilience and hope.

“We were gathered around Archie’s bed in the ICU, Stephen Magnusson and I had taken our instruments and were playing softly as he greeted and farewelled family.

He then gestured toward my bass “This is earthenware”, then at Stephen’s guitar “and this is earthenware. They are made from the earth, music comes from the earth and these instruments carry it, and it goes back to the earth”. 

In these final words to us he had distilled the entire experience we had had playing with, and marveling at, this great story-teller and songman.

Read more ... Earshift Music

Firetail - Undertow

Undertow

FIRETAIL

Released 4 April 2024

Firetail

****-

While unfolding the investigative endeavors of its titular character, Sugar also features several background scores and tracks that perfectly complement its drama.

Firetails music spans from 70’s jazz-fusion, South Indian Carnatic music and Melbourne's own brand of jazz-tronica. Formed in 2018 as a collaborative recording project the band has developed an ambient approach that mixes bass heavy rhythms with evocative melodies and driving percussion

Firetail describes this album as "a deep dive down the whirlpool of space-jazz-funk".

“Truly a musical journey that moves in and out of jazz and neo soul textures to progressive experimental post rock with heavy doses of psychedelia all smacked with a wet sloppy kiss of jazztronica flavors”......American Pancake

'Dadaistic nu jazz, by one of the best emerging acts from Australia' Last Day Deaf

"I love this uninhibited band not only for their absolute commitment to creating this whacky music, but because they have a distinctly Melbourne sound that never fails to bring me back to the dark, sticky bars of my hometown."ABC Jazz

“This is how musical cognition may sound” Grotesqualizer

Read more ... Firetail

Mount Kujo - Cosmic Cliffs

Cosmic Cliffs

MOUNT KUJO

Released 29 March 2024

Milano Music

****-

Passionate, soulful and dynamic; Mount Kujo is a Naarm (Melbourne) based act blending Psychedelic Funk, Jazz, Latin and Afro-beat. A vibrant collective of culturally diverse musicians from all around the world, playing lush arrangements of polyrhythms, unexpected changes and explosive horn sections.

As a new generation of musicians, Mount Kujo have cultivated an inspiring communal mentality with a dedicated inner circle and rotating outer members who remain integral to the family no matter where they move on to. A resemblance to other musical collectives can be found: the freeform bombastic nature of Funkadelic, the experimentation of The Pink Floyd and even the progressive global vision of Embryo are all similar to the Mount Kujo ethos – “We create the space”.

The group excels with their increased familiarity, seeing each live concert as a chance to curiously tweak their compositions and are always eager to lock into their pulsating groove for dancing crowds. Their songwriting has gained a foundation over the many band trips and sessions in magical places, resulting in their sound becoming increasingly unique and recognisable.

They have even graduated their artistic vision into mixed media, with a fun neo-noir video clip for their cinematic jazz single, ‘Mr Pink’, celebrating the cities’ more shadowy corners. Mount Kujo’s cosmic vision of highly innate dancefloor jazz, a worldwide musical family and constant experimentation make them one of the hottest and most interesting bands coming out of Australia right now.

Read more... Mount Kujo

Max König - Max König

Max König

MAX KÖNIG

Released 27 March 2024

Max König

*****

In an era hungry for authenticity, Max König’s debut album is a testament to the power of music as a unifying force, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. 

 

Prepare to embark on a mesmerising journey as Max König, the sensational saxophonist, unveils his highly anticipated debut album, 7 years in the making.

Max König’s music captures the essence of both spirited celebration and religious devotion. An accomplished composer, Max König paints vivid musical landscapes, reminiscent of ancient synagogues, transformative meditations and the soul-stirring rhythms of Arabic dabke. Simultaneously, König and his band, steeped in the jazz tradition, embrace the spontaneity of spur-of-the-moment improvisation and the unrestrained flow of the stream of consciousness. It is evident König’s music evokes his deep love and reverence for the Jazz, Jewish and Arabic musical legacies.

With each track, König and his band launch into a new mystical, introspective exploration, brimming with bustling energy, immersed in a world where spirituality meets experimentation, conjuring a wide range of powerful emotions that resonate deep within. The album is a true personal reflection of König’s profound musical and spiritual odyssey, with certain tracks dedicated to individuals who have significantly changed the course of his life.

The saxophonist’s daring vision and virtuosic skills, alongside his first class band, create a truly unique listening experience that will captivate audiences around the globe.

Read more ... Beat

Simon Mavin - Some Days

Some Days

SIMON MARVIN

Released 22 March 2024

Mavin Music

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"These days, I don’t have the urge to be a virtuosic musician anymore. I still love the heavy shit, but it’s not for me for some reason. I just want to sing on the piano. That’s what I think I’ve done with this record.” Simon Mavin

 

Some Days is Melbourne / Naarm artist Simon Mavin’s first solo piano release. It documents seven individual moments in time, spanning roughly over a five year period.
Simon (who is most well known as the Grammy nominated keyboardist/co-producer and co- writer of the celebrated Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote), sat down at the piano or a keyboard and recorded whatever came to mind, usually settling on the first take. The nature of the piano as a dynamic instrument means that nothing can ever be played exactly the same way twice.

Some Days it’s about the space between the notes, the rhythmic pulse within the tides. Some Days, it’s a lonely night in a Los Angeles hotel room, capturing a golden melody that helps put a friend at ease during a long tour when the road is only singing the blues.

Some Days, it’s a phrase captured perfectly imperfect on an iphone, never to be replicated, never to be replaced, somehow reminiscent of David Lynch.

Some Days, it’s a demo that just feels right as is. Playing with an ostinato pattern in 7/4 with some spring reverb, everything in support of the melody, to make it sing. One finger louder than the rest.

Some Days, it’s an improvised piece, played on a keyboard plug-in that just didn’t sound as good on an actual piano.

Some Days write themselves after getting lost in a sound and utilizing the soft pedal.

Some Days are for getting rid of the expectations. Not even listening. Just to sit, breathe, relax, leave the ego at the door, and maintain a state of neutral creation.

Some Days can wash it all away.

Read more... Bandcamp

On-ly - Wonderlust

Wonderlust

ON-LY

Released 22 March 2024

La Sape

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Melbourne / Naarm artist On-Ly is the solo and collaborative moniker of pianist and producer Joshua Smeltink.

Spanning genres, On-Ly’s house and hip-hop history is ever-present and imbued with the hard-hitting post-bop jazz-rock of the 60’s / 70’s, harking back to bands such as Weather Report and Miles Davis Group (70’s).

Reflecting on great leaders and great bands and what makes them essential; there is not too much more that On-Ly has considered for Wonderlust.

Distinct in that it inaugurates his first release with a band.

The album takes on a facilitating role in the style of great psychedelic albums as one finds themselves at the whimsy of through-composed pilgrimages to soft, heartfelt song and back to sun-soaked heights woven with engaging arrangement, a one-of-a-kind production style and an incredible pedigree of musicianship.

Wonderlust features:

On-Ly (Joshua Smeltink) - Fender Rhodes (track 6), Bechstein Model-A 1912, Keys, Synthesiser, Trumpet, Engineer, Producer
Daniel Waddingham - Electric Guitar.
Ash de Neef - Electric Bass.
Phil Stroud - Congas/Percussion, Co-engineer, mixer
Bryce Zelno - Drums.

Mixed by Joshua Smeltink.

Read more ... Bandcamp

Evening News - New World (EP)

New World (EP)

EVENING NEWS
Released 22 March 2024

Dune Castle Records

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Evening News is a Melbourne-based instrumental dance/electronica group. Drawing from experience curating dance floor music in both a live and DJ setting, the group incorporate House and Nu-Jazz sounds with the sonic breadth of Jungle and 2 Step.

Evening News is an ethereal and driving collection of instrumental electronica performed by the group, formerly known as Beatnik Collective.

Evening News is a Melbourne-based instrumental dance/electronica group. The band is Influenced by artists like Squarepusher, Apex Twin and u-Ziq, the 4-piece have meticulously honed their craft on dance floors around Melbourne.

New World features:

Dan Rock - Bass Guitar, Sequencer, Executive Producer
Christy Wositzsky-Jones - Rhodes, Keyboards, Synthesizers and Sequencers
Winton Findlay - Synthesizers, Keyboards and Percussion
Miles Henry - Acoustic Drumset

Mixed and Produced by Moses Carr
Recorded by Quin Grunden
Jay Gabriel - Vocals

Read more ... Bandcamp

Peter Garrett - The True North

The True North

PETER GARRETT

Released 15 March 2024

Sony Music Australia

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“The True North has a sonic footprint similar to the 2016 solo debut A Version Of Now: firmly rock ‘n’ roll, but more gentle than an Oils album, tinged with folk, country and pop …. The lyrics on this album are as powerful and urgent as ever, and Garrett somehow finds new gears to sing them.” (Andrew McMillen, The Weekend Australian)

Recorded in his hometown of Sydney with producer Tony Buchen and featuring artwork by daughter, Grace Garrett the songs span infectious rockers like ‘Permaglow’, the atmospheric title track and a new focus track called ‘Paddo’ – a rap paean to the SCG (among many other things!).

Read more ... Bandcamp

Horns of Leroy - Monster In Your Head

Monster In Your Head

HORNS OF LEROY

Released 10 March 2024

Horns of Leroy

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"Monster in Your Head" is the third LP from Melbourne's homegrown, New Orleans-style jazz band Horns of Lacey. They're a down-to-earth combo that, in typical Aussie style, may be found playing venues of all sizes, from suburban hotel beer gardens, to fully blown national festivals. 

The band is comprised of seven key members:

Ben Harrison & Travis Woods – Trumpet

Chris Vizard & Nick Pietsch – Trombone

Jay Scarlett – Sousaphone

Daniel Berry & Tim Clifton – Percussion

Together, they make a fine fist of creating an authentic-enough, Antipodean version of the Bourbon Street blues, especially considering that all songs are originals, credited mostly to Harrison.

However, the standout tracks on this album are those in which they invite Zimbabwean-born soul diva thndo and powerhouse Melbourne vocalist Loretta Miller

Considering the diversity of the Melbourne music scene, the potential for casting a wider collaborative net in future is an enticing prospect.

Read more... Horns of Leroy

Ausecuma Beats - Dakar Bamako

Dakar Bamako

AUSECUMA BEATS

Released 8 March 2024

Music In Exile

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The band are constantly shifting shape and sound, in search of a synthesis between West African highlife, boogie, afrobeat and funk with some more contemporary inputs from Melbourne’s flourishing soul, jazz and dance music scenes