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Kilbey Kennedy Release New Single ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’

Both of these guys are on a post covid roll, The Church’s Hypnogogue Album has received worldwide acclaim and Martin’s work has been far ranging and prolific as always.

Building on the success of Jupiter 13 (2021) and The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus (2022), Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy are about to releases their latest epic, ‘Premonition K’. The album unveils sumptuous sonic soundscapes courtesy of Kennedy paired with Kilbey’s lyrics that delve into the dark and enigmatic realms that exist between the boundaries of life and death.

Steve Kilbey, best known as frontman of legendary Aussie post-prog rockers The Church, infuses each track with an emotional resonance and sense of mystery. Martin Kennedy co-pilots this sonic odyssey with Steve Kilbey, weaving an intricate musical bed for Kilbey’s lyrical dreamings. Drawing from his twenty years of soundscaping with All India Radio, Kennedy adds layers of sonic complexity, at once warmly familiar and mysteriously strange, creating an immersive experience for the listener.

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The first single from the new album ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’ – upbeat jangle-guitars and Kennedy’s familiar electronic swirls provide the stage for Kilbey’s trademark lyrical magic.

Steve Kilbey says, “That’s Gotta Hurt is about the existential pain of loving and losing and of attachment to the roles we play in this theatre of the absurd.”

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds Release New Single ‘Photograph’

The second single from the forthcoming album following the success of ‘Anchor’ last year.

‘Photograph’ is a delicate and broody alt-folk song full of melodic hooks and echo harmonies, featuring introspective verses, and soaring choruses. The Lyrebirds’ ethereal harmonies combine with Bec’s lead vocal to create a haunting effect, meditating on how hard it can be to forgive and forget in a relationship.

The Video for single was just premiered on Scenestr

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-country pop band from Canberra. Described as Seeker-Lover-Keeper-meets-Nashville-the-TV-show, their “twangy, Australiana” sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr). They are a band with incredible musical chemistry, with soaring harmonies and a rich instrumentation of guitars, piano, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, and occasional cello parts, which complement Bec’s heartfelt songwriting.

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Consisting of versatile musicians with rich experience in different genres, the Lyrebirds are Hannah Beasley (PaintonPaint), Sam McNair (JD McNair, The Burley Griffin), Sophie Chapman (Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Andy and George Band) and Grahame Thompson (Cracked Actor, BabyFreeze, Mr Fibby).

There’s two shows in March to launch the single and plenty more coming later in the year

- Saturday 9th March 7pm – Cancophany at UC Refectory hosted by Enlighten Canberra – Tickets 

- Thursday 14th March – Photograph Launch House Gig at Hannah’s in Canberra (tickets below)

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Rumba Flamenca Arabe’

With around a quarter of a million streams already this series of Flamenco Guitar from one of Australia’s best is ready for a new brilliant track to start 2024,

The rumba is an upbeat & rhythmically syncopated flamenco style, ideal for dancing & festivities. It is an incredibly flexible genre, able to assimilate a multitude of influences such as Latin, Arabic or pop-contemporary. The rumba is arguably the most recognisable & widely listened to of all flamenco music. It’s lively tempo & irresistible groove, make it hugely popular around the world.

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

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Sheyana Releases Video for ‘Remarkable Man’

Tassie’s premiere Blues/Alt Country Band Premiere their new video Remarkable Man – at 11:59 Tonight

Reason being they are playing an exclusive show for cast, crew, friends and fans at Turners Beach on the North West Coast of Tasmania tonight, where the video will be shown as part of the performance ahead of the YouTube premiere.

Born in covid lockdown, Remarkable Man morphed from a quick trot, Johnny Cash sounding country & western ditty into a full throttle foot tapping country rock banger! While we were in the studio, recording this song, we changed up the feel. Our sound engineer/producer Russell Pilling suggested changing the original feel of Johnny Cash inspired Americana Country to a tougher AC/DC – Aussie Rock feel. And bingo, it was like a brand new song and the track fit like a glove into our latest EP ‘Ricochet’.

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And when I close my eyes, this is how the imagery of the song plays in my mind: “Show yourself friend or foe! And without warning, Remarkable Man lined up a double barrel shotgun in his right hand, took aim and pulled the trigger. Bullets of pleasure and pain cracked down the barrels at the same time. A direct hit! In his left hand was a double edged sword to finish the job, shining bright, cutting deep, demanding to be loved & loathed. Cover your trusting heart! Do you have the superpowers to survive the impact?”

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Sheyana gathers her band and they head towards Mt Gnomen to a property in the central coast of Tasmania. With the power of music and inspiration from their deep Tassie roots, they jam out a song about taking a bullet, and surviving! You can’t keep a good band down!

Filming & editing by Jesse Creedon at Readings Advertising.

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Silphie Releases Single ‘Sulpicia’s Birthday’

Featuring Silphie’s sublime highly trained vocals, a Harmonium, cello, viola and nylon string classical guitar, the debut release for this neo classical/world music act from the NSW Central Coast is sure to have ears lighting up. The quality of the recording, the players, the juxtaposition of the vocals switching from Latin to English and the overall sound of this track will put you in a medieval soundscape that could be part of a beautiful old film shot on 70mm.

Sulpicia was a female poet who lived in Rome in 40BC. Sulpicia’s Birthday is the second in a series of six poems. The story describes her ecstasy, as Sulpicia writes to her lover to tell him she has arranged for the two of them to spend her birthday together, frolicking in Rome.

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Photo Credit-Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele Archer graduated (with distinction) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Opera School and has performed nationally and internationally. She also attained a Masters in Applied Science, researching breathing techniques for opera singers from the University of Sydney.

Her research in breathing techniques was presented in Paris at the International Congress of Voice Teachers. Recently Michaele has been performing and studying in Los Angeles and Switzerland with vocal expert Robin de Haas and has been certified as an Advanced Breathing Coordination practitioner.

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Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele’s love of ancient instruments and language led her to the work of Sulpicia, a female poet who lived in Rome in the time of Augustus. ‘Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia’ is her latest recording project.

Sulpicia’s poems were included in a publication of the famous roman writer Tibullus and originally attributed to him. The mystery around Sulpicia as a young woman breaking taboos, writing of a secret love affair and the rich sound of the Latin text drew Michaele deep into the project. The poems form the text for the album. Written for harmonium, guitar, cello, viola and vocals, Michaele’s recordings embrace a tone palate that is analogue, raw and dark.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar), and Gab Stelle (viola). The name Silphie is inspired by the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine.

Stream the single

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Watch the official music video

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Video premiere

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Extra Time Releases New Album ‘Songs With Long Titles’

So it has been four years since our last album. We have been winnowing down the stories that we would like to tell and twelve new tunes made the cut. Taking badly recorded demos and some wildly inaccurate charts to Damien Gerard Studios in Gosford, Australia, we spent four days recording and knocking together arrangements into some kind of shape. Many of the musicians who played on the first record kindly agreed to go around again and try and make sense of what we had.

We had a few base principles. No samples, no Click, no Grid and no Autotune. Everything on the album was performed live by a musician. Our drummer was our click track. The whole album was recorded to 2” tape and then digitized into Pro Tools. The whole process was a lot of fun and hopefully that comes across in the music and the performance and in the behind the scenes videos that we will be releasing. We were looking for a high fi, harmonically interesting sound that would live up to all of the great records made by our heroes. Its up to you to decide whether we succeeded.

‘Songs With Long Titles’, the second album for Extra Time is a journey through intriguing stories of life, death, delusion, joy, passion and dreams in classic rock album format along with just enough jazz and blues influences to keep it interesting. Think Steely Dan meets Supertramp if you like references.

Lyricist, composer and singer Brendan McNamara has been honing his craft over many years and for this record teamed up with ex Los Angeles co producer and engineer Andrew Beck at Damien Gerard Studios in West Gosford. A veritable A List of session musicians were called in through the 20 plus days of recording and mixing.

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The record was mixed at the same facility by Brendan and Andrew and Mastered by Grammy Winner William Bowden. Now released to the world in double gatefold vinyl – 3 songs per side for maximum quality, and digitally across all platforms on 22 January 2024.

About Extra Time
When you think of classic albums names like Sting, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan and Supertramp spring to mind.  You might be surprised to know there is a Sydney based band that has been toiling away for some years creating some truly classic sounds and songs with a similar aesthetic and instrumentation.

The guys met at school and hit it off as a young band and writing team, but ever since have been involved in other projects and built careers locally and internationally. Extra Time became a creative outlet to record and release music they love.

The first album came out pre-covid, scoring some decent streaming figures and TV sync activity.

MUSICIAN CREDITS

Tim Firth                  Drums
Brett Hirst                Bass
Aaron Blakey            Keyboards
Peter Koopman        Guitar
Amanda Easton        Vocals
Sarina Jennings        Vocals
Paul Murchison        Trumpet
Matthew Keegan      Trombone
Bridget Darby           French Horn
Luke Bartley             Tuba
Jane Stanley             Strings
Andrew Beck            Tubular Bells

Songs With Long Titles is OUT NOW 

MUSIC VIDEO FOR SINGLE ‘WHERE IS THE LIGHT’

Stream/download here

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Foghorn Christmas Releases

Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Gareth Koch’s Instrumental Album & Daxton’s Homegrown Blues/Jazz Album

‘Exquisite & ancient music reimagined with a shimmer of jangle. An audiophile recording.’

Imagine timeless European Christmas music played instrumentally, as if upon a choir of lutes. Ancient & exquisite songs, deep within the human psyche, are now newly arranged by ARIA Award winning guitarist Gareth Koch. The interpretations reveal his signature blend of contemporary flair laced with medieval sensibilities.

The arrangements are both elegant & appealing, sidestepping any notion of commercialised Christmas clichés. Re-imagined as troubadour-like ballads or tender Austrian folk songs, each carol receives a unique treatment. The listener is invited into an array of soundworlds, ranging from the early medieval to English folk-revival.

The music of this album leads us away from the bustle of many modern realities. Instead, we are drawn into a gentler universe, filled with subtlety & nuance. In any year, at any time, this album presents a Christmas message we all need to hear.

Song Descriptions
Little Drummer Boy
This timeless mid-tempo classic Christmas carol is dealt with not just using multiple classical guitar parts but with hand percussion and rice shakers.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
A very old piece, dated to the 16th century and referred to in Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. Gareth recreates the vocal melody perfectly and becomes a terrific hum along piece. Bass guitar rounds out the arrangement featuring multiple guitars: acoustic, nylon string and electric creating a lush sonic tapestry.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & song writing.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects. Over recent years he has released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church).

All DSP’s and CD’s from official store below

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Daxton ‘On The Eve Of Christmas’

There is a good chance in any Christmas album you will hear the well known traditional songs about mistletoe, stockings and large jolly gentlemen in red suits. Many artists have been there but not all write their own songs. Daxton Monaghan has just released his own unique jazz style Xmas album for 2023.

After deciding last Christmas that there wasn’t an album of Christmas songs that suited him, Daxton has spent the past year slowly crafting a tasty array of melodic songs for his own special Christmas album.  Entitled ‘On The Eve Of Christmas’, the nine tracks include some well-known and Daxton family favourites: White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy and of course, Jingle Bells. The rest of the album is made up of Daxton’s own songs. These compositions have been inspired by Daxton’s family Christmas gatherings. Bouncy rhythms, heart warming lyrics, sing along harmonies, strings, brass and Daxton’s familiar vocals all feature.

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Let The Carols Sing
A classic sing along Xmas tune from bluesman Daxton. Some fine holiday vibes from the sax, beach boys style ‘ooh aah’ backing vocals and keys.

Little Drummer Boy
This timeless tune gets fine reworking by Daxton. Programmed drums and keys give the song a modern edge with Luke Gallen’s sax the icing on the cake.

About Daxton
Daxton has appeared at major festivals including the Sydney Blues & Roots and Tamworth Country Music Festival where he supported artists such as Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole. He also has had one of his tracks ‘Moody Liz’ featured in the popular American TV series Doll House.

Based on the Central Coast, Daxton is best described as a blues/rock artist with a twist of pop and rock.  He plays slide guitar rock/blues songs with a fresh and innovative sound. His last album, ‘Electric Satellite’ was released in 2022 and featured his signature heavy and rustic blues rock sound.

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Paul Scott Releases Single ‘Back To The Old Town’

As part of the rollout for his forthcoming 2024 album ‘Faster Than Witches’, The Insufferable one releases the 3rd offering in this 2023 trio of videos and singles already receiving rotation airplay on community stations, most notably Sydney’s 2SER Breakfast the past 10 days.

‘You spend so much time trying to escape and when you do, you’re dragged back for the best and worst possible reasons. I always resented my hometown, why? Because everything was happening everywhere else. I was a provincial; envious, frustrated and motivated to flee. And I did. Whenever I’d return, I held a glimmer of hope in my heart that I’d see the old town in a new light, that time would reveal virtues and treasures previously hidden to me and I’d come to appreciate it with a provincial pride enjoyed by those who stayed. It never happened. And yet, and yet… back to the old town I go.’

Paul Scott’s happy and uptempo look at a childhood spent in small town NZ. Paul’s trademark jangly and hooky indie pop guitars with some very insightful lyrics. The drums and bass lock it all down with a catchy sing along part rolling over and over in the track.

Paul Scott began his career in music, writing and playing bass in angular NZ group Pop Mechanix.  Despite court cases, a revolving cast of singers and multiple record labels, their single ‘Jumping Out A Window’ became a staple of New Zealand pop culture.

Relocating to Australia, Paul formed Montana with Ken Stewart (Mr Blonde), Michelle Margherita and Steve Melville. Their first release featured ‘Koolest Band’ which received national airplay and high rotation on JJJ. A brief tour of the USA and a performance at SXSW, led to ‘Koolest Band’ being included in the Hollywood movie ‘You Drive Me Crazy’. The subsequent album ‘Bubblegum Love’ was released in Australia, Spain, France and the USA.

Teaming up with Steve Melville (ex Mr Blonde and Montana), Paul and Steve have established a studio production relationship, playing on each other’s tracks (Stewart and Melville, The Likes of You) and coproducing The Insufferable Paul Scott’s well received 2021 album ‘Tea and Medals’ (which Melville also mixed).

Their most recent project is a closer collaboration with Melville adding drums, percussion and keyboards to Scott’s voice, guitar and bass, a line up very close in sound and feel to their youthful unit ‘Montana’, harkening back to their familiar themes of sweet harmonies, spikey lyrics, and intriguing production.

Latest  Videos

The Insufferable Paul Scott – Back To The Old Town is out NOW Nov 24
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Gareth Koch – Tangos del Gato

For the past 12 months Gareth has been recording and releasing tracks that explore the various forms of classical Spanish dance forms: Tango and Flamenco.  His output has built a solid base of keen listeners, now over 10,000 monthly listeners.

This latest release is a Tango.  Tangos is a dance form that developed primarily between Cadiz and Sevilla.  It is a 4/4 beat rhythm and has some reminiscence with certain Arabic rhythm and groove patterns.  The flamenco Tangos, has nothing to do with the Argentinian Tango.  The style of dancing is also sensual which includes much hip movement due to the Arabic belly dancing style.

Tangos, together with Bulerías are the two favourite forms of jamming and partying in all the Juergas (a flamenco party-jam) usually in celebration of a wedding, baptism or any joyous occasion.

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Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter.  He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Checkout the new single ‘Tangos del Gato’ (Foghorn/MGM) November 16

OR Direct link right here

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds – Anchor (New Release!)

Here is the first single from the forthcoming album plus a launch show

Anchor is an upbeat alt-country-pop song co-written by Bec and lyric collaborator CJ Shaw.  The track was recorded at Golden Retriever in Sydney, and at ANU Recording Studios in Canberra and was produced by Louis Montgomery (SAFIA, Peking Duk).

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(pic by Tony Mott)

If you are in Canberra the launch is

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds + CJ Shaw and the Blow Ins + The Burley Griffin at Live at the Polo, The White Eagle Polish Club, Canberra, Saturday 18th November 7pm
Tickets:

Bec Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has recorded over a dozen studio records while performing on some of the biggest stages and festivals around the country, including BIGSOUND, Groovin’ The Moo, and the Woodford Folk Festival, as well as playing alongside the likes of Gotye, The Darkness, and been on tour as main support for Regurgitator and Shonen Knife in her previous projects Fun Machine and Glitoris. The Lyrebirds, a five-piece alt-country pop band, is her most recent project.  Their delightful blend of artful songwriting, tasty earworms and layered harmonies that will leave you humming their tunes for days.

Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds -New single Anchor from forthcoming album 2024 – (Fog/MGM) Click below

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