Tag Archives: new album

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Blackfox’s Latest Album ‘Blackfox4’

Atlanta indie rock veterans Blackfox return with their fourth album, 4, a dynamic journey across alternative rock, new wave, punk, power pop, and prog. Built on driving guitars, soaring vocals, and atmospheric keys, the record delivers both punch and depth.

Song Descriptions

Beaming – A guitar and vocal powerhouse penned by Andy Gish.

Bring Your Fire / Jump – Punk-leaning, dance-ready tracks with an ‘80s edge.

Goodbye This Time – California-tinged breakup song with Monica Arrington’s standout vocal.

She Died Inside – Smart ‘80s power pop, in the vein of Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Squeeze.

Strangers – Atmospheric and heavy, a Pink Floyd-style homage.

Sacred – Dual-vocal prog romp shifting between 6/8 and 4/4.

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Blackfox plays sludgy, guitar-driven rock rooted in a grungy blues that’s dirty yet melodic. Their songs veer from sinister heaviness to melodic clarity, moving through hard-rocking punk energy, acoustic-driven ballads, and psych-ambient explorations.

Led by veteran multi-instrumentalist and sonic visionary Stacey Cargal, the band blends garage, blues, gospel, and country influences with elements of noise and space rock. Each track feels lived-in and dangerous, crafted with the confidence earned from years in the trenches.

Dark, eerie, and defiantly unclassifiable, Blackfox keeps listeners on edge while delivering a deeply satisfying, unapologetically raw musical experience.

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Fiona Joy Hawkins Releases Album ‘When Shadows Talk’

VINYL OUT NOW 180Gram Gatefold Audiophile LP
‘When Shadows Talk’ offers musical storytelling that explores inward and outward reflection. “Many of the pieces are about my creative process as an artist and bring to life behind-the-scenes workings of what it takes to dig deep enough to find valuable conversations.” – FJH

I went into a self-imposed lockdown for much of the writing to find my creative centre. This exile allowed me to explore what lies deep beneath the surface and is often passed over or suppressed, both personally and in the context of broader community discussion.

The project threw up many obstacles, starting with the need to find another piano on the first day of recording. My plans were plagued with multiple instrument and venue issues, but fortunately, those involved were committed to helping me bring the project to life. My thanks go to Peter Stevenson (Producer), Michael Luchich (Engineer), Wayne Stuart (Piano Maker) and Tony Prince (Piano Tuner).

As I look back, I can laugh at the comedy in all that went wrong: Three broken strings, a “buzz” in A above middle C (A4) caused by a screwdriver left inside the piano, wood-chopping, lawn-mowing, dog barking, council truck (road works), rain (tin roof), building frame expansion/contraction, power outage (for 2 hours), mic connection issues… and that didn’t include the piano player/composer hitting the wall from exhaustion and frustration!

Despite extensive hold-ups, we did it, and I hope you, as the listener, find a work of beauty that holds something of value.

ARIA nominated Australian classically trained Pianist, Composer and Singer, crossing genres from Neoclassical to New Age, Celtic and Jazz.

‘My greatest hope is that my music makes a difference.’ Fiona Joy Hawkins produces original ethereal music to soothe the soul. It is also a passion to make music videos to tell the stories of our lives and the natural world around us.

Living in rural Australia, Fiona has played at New York’s Carnegie Hall, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, Sydney Opera House, Echoes/NPR Radio, Grammy Museum & concert halls of China. Inspired by Chopin & Mendelssohn. Winner of International awards, including: ‘Grace’ on Grammy-winning album, and ARIA Finalist, IMA Winner.

“Anyone who can write music that transcends genre and moves into the realm of self-examination is a person to follow and enjoy. Wonderful!” – John M. Crossett, Aural Musings

“For me, she is a modern female Beethoven. I know that is very high praise, but I think many folks will be looking back many years from now, and she will still be current. That is what makes her music stand the test of time. Her albums play smooth, like a good book you just can’t put down, and yet before you know it is over.” – Dave Wilson AudioAficionado.org.

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Paul Scott Releases Album ‘For They Are Sailors Just Like You And Seasick Just The Same’

‘For They Are Sailors Just Like You and Seasick Just the Same’ by The Insufferable Paul Scott is a tender, reflective album that explores the shared vulnerabilities of being human. With warm arrangements, understated melodies, and quietly affecting lyrics, it drifts through themes of connection, uncertainty, and emotional resilience. Honest and gently poetic, the record speaks to those navigating their own inner weather—reminding us we’re all a little unsteady sometimes, and that’s okay.

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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.

Scott has since plied bass for various Australian acts, playing everywhere from community halls and malls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the Sydney Opera House. 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’. “I was looking for the kind of pop thrill I used to get from great Aussie indie bands such as The Falling Joys, Smudge, The Hummingbirds, pop thrills… you know?” says Scott.

Recently some of Paul’s releases from the early part of his recoding career came back to him. This presented a great opportunity to reissue them in the modern music formats. Originally released in 2017 on legendary Half-a-Cow label by his band ‘The Likes Of You’, the album has been remixed and remastered for reissue in 2025.

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Christina Crofts Releases Album ‘Best Of Bottleneck’

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER NUMBER 1 ALBUM ON THE AUSTRALIAN BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO CHART

“This is not a concept album, but rather a nonstop ride of electric entertainment from start to finish” –https://skopemag.com/2025/10/04/christina-crofts-presents-best-of-bottleneck

“Australian blues-rock powerhouse Christina Crofts has once again proven why she’s one of the most exciting talents in the scene with the release of her compilation album Best of Bottleneck” – Mary Smith https://www.planetsinger.net/christina-crofts-shines-with-best-of-bottleneck-a-celebration-of-slide-guitar-mastery-exclusive-review/

“Crofts doesn’t just play slide guitar — she makes it speak” – https://www.dailymusicroll.com/entertainment/christina-crofts-shines-with-best-of-bottleneck.html

“The unique quality of the album stems from its complete departure from any discernible trend – she delves into rock’s roots, its jagged edges, the noise, and the sense of liberation” – 
https://www.tumblr.com/beachsloth/796306365150806016/christina-crofts-a-wild-unhinged

“Blues for the blues fan, for the rock fan, for the discerning music fan, for those looking for something authentic, something new, something as an antidote to the shallow sound of the modern music world” – Dave Franklin
https://dancing-about-architecture.com/best-of-bottleneck-christina-crofts-reviewed-by-dave-franklin/

“At a time when the electric guitar is making a huge comeback at the forefront of music culture, this record is a much welcome reminder of the power of the 6 strings!” – https://thebandcampdiaries.com/post/796311474617335808/christina-crofts-presents-best-of-bottleneck

 

 ‘It’s no secret I love playing guitar, but playing slide guitar is something extra special and really feels powerful and thrilling, and it has always been a standout feature on my recordings and especially in my live shows. It grabs attention and I always have people coming up after our sets who are in awe of the bottleneck stuff, so I thought releasing a compilation of my best bottleneck tunes would be a great opportunity to showcase this aspect of my playing and writing.’– Christina

The opening track “Voodoo Queen” is a raucous, swampy rocker. The lyrics were inspired after reading about a supposed ‘voodoo queen’ named Julie Brown who lived in Louisiana. She was rumoured to sit on her porch singing eerie songs that predicted her own death and that she’d take the whole town with her when she died. Apparently, on the day of her funeral, a ferocious hurricane came through the town killing around 300 people!

‘Breakaway’ is from her 2016 EP and debuted at #1 in the Amrap AirIt regional charts. ‘Gonna Find a Way’ was nominated in the top 5 in the blues category in the MusicOz Awards.

Christina Crofts: singer, songwriter, guitarist, slide guitarist and her band were the winners of the 2022 Sydney Blues Society Blues Challenge.

Born in the Australian coastal town of Coffs Harbour to her Norwegian immigrant father and Australian mother, Christina’s family moved to Brisbane where in her early teens her passion for playing guitar really grew. She moved to Sydney where she met and began guitar lessons with and eventually married guitarist Steve Crofts.

Honing her guitar playing skills in various bands over many years, Christina’s trademark sound and style began to emerge. Christina has been performing on the Australian music scene for many years as the Christina Crofts Band and earlier as Croftstown Traffic.

She has performed at major festivals such as Thredbo Blues Festival, Narooma Blues Festival, Mitchell Creek Rock ‘n Blues Festival, Bimbadgen Festival, Australian Blues Festival, Great Southern Blues & Roots Festival, Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, International Blues Challenge Memphis USA, and numerous venues across Australia. She has released 4 albums/EP’s with the most recent two releases charting in the Top 10 of the Australian Blues & Roots Charts and had a #1 on the AMRAP Regional Chart.

Earlier this year Christina started compiling a collection of fan favourites from her previous releases and live shows. This collection has been remastered under the title of ‘Best Of Bottleneck’ highlighting her love, and skill on slide guitar.

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CB Ghost Announces Tour Dates

UPCOMING SHOW DATES!

20th August – Mumbo Jumbo’s, Terrigal, NSW – Event Link

28th August – Bevanda Bar, Wollongong – Event Link

4th September – Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville, NSW – Event Link

5th September – The Savoy Bar and Music Lounge, Long Jetty, NSW – Event Link

6th September – Society City, Wollongong, NSW – Event Link

11th September – The Tote Hotel, Collingwood, VIC – Event Link

12th September – The Barwon Club, South Geelong, VIC – Event Link

13th September – Club Palm Beach, Palm Beach, NSW – Event Link

The album, as the title suggests, goes beyond the singles released so far, taking the listener on an audible journey from Bob Dylan-like stripped back melancholy tracks such as Garage Restitution, to foot tapping bangers like One Wave at a Time. And even, sea shanty violin-filled duets like Anchor, all the way to full blown rock beast in Carry Me Home which closes the album with a bang (cover of 80s Punk legends The Slaves tune with singer and lyricist Rik L. Rik).

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CB Ghost, a songwriter with an honest simple folk-rock style that captures the essence of a complicated existence with singalong tunes and poetic lyrics and sometimes a banger beat. A former pro surfer, CB Ghost is driven, bold and dedicated to his evolving sound and a deep love of blue-collar folk. His background provides him with a deep connection to toe tapping Celtic, country and straight-ahead heartfelt rock music mixed with salt water from the ocean.

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Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Album ‘Songs From Atlantis’

In their latest album, Songs from Atlantis, Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch re-imagine deities and figures from antiquity. Their album creates an esoteric impression of an ancient mythical kingdom, when Poseidon ruled the undersea and the Augur interpreted the will of the gods.

The music on Songs from Atlantis is in turn mystical, powerful and reflective. The textures range from glistening harmonics to diving liquid slides. Some of the music is almost aqueous, with resonator guitars producing a type of whale song while lyres evoke an idea of Ancient Greece.

Kilbey and Koch have created a highly contrasting collection of songs and moods, ranging from the haunting tenderness of Calliope’s Song to the grinding majesty of Hyperion’s Oar. Shimmering and water-like, the music and lyrics evoke the lives of ancient gods, servant girls and soothsayers.

Atlantis, an island mentioned in Plato’s works, is described as an empire that ruled all parts of the world. After falling out of favour with the deities the city is subsumed into the Atlantic Ocean.

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What unites the musical spheres of an Australian rock icon and a Viennese-trained classical musician?

The answer lies in a shared aesthetic and approach to their craft. There is a wistful and haunting lilt to the Kilbey/Koch songs, as they float seamlessly through a narrative of fallen crowns and enchanted gardens.  To compliment the poignant lyrics is a delicious instrumentation, weaving and waif-like, alternately brimming with rhythmic drive.

Steve Kilbey, also known as the frontman of veteran rock band The Church, has generated a lifetime of beautifully crafted songs. His subtly esoteric lyrics create an aura of mystery, posing questions and teasing the listener with riddle-like answers.

Gareth Koch is a European-born classical guitarist and composer who has recorded most of the major repertoire. His compositional style reflects a lifelong engagement with classical, folk, rock and flamenco music. Although not easy to define, Koch’s music is often characterised by medieval gestures, influenced by the unrequited longing style of the French Trouveres (singer-poets) of the 12th century.

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The Mezcaltones Score #2 Place on ABARAC Charts!!

Congratulations to The Mezcaltones for scoring the #2 debut spot for the new album on the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart

View the Chart HERE: http://abarac.com.au/australian-charts-2025.php

“They’re baaaaaack!! Hell, they never left. Australian surf-cowboy-Country-Rockers The Mezcaltones just released their fifth album entitled Big Hat, No Cattle. While the phrase describes someone who dresses the part without doin’ any of the work, it sure as hell ain’t a self-descriptor. If anything, this band wears their big hats and herds the cattle, then fixes dinner at the chuck wagon for the whole damn posse.”
– Wiley Koepp
“Big Hat No Cattle fuses twangy outlaw country, surf rock energy and cinematic storytelling, delivering a high octane listening experience from start to finish”
https://www.wokechimp.com/music/the-mezcaltones-big-hat-no-cattle
“Original, extraordinary, genuine, distinctive, and proves to create an attractive world of its own”
“A blistering collection of songs that wander across a landscape that is both nostalgic and celebratory while continuing to make such music relevant and revered in the modern age”
– Dave Franklin
“An electrifying, genre-defying masterpiece, proving that The Mezcaltones are not just keeping the spirit of Hillbilly Surf Music alive—they’re reinventing it for a whole new generation”
– Jacob Aiden
“Another milestone in their impressive career, an album that promises to be a fan favorite and a staple in the alt-country panorama. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their sound, The Mezcaltones’ latest album is a must-listen”
– Grant Williamson

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Northern Beaches Band The Mezcaltones perform regularly at Sydney venues – The Orient (The Rocks), Marrickville Bowlo, Collaroy Beach Club, Brighton RSL to name a few. They have also performed at eight Tamworth Country Music Festivals; Groundwater CMF; Blues on Broadbeach; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; and Greazefest.

Their sound can be difficult to describe – mixing original songs with rare tracks you might find on Robert Rodriguez/Tarantino movies or B-Grade 60’s Sci-Fi Flicks the guitars are richly infused with surf tones and 60’s Twang served up with a healthy dose of Cowpunk brashness. One booker described them as “Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music”. One punter said “lf Johnny Cash surfed he’d have sounded like you guys”.

Their antics are captivating. The band is fronted by vocalist Col Padre (who engages in tongue in cheek choreography) and dancer/singer/percussionist Mimi. Mimi is renowned for her routines involving gymnastic ribbons used as whips, hula hoops, fans and whatever else she can lay her hands on.

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The Mezcaltones Release Album ‘Big Hat No Cattle’

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Big Hat, No Cattle is the fifth studio album from the Mezcaltones and it comes together for an early 2025 release.

The Mezcaltones’ songs are mined from the rich seam of Alt Country, Roots, Rockin’ Blues and Surf Guitar with a nod to two of their favourite artists; and it’s all wrapped up in their inimitable Mezcaltones Hillbilly Surf Music Style.

Big Hat, No Cattle was recorded at Damien Gerard studios in West Gosford with Andrew Beck at the engineering controls; mixed by Russell Pilling; mastered by William Bowden; produced by the Mezcaltones; and artwork by Stephen Awdry & Melinda Nassif.

The CD is available for purchase at gigs and The Mezcaltones website or can be streamed via your favourite online format.

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Northern Beaches Band The Mezcaltones perform regularly at Sydney venues – The Orient (The Rocks), Marrickville Bowlo, Collaroy Beach Club, Brighton RSL to name a few. They have also performed at eight Tamworth Country Music Festivals; Groundwater CMF; Blues on Broadbeach; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; and Greazefest.

Their last album ‘Agave Soirée’ entered the Australian Blues and Roots airplay charts at #7 before spending five months embedded in the Top 20.

Their sound can be difficult to describe – mixing original songs with rare tracks you might find on Robert Rodriguez/Tarantino movies or B-Grade 60’s Sci-Fi Flicks the guitars are richly infused with surf tones and 60’s Twang served up with a healthy dose of Cowpunk brashness. One booker described them as “Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music”. One punter said “lf Johnny Cash surfed he’d have sounded like you guys”.

Their antics are captivating. The band is fronted by vocalist Col Padre (who engages in tongue in cheek choreography) and dancer/singer/percussionist Mimi. Mimi is renowned for her routines involving gymnastic ribbons used as whips, hula hoops, fans and whatever else she can lay her hands on. Big Daddy K from 2RRR’S Sydney Sounds show described the Mezcaltones as the best live band in Sydney.

The costumes make for an outstanding visual – four guys dressed as party hire Cowboys and two girls dressed as Spanish gunslingers with several minor costume changes throughout the show involving masks, veils and mirror shades. Sounds corny… sure is.

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Steve Kilbey & The Winged Heels Release Album ‘The Road To Tibooburra’

Steve Kilbey: During the early days of Covid 19, I met a guy called Julian who asked me to be in a short silent film he was making called ‘Space Junk’. ‘Space Junk’ was about a stranger (moi) who comes to a remote-ish Australian town during the pandemic and has a number of adventures including aliens and angry villagers and other various kinds of weirdness.

The film got kinda finished and had a couple of screenings in a room but then seemed to be abandoned and never properly completed. Julian then repurposed it for a musical about a washed-up and ageing rockstar called Lord Jim (moi again) who takes a strange crew off to Tibooburra searching for his comeback.

Julian asked me to write all of the songs for the musical, which I did and enjoyed doing too. I recorded them all with a wonderful band of players who also appear on my albums 11 Women and The Hall of Counterfeits, whom I dubbed the Winged Heels.

Well then after sitting in the can for ages I have decided to release this weird collection of tunes. They are in no particular order so you’ll just have to figure it all out for yourself. Or just make up your own plot and story and sit back and enjoy. I have also thrown into the mix some contemporaneous songs I was working on with the Heels at the time but I now look upon them as perhaps part of the musical and let you try to make some sense of all this.

Steve Kilbey, band singer, songwriter, bassist, painter, writer, poet, actor, sage, dispenser of
arcane wisdom is one of Australia’s most loved artists.

The popular song “Under the Milky Way” won the “Best Single of the Year” award at the
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards event in 1989. For his work with
The Church, Kilbey then accepted, together with his bandmates, an induction into the ARIA
Hall of Fame.

Steve got his first bass guitar at age 16, joined a band at 18 and went on to form a number of different groups before forming The Church in 1980. He has gone on to release many solo albums and collaborations with recording artists from around the globe.

“Kilbey’s solo recordings are challenging and evocative. . . joyous and dreamy to saturnine
and sardonic” – Ian McFarlane.

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