Tag Archives: New EP
Grander Things Debut EP MASH
Having played together in various bands since the late eighties, Brent Williams (Pop Mechanix, The Moon), Rhys Lewis-Smith (The Moon, Mr Blonde) and Bruce Thomas (The Moon, Greg Brady Overdrive, Ancient Marinators) reconnected and their weekly jam night recordings were sometimes joined by friend and guitarist Iain Martin.
The collection of tracks quickly grew and they all agreed that some were too good to leave in the vault. Whilst still just a collection of cool ideas, that felt good to play and the thought that this could turn out to be something more than a weekly jam session slowly took hold. The lads agreed it was time to search for a singer/songwriter.
They didn’t have to look far. Longtime friend Liz Clear (The Amazing Woolloomooloosers, Yeah Yeah Yeah, Clear) had vocals with attitude that perfectly matched their brand of epic indie rock.
Checkout the Video for NO Disco
Liz picked up the challenge and was inspired to lay some tracks up with words and melodies. Before they knew it, they had a crackerjack bag of hits.
They formed the band, Grander Things, fine-tuned their set and picked four of their favourites to record with Dave Trumpmanis at his studio in St Peters.
Grander Things wear their influences on their sleeves, but their sound is equally hard to pin down. A combination of all that has lit their fuse; rock, punk, new wave and pop.
Mixed and mastered by Russell Pilling from Damien Gerard Studios, the result is their four-track debut EP, MASH. Short and sharp. It delivers.
Born from the last four decades of rock, punk, new wave and pop all mashed up, these songs are filled with big guitars and soaring melodies that hook you right from the start.
No Disco:
An assault on the senses. This song captures the pain of romance when communication breaks down.
Cold War:
Haunting depiction of a friendship turned sour.
Running:
Classic rock breakup song. You can’t come running to me tells it like it is.
Carry Me:
Not for the faint hearted. This song is all about empowerment.
Streaming:
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The Insufferable Paul Scott New EP Radio Station
Paul Scott unleashes his ‘Insufferable’ Persona on the airwaves once again this time with the most friendly of Radio Tunes – titled “Radio Station”
The Insufferable Paul Scott (The Likes of You, Montana, John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special, The Bad Machines and on into the dim recesses of the Indie hive-mind’s faltering memory…) has plied bass and guitar for various Australian acts, playing everywhere from community halls and malls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the Sydney Opera House. Most recently Scott released last year’s lovingly reviewed and widely supported by community radio, indiepop album ‘Surrender to Robots’.
Radio Station is the next instalment.
Says Scott: “When I was coming up (pre-internet!) the only way you could hear alternative music was on independent and community radio stations: Joy Division, HuskerDu,The Boys Next Door, The Replacements, The Waterboys… I’d hear an amazing song on the radio and have fun hunting for it at the local record emporium. Unfortunately when it came to remembering the details of the track I’d just heard I was less reliable than Shazam: I once spent a week trying to find a Lou Reed song called ‘Velvet Underground’ only to be set straight by the record store clerk “it’s a band not a song, you idiot”.”
Radio Station – What’s it about?
It’s about 3 minutes and 8 seconds.
Radio Station Extended Play Credits
Radio Station (Scott) Mixed by Craig Porteils at Eargasim
Chasing Shadows (Scott) Arranged and mixed by timEbandit Powles at Space Junk V
The Collapse (Scott) Mixed by David Trumpmanis at Nonlinear
A Golden Calf (Scott) Arranged and mixed by Steve Melville at Burning Boat
Produced by the Insufferable Paul Scott for Wait Until Your Mother Hears About This (c) 2020
The Insufferable Paul Scott – Radio Station (EP) is out NOW through Foghorn/MGM
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For further information, and Interview requests please contact:
Marshall@foghornrecords.net
0416 143 030
Kaijin Solo New EP Universal Love
Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.
Universal Love is an experiment in letting other people find their way into his music.
The idea came about from jamming original songs live with a host of different people on the local open mike circuit. The result is an electric mix of ideas that provides a solid rocking sound-scope for the lyrics.
Mark Cashin and Jake Hunt from The Little Hussies were the collaborators this time round, with Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios engineering. The combination of talent without prima donna egos made the sessions into a fun day with a fantastic output and every song grew in dimension.
The EP was Mastered by Andrew Beck.
Universal Love – “When we can think, speak and act the way we want to be treated ourselves, the power of love will exceed the love of power and the world will know peace.” Is what Universal Love is about, it was inspired by a quote from Jimi Hendrix “When the power of love exceeds the love of power the world will know peace.
Into the Dream was written the morning after a Ryan Adams concert, thinking about how much things has changed since the beginning of the century.
The Republic is a tribute to the people and their achievements, and a wake up to call to Canberra to get on with it.
Spirit on the Wind is an ode to the Spirit of Freedom.
Like Sunshine is a love song to music itself.
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Black Aces – Never Change(official)
Sydney’s blues-rock-rockabilly act Toadvine release new EP
Toadvine are a five-piece blues-rock outfit hailing from Sydney, Australia, who dish up a unique blend of blues-tinged rock’n’roll with generous lashings of rockabilly, country and fuzzed-out garage sounds. Their new five-track EP is called Love Is A Dangerous Game.
The band members draw from hugely diverse musical influences, and together pull together a broad musical palette. At the helm is vocalist Mandy Newton, accompanied by a formidable group of seasoned veterans of the rock scene both here and abroad, including guitarists Scott Mackenzie and Phill Salera, drummer Simon Carnovale and bassist Jeff (El Jefe) Newton.
With influences ranging from the legendary Aretha Franklin, Samantha Fish, Chris Stapleton, The Gun Club, Hillbilly Moon Explosion through to Led Zeppelin, Link Wray and The Baby Animals, Toadvine hurl down the riffs and paint them with their own inimitable style. From Mandy’s huge voice, which has been compared to legends Maggie Bell and Susan Marshall, to fuzzed-out, tremolo laced chords wrung from Scotty’s tele and Phill’s sweet and melodic slide and lead work, all held together with a rhythm section that’s all bite, no bark, Toadvine are a formidable unit, and don’t mind letting people know!
With countless live shows under their belts, in late 2019 Toadvine decided to hit the studios once again to record the follow-up to their previous EP, City Livin’.
The five track EP Love Is A Dangerous Game is set for release on 25 October 2019.
TRACK BY TRACK:
Stones and Bones – The EP opener is a rip snorting bluesy garage rock tale about love gone wrong and revenge, featuring a blues harp solo courtesy of Celia Curtis.
Dead Man’s Clothes – cool country Johnny Cash vibe
Dirty Lies – garage rock with a peppering of country roots
More Than Anyone – fun bar-room classic about boy meets girl
Black Naomi – a blues tinged rockabilly sound with the swagger of the Stray Cats
Toadvine will launch the EP at Moshpit Bar, 642A King Street (south end), Newtown on Saturday November 9.
Download or stream from October 25:
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The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP
When describing The Blind Pilots it’s easy to say the same old things about being an explosive four piece Australian Roots, Rock and Blues outfit from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. But the truth is all four members have known each other in previous successful bands, which gives them an advantage in the creative songwriting process. The four friends share a close rapport and have a laugh together every week. They say, “There’s never a dull moment in rehearsals!”
The band members’ camaraderie is largely based on the fact they grew up listening to the same music and share common influences like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Led Zepplin and Midnight Oil. Together they form a band making the most of dirty slide guitar, hard hitting drums, solid bass grooves, accompanied by a soulful vocal drenched in foot stompin’ harmonica riffs. “We all have an urge to push each other harder to get the best out of our muscianship and are driven to create those magic moments,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Owen.
In a live format, the band produce an energetic show full of intense commitment, whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe.
The lead track of their brand new EP is called Tell Me I’m Wrong, which offers frontman Owen’s perspective on the current political landscape. Accompanying tracks are Telephone – a hard-hitting blues rock tune about breakdowns in relationships, complete with dirty blues harp and riffing electric guitar. The swampy southern blues rock style of Howling at the Moon fits perfectly with the lyrical lament about longing and yearning.
Between them, their experiences have seen them performing at festivals including Byron Blues, Woodford Folk, Festival Of Sun, Echuca Blues Festival, Mud Run, Harley Days, Throttle Roll, Sydney Blues Festival and has found them on the Australian Blues charts. With new ideas consistently being brought to the table this group will continue to make inroads in the Blues and Roots World and be one to watch.
The Blind Pilots members are: Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vocals; Matt Hough – Drums; Ryan Stone – Harmonica; Daniel Changas – Bass/Vocals
“Owen brings the spark, Matt is the conductor and reconstructs, Changas adds the bottom end whilst Stony waves the magic which is the icing on the cake.”
The Blind Pilots EP is out on August 30.
Download or stream from August 30:
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Melissa Black’s Eden Project Makes Mark Overseas
Melissa Black has just wrapped a series of interviews in the US and has also scored several enthusiastic reviews for her recent EP release, The Eden Project.
Melissa told Indie Music Discovery in the US, “I’ve had an amazing experience recording my new album with Riversong Music at The Back 45. Andy and Scott are an incredibly synergistic duo in the studio. They’re not afraid to push the envelope and the entire creative process is inspiring. I have found my authentic voice and sound.”
The Bandcamp Diaries enthused, “Fallen Angel has a cool 70s throwback sound, which reminds me of artists like Fleetwood Mac. I love Melissa’s energetic vocals and the overall cohesion of the instrumental track!”
The Red Carpet Living blog said, “In a world riddled with destruction, when something pure comes along – you feel it in every pore of your fibre. Because purity and the really good stuff – is translucent. Just like Eden. Her voice is like milk and honey on the radio waves of empty rasp, forced empowerment, and seductive allure.”
Melissa Black – The Eden Project EP is out now on Riversong.
Download or stream The Eden Project EP now:
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Brisbane’s Team Utopia release double A-side called Comin’ Back.
Building on the success of the singles and videos of ‘Strips Off My Soul’ and ‘Calling Out To The Masses’, Brisbane’s Team Utopia release their new double A Side ‘Addiction’ and ‘Waiting for You’ under the apt title ‘Comin’ Back’.
The songs were written by Team Utopia and inspired by broken love and personal battles. Addiction is a slice of classic hard-paced up-tempo rock from the dynamic Brissy outfit. Taking a leaf from their popular live set you can almost hear the punters singing along and moving on the dance floor to this tune.
The second of the double-A sides is Waiting For You, a more laidback rock tune featuring some classy female backing vocals. Lead singer Danny’s world-weary vocals tell the story.
The ‘Comin’ Back’ release was recorded at Star Audio Studios in Brisbane, tracked and engineered by BJ McGuinness. The songs were then lovingly mixed by Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios, while vocals were added in Sydney.
Final touches from Ex USA mastering guru Andrew Beck were added on the NSW Central Coast to add the final polish for radio and release.
And there you have it, another killer release from this exciting band!
Catch Team Utopia live soon at Rockin 4 The Homeless events. The band will be doing their bit for the very worthy The Breakfast Club charity.
Rockin’ 4 The Homeless with You Am I, The Superjesus, Diana Anaid and more!
Friday, 30th August 2019 – Gold Coast RSL Club, Southport
Saturday, 31th August 2019 – Picnic Hill, Cnr Oxley & Anzac, Redcliffe
More local tour dates will be added soon. The band are also in negotiations for a USA West Coast run in February 2020.
Comin’ Back featuring Addiction and Waiting For You is out July 12 through Foghorn Records/MGM.
Stream or Download the new songs from July 12:
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Melissa Black – The Eden Project EP
Melissa Black is a musician and songwriter with a strong connection to nature, as evident on her new release,
The Eden Project EP.
For the past decade Melissa has been a staple on the original music scene steadily gathering accolades and building a loyal fan base. A chance meeting with singer/songwriter Scott Bird led to a production meeting with Riversong Music and the team was assembled to work on ‘The Eden Project’. Pre-production began mid 2016 and tracking started soon after. As the project developed the musical landscape was revealed and the imagery surrounding the songs came into sharp focus. The production team then developed filming ideas around the stories that were emerging from the songs, after spending time as participating artists at Tarkine in Motion 2017. The quality of the recordings and visual concepts led to Melissa becoming a Riversong Music family artist and a valuable contributor to their environmental arts project.
Melissa says her passion for music began when she was very young. “I used my older brothers record collection for ages, where I discovered Jethro Tull, Cream, Deep Purple, Led Zep all the classics, then I discovered (I think much to my brothers disgust!) Queen and I was off on my own adventure.”
These early influences still inspire her sound today. “There was a lot of hammond organ in my brothers collection which I loved the sound of, then Queen with the piano sealed the deal.”
The title track, ‘Eden’ shines as a key single from the EP, with an enticing piano, strings and guitar intro leading into the full instrumentation evoking comparisons to Neko Case’s album Hell On and Tori Amos.
The hooky chorus of ‘Fallen Angel’ sets it up as a great radio track and the song has already found a warm response on the soundslikecafe network.
A music mentor teacher for children and teens, Melissa is inspired by a broad musical pool. She cites her favourite artists as “most definitely the story tellers”, listing Freddie Mercury, Jeff Lynn, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Regina Spektor, Elton John for the melodies and Bernie Taupin for the stories, Kate Miller-Heidke, Aurora Jane and Diana Anaid.
Melissa is also a part of an exciting new short film called ‘Merging with takayna’, launching in July, which is part of the Tarkine In Motion project co-ordinated through the environmental action group of former Greens Senator and environmentalist Bob Brown. Takayna is the name of the Tasmanian wilderness also known as Tarkine – Australia’s largest temperate rainforest which is the habitat of many of Australia’s most iconic animals, some of which are endangered.
Check out Melissa talking about the Tarkine and her release on 3CR Melbourne here.
Piano driven songs supported by solid groove, understated guitars and a conversational vocal delivery which evokes the rich Australian landscape and an empowering feminine essence ~ Heart Light Music
The Eden Project EP is out now through Riversong Music.
The video for Eden will be released on the 10th of May, with shows to follow in July surrounding the Tarkine in Motion exhibition in Hobart.
More tour dates below:
2nd May – Guest Host Australian Songwriters Association – Ground N Sound’, 6/23 Musgrave Avenue, Chirn Park Gold Coast 6.30 – 9.30pm.
17th May – Album Showcase – Boho & Co Prospero St, South Murwillumbah NSW
18th May – Launch of New Shop + Album Showcase – Boho & Co Prospero St, South Murwillumbah NSW
29th May – Murwillumbah Farmers Markets (Album Showcase)
Murwillumbah Showgrounds NSW 7am – 11am
6th June – Ground n Sound (Australian Songwriters Association)
Chirn Park, Gold Coast QLD 6.30pm
8th June – Valiant Music (Instore Album Showcase)
Brunswick Heads NSW 11am – 12pm
10th August – Album showcase for Fundraising Support for Cancer Function – House of Gabriel, Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum NSW
August 24th – Ground n Sound (Album Showcase)
Chirn Park, Gold Coast QLD
August 25th – Sphinx Rock Cafe (Album Showcase)
3220 Kyogle Road, Mount Burrell NSW 12pm
Sunday 1st September – The Nook Cafe, 87-89 Tweed Coast Road, Hastings Point, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Bookings 02 6617 6779
Friday 6th September – Marty’s at Caba, 35 Tweed Coast Road, Bogangar (Cabarita), 6.30pm – 9.30pm Bookings 02 6676 3955
Sunday 15th September – Uki Buttery Markets, Uki Village, Kyogle Road from 9.30am to 1.30pm
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