Tag Archives: New releases

Big Merino Release Single ‘Long Time’

November 16, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Composed in the aftermath of the rejection of the Voice Referendum, the song reflects on the dispossession of Australia’s indigenous people. The vote seems an attempt to deny the truth, the theft of land and resources. Alex “To me, the referendum was a gentle request for respect and inclusion. The fact that it failed demonstrates how far we have to travel as a nation and asks the question, how long will that process will take? Going on past experience, I would say it’s going to take a long time.”

Alex worked doing photos on APY lands some years ago. The cover image, taken during those sessions, is of a church in Indulkana. The hometown of the famous portraitist, Vincent Namatjira: Archibald Prize Winner and Gina Rinehart’s least favourite artist. In the recording the band tried to get a sense of space using acoustic instruments to reflect the feeling of the vastness of those places.

About

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’ their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Their live sound is a classic combination of acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, bass and drums. Their recordings are fleshed out with multiple guitar layers, gospel style harmonies, Hammond organ, piano, horns and percussion.

In 2018 the band released their debut album ‘Suburban Wildlife’, made two cinematic film clips with director Alan Harca, and performed all around Sydney. The band has done numerous Interviews & live-to-air performances including ABC 702 & RN, 2SER Dirt Music, Radio Skid Row, Eastside Radio, Aussie Music Weekly and 2BBB. The single ‘Black Cockatoos’ was top 10 on AMRAP Metro and Regional playlists.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring, Videos

Paul Scott ‘Saturday Morning TV’ (Official Music Video)

Video November 13, 2024 Marshall Cullen

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘La Rumba Flamenca’

November 7, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The joyous flamenco rumba is an immensely popular style, stemming from Cuba by way of the port of Cadiz in Spain. There are many types of Rumba which often share the characteristic of incorporating popular musical themes within their structure. In ‘La Rumba Flamenca’ the traditional melody Spanish Romance is integrated into the opening measures.

Set in the traditional format of three repeated sections, ‘La Rumba Flamenca’ can be described as an erotic, mischievous and salsified dance. Rumba is closely related to the flamenco tango and is one of the most accessible flamenco styles, danceable and lighthearted.

About Gareth

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.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Kalen Hogan Releases New Single ‘Mindless’

November 1, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Kalen is moved by the gritty side of life and respects those who are struggling with inherited or self-induced negative states of mind. ‘Mindless’ comes from that state of mind, lost, isolated, describing hallucinogenic episodes and schizophrenic-like symptoms.

Kalen says ‘‘Mindless’ is a song about mental illness. It describes hallucinogenic episodes and schizophrenic like feelings. We are taken on a journey with a person who is well into literally losing their mind.’

About Kalen

Kalen Hogan debuted onto the local Central Coast music scene in late 2022 and proudly launched his debut album ‘Isolation’ in May 2023. Keen to kick off the new year with new singles, he released ‘On The Phone’ and ‘Right There’ earlier this year.

As an alternate indie rock singer-songwriter, Kalen proudly admits to being inspired by the 1990’s grunge movement, with a real reverence for bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains. Kalen sings about the complexities of everyday life, with an open heart and keen observing eye. His pure vocal tone has been described as sounding reminiscent of Thom Yorke from Radiohead and the late Jeff Buckley.

You can catch Kalen performing live at various venues and events across the Coast.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Paul Scott Releases Single ‘Saturday Morning TV’

October 24, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Saturday Morning TV, do you remember, would you go back? They are always selling tickets to the past, would you retreat to the days of innocence and simplicity? The past is a foreign country and we, with our poisoned knowledge, will not be welcomed. We are forever fated to fall forward into our mutual futures; what was felt then will never be felt again. Change consumes us and as some things degrade, we can also evolve, we can burnish our souls. The synths sounds are relics, the guitars refer to a digital past, all matt gloss and sharp edges.

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. An album has been completed and tracks will be released over the next few months on Foghorn, home to most of their releases to date.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Bossa Nova Latina’

October 10, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Bossa Nova is a relaxed style of Samba originating in Brazil. It is characterised by a calm syncopated rhythm with fingerstyle guitar chords mimicking the beat of a samba groove. A characteristic of the style is the use of unconventional chords & inventive harmonies. The popularity of bossa nova has helped to renew samba and contributed to the modernisation of Brazilian music.

Gareth continues the tradition of synthesising samba rhythm on the classical guitar for this track. His signature guitar sound evokes a smooth & effortless feel while the track is also punctuated with Spanish & flamenco flourishes.

About Gareth

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Fleur Wiber Releases ‘Orderves’ (Remaster 2024)

October 10, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Step into a musical odyssey where cosmic vibes meet the heartfelt twang of alt-country. Fleur Wiber, the luminary songstress, invites you on a celestial journey through her soul-stirring melodies and poetic lyrics. Her voice, a captivating blend of stardust and raw emotion, transports listeners to a cosmic frontier where love, longing and the vast mysteries of the universe converge.

About Fleur Wiber

Born in Hamilton, Victoria, and now based in the enchanting coastal town of Port Fairy, Fleur’s artistic roots trace back to her studies in sculpture, performance, and installation at Sydney College of the Arts, where she explored themes of self-determinism and freedom. Influenced by musical luminaries such as Cat Power, Sharon van Etten, Wilco, and Fiona Apple, Fleur’s music blends cosmic country, alt-country rock, and indie pop with a unique touch. Drawing from her personal adventures, Fleur infuses her songs with authenticity and depth, inviting listeners on a heartfelt and introspective journey.

Having graced stages like the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Nundle Rocks earlier this year, Fleur embarked on an exhilarating Southeast Asian tour in 2024, captivating audiences in Bangkok and beyond. Her performances are characterized by warmth, honesty, and a genuine connection with her audience.

Join Fleur Wiber as she invites you into a universe where heartfelt emotion meets cosmic exploration through music. Immerse yourself in her soul-stirring melodies and discover the magic of Fleur’s musical odyssey.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Bob Pigott Releases EP ‘Still Moving’

October 4, 2024 Marshall Cullen

‘Still Moving’ is Bob Pigott’s 9th studio release and was recorded at Damien Gerard and Ears That Hear Studios on the picturesque Central Coast of NSW. The songs were written on an old stand-up piano while Bob took some time out to raise his young son.

The songs reflect light and shade with tracks ‘Like It’s Summer’ and ‘Pop Song’ pushing the beat while reflective moments come with ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Moving Day’. The toe tapping ‘Arlo’ is a note from a father to a son, and ‘Tired of Thinking About You’ goes straight to the heart strings. ‘Still Moving’ is another welcome offering from a singer- songwriter who just won’t stop moving…still.

Critically acclaimed and multi award winning singer/songwriter Bob Pigott bridges folk, pop and country with rich vocals and a gift for storytelling. His original blend of smooth acoustic rhythms and poetic lyrics has broad appeal that transcends genres.

Bob’s intimate style and ability to craft songs that are artful as well as commercial has seen Bob secure a raft of ABC Music Awards and gave him the opportunity to record at the famous Abbey Road studios in London.

Bob’s ability to discover the heart of a song and produce lyrics that sound like words we could hear ourselves speaking, continues to attract the discerning listener worldwide.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

The Gronks Release EP ‘The Gronks Go Bang’

October 4, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Bang Bang and Indie Darling were recorded by Luke Bert at Soundworks in Sydney, and feature special guest Gronks Paul Mason, Adam Griffiths and Tim Denny. The tracks were mixed by Steve Melville (Gronk adjacent) at the Burning Boat in Melbourne. Deidre Chambers Coincides and YSFR were recorded and mixed by Paul Scott and Ken Stewart at the Static Attractor II, Sydney. All songs are the product of Stewart and Scott’s imagination and any resemblance to historic ditties and/or dirges is purely coincidental.

So, what is Gronks? Well… Ken Stewart sings, plays guitar and writes most of the words, Paul Scott plays guitar and keyboards and writes most of the music. They record at various times and places, and honestly, don’t remember too much about the process except that there seems to have been one because these digital encodings of melodies and words exist… so there’s that. Drawing on their mutual roots in the Sydney indie scene of the early 2000’s and inspired by the possibilities of home recording, Ken and Paul have enjoyed a fruitful, if infrequent, collaboration over the last few years. Occasionally Gronks include Paul Mason, Tim Denny and Adam Griffiths.

Stream

Connect with Paul Scott

Connect with Ken Stewart

News and Touring

CB Ghost Releases Single ‘Beautiful Middle Finger’

September 26, 2024 Marshall Cullen

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS!!

CB Ghost & Pinky Ring Live

@ The Baso Canberra

Thursday 24th October 7pm

CB Ghost & Pinky Ring Live

@ The Vault Port Kembla

Friday 25th October 6pm

CB Ghost & Gene Gibson Live

@ Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville

Friday 6th December 7pm

CB Ghost & Special Guest

@ The Baroque Room, Katoomba

Saturday 7th December 7pm

Que catchy guitar riff, add harmonica, then a swinging beat, leads us to CB Ghost’s signature and original vocal style and we are away with Beautiful Middle Finger.

From the first line, images and themes are subconsciously drip fed into your mind and the folk-rock rhythm and country-like sway moves your hips. While the chorus is simply an elevated version of the same guitar riff it certainly lifts you and adds that needed meat to the musical bones.

Beautiful Middle Finger is a good time song, with a silly title from a serious song writer who obviously loves to have fun and not take things too seriously while putting his heart and soul out there.

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. He has emerged from a close-nit coastal surfing village in Australia. 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.

A former pro surfer, CB Ghost is driven, bold and dedicated to his evolving sound and a deep love of blue-collar folk stories and sensibility – and most importantly playing live to crowds who love to drink, dance, sing and have fun.

Having recently toured Northern NSW and Queensland with Sydney band Pinky Ring, The Ghost is finding his feet live and now incorporating a full band at most shows (his solo shows are still a must see for that intimate intensity). His first single ‘Hollywood Hills’ was followed by ‘Hold Down Hymn’ and gives a strong idea of what is to come later this year.