Music - Album of the week
30th Jan 12
Hermitude - HyperParadise
Elefant Traks/Inertia
The production duo of Luke Dubs and Elgusto return with another impressive album of bass-driven beats and creatively complex compositions, their fourth for Sydney label Elefant Traks. During their eleven year career Hermitude have consistency surprised and excited listeners with their advanced studio skills, and HyperParadise develops their unique sonic range even further into the future. Imaginative instrumental hip hop, dub, funk, electronic and pop styles are all featured throughout the course of this landmark album.
Past Albums of the Week
23rd Jan 12
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
Wichita/Liberation/Mushroom Group Promotions
The second album from Swedish band First Aid Kit is a memorable and moving collection of folk, blues, Americana and country influenced songs. Johanna and Klara Söderberg are exceptional performers, and the album is imbued with their love and reverence for artists who have inspired them in their craft, including Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, June Carter and Johnny Cash.
12th Dec 11
No Album Of The Week - Returning in 2012!
Enjoy The Holidays
Stay tuned as we unveil our very first Album of the Week for 2012. Watch this space.
4th Dec 11
Various Artists - Mobile Rekodi Situdio Vol.1: Kibera, Nairobi
Brothersister
This compilation from independent Melbourne label Brothersister represents a facinating musical and cultural exchange. The songs contained on the album result from a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where a mobile recording studio was established by Brothersister in mid-2010. Young MCs in the township of Kibera recorded various vocal tracks, which were sent back to Melbourne for interpretation by local beatmakers. The completed tracks traverse a wide range of sounds and styles, incorporating aspects of Kenyan hip hop sub-genres as well as experimental electronic, R n B, pop and techno forms.
28th Nov 11
Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica
Software/Mexican Summer/Co-Op/Universal
Produced using vintage synthesisers, tape loops, and heavily manipulated samples of 80s tv advertisements, Replica presents a fascintating collage of sounds that evokes the past while hinting at the sonic possibilities of the future of music. Oneohtrix Point Never is the recording alias of Brooklyn's Daniel Lopatin, and this album reveals his evolving interest in experimental song structures, atmospheric compositions, and hypnotic, ambient interludes.
21st Nov 11
Atlas Sound - Parallax
4AD/Remote Control
Well known for his work with the influential American band Deerhunter, songwriter Bradford Cox is a prolific and perpetually creative artist whose solo project Atlas Sound has often been an outlet for some of the more experimental, and elusive of his musical offerings. Parallax however contains some of Bradford's most focused melodic compositions to date. Spectral, shimmering guitars and subtle electronic effects are employed throughout this record, where loneliness and light, bleakness and beauty seem equally audible.
14th Nov 11
Onra - Chinoiseries Pt.2
All City Records
In 2006 French producer Onra (also known as Arnaud Betrand) returned from a trip through Vietnam with 30 or so vintage records, filled wth forgotten pop and folk songs. Onra cut and rearranged these tracks into an album of hip-hop instrumentals called Chinoiseries, producing a unique revision of the musical history of the region. This second volume offers another fascintating glimpse into the musical heritage of South East Asia, collecting fragments of obscure recordings and recontextualising them within Onra's beat structures.
7th Nov 11
Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler / The Dream
In The Red / Wing & Gill
The second album of the year for San Franciscan garage rock specialists clearly demonstrates the band's exceptional energy, enthusiasm and skill, bridging '70s psych rock and lo-fi punk in signature style. The initial plan was to release two EPs, but a highly productive week-long recording session left the band with enough material and momentum for an album release, reflecting again the relentless passion and drive for which Thee Oh Sees have become well known and respected.
31st Oct 11
The Orbweavers - Loom
Mistletone/Inertia
Loom, the latest album from Melbourne band The Orbweavers, offers delicately crafted folk music, and captivating ethereal acoustic soundscapes. Inspired by the natural and human history of the Merri Creek region, the album draws a vivid image of the changing and evolving environment with it's distinctive and moving songs.
24th Oct 11
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Anti-/Warner
Vibrant and dense with inventive music is the seventeeth album from troubador Tom Waits. Over four decades Tom Waits has explored a diverse range of styles, and delivered an acclaimed succession of albums in inimitable fashion with his blues-inflected vocal style. Bad As Me is another magnificent example of Wait's restless creativity, and is a very welcome return to distorted rock, jazz, southern American soul territory after a seven year hiatus.
17th Oct 11
Twerps - Twerps
Chapter Music
A classic songwriting sensibility and intimate, charmingly detailed lyricism prevail on the debut full length album from Melbourne band Twerps. With a catalogue of vinyl singles and tape releases already released, this self-titled record builds upon their output with slightly higher fidelity recordings and expanded arrangements that are nonetheless extremely faithful to their enduring interest in early Flying Nun releases, timeless Australian pop, and jangly guitar rock of the highest order.
10th Oct 11
Feist - Metals
Polydor/Interscope/Universal/Arts & Crafts
Feist offers another album of accomplished and engaging songwriting with Metals. Filled wth understated folk and acoustic material, the LP was recorded with long-time collaborators Chilly Gonzales and Mocky. Slightly more subdued in tone than 2007's The Reminder, Metals nonetheless shines with sophisticated arrangements and Feist's inimitable singing style.
2nd Oct 11
Geoffrey O'Connor - Vanity Is Forever
Chapter Music
Well known for work with master pop practioners Crayon Fields, and following a brief spell recording solo as Sly Hats, Geoffrey O'Connor here reveals another glimpse into the boundless musical talent at his disposal. Recorded under his own name for the first time, Geoffrey's Vanity Is Forever LP draws an intimate, unfamiliar portrait of the artist; an insouciant idol in neon light, framed in icy synth-pop, and reflective, late-night rock arrangements.
26th Sep 11
Total Control - Henge Beat
Iron Lung/Fuse
Taking musical inspiration from late 70s synth and punk bands, the motorik rhythms of German electronic music pioneers as well as the intensity and drive of garage and lo-fi rock groups of the early 80s, Total Control have learned many lessons from the past to prepare the sound of tomorrow. At once concise and refined in form, and dangerously explosive in conception, Henge Beat is a fascinating and exciting debut from a band featuring members well known for work in other Melbourne acts, specifically vocalist Daniel Stewart (Straightjacket Nation, UV Race), guitarist/keyboardist Mikey Young (Eddy Current Suppression Ring), guitarist Alistair Montfort (UV Race), bassist Zephyr Pavey (a photographer) and drummer James Vinciguerra (The Collapse, AIDS).
19th Sep 11
Lost Animal - Ex Tropical
Sensory Projects
On 'Ex Tropical', Lost Animal (the solo project of Jarrod Quarrell) invites listeners to a strange and beguiling destination, filled with many and varied soundscapes to explore. The path leading throughout the record is marked with great rhythmic and instrumental diversity; expansive, brooding drone interludes intersect with free jazz and soul sounds, while elsewhere Jarrod's songwriting takes a more classically influenced passage through guitar and keyboard melodies. The vague sadness and resolve of Jarrod's voice is a constant companion on the journey, through the light to the very end of day.
12th Sep 11
HTRK - Work (Work, Work)
Mistletone/Inertia
Following the release of the Marry Me Tonight LP in 2009, and the tragic loss of band member Sean Stewart last year, HTRK have returned with a decidely minimal, and introspective album. Where previous recordings pulsed with slow, sinuous basslines and guitar-driven arrangements, Work (Work, Work) finds its claustrophobic structure in layered synths, indistinct and evocative lyrics and skeletal drum machine patterns.
5th Sep 11
Royal Headache - Royal Headache
R.I.P. Society
On their debut self-titled album, Sydney band Royal Headache present a unique blend of garage, blues, soul and pop influences. The whole album is dense with ideas, offering a glimpse into the future, seen through a lo-fi filter of the past.
29th Aug 11
Laura Jean - A Fool Who'll
Chapter Music
Laura Jeans 'A Fool Who'll' LP offers the understated but captivating style of previous recordings, and imbues its songs with elements of disquiet, and dissonance. Written in the country, outside of the familiar environments of Melbourne, the record reflects an evolution in Laura Jean's sound and approach. Incorporating new sounds (not least of which the use of electric guitar), 'A Fool Who'll also includes collaborations with Paddy Mann, Jojo Petrina, and Monica Sound, alongside the core trio of Laura Jean, Biddy Connor and Jen Sholakis.
22nd Aug 11
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic
Spunk/EMI
The inimitable Stephen Malkmus, a cult-figure of the 90s independent guitar music scene, returns here for his fifth solo album following the dissolution of Pavement. Mirror Traffic is produced by the equally inimitable Beck, and the album overall is a charming encapsulation of Malkmus' strengths as a singer and songwriter, featuring plenty of angular off-beat pop and sharp but langorously delivered lyrics.
15th Aug 11
No Album Of The Week - Due To Radiothon
August 12-21st, 2011
Thank-you very much for your support!
8th Aug 11
Part Time - What Would You Say?
Mexican Summer/Co-Op/Universal
What Would You Say? is both a question, and in this case a definitive statement from talented San Franciscan artist David Speck, recording as Part Time. Referencing a multitude of pop styles, the album's sound overall is reminiscent of contempories such as Ariel Pink, John Maus and even Jeremy Jay, skilfully blending synth, new wave, degraded 80s soundtracks and AM radio rock elements.
1st Aug 11
Ru.CL - Brimstone & Fire
Invada/Remote Control
The second album from Melbourne artist Ru.CL (otherwise known as Rueben Campbell) is another dynamic and dextrously constructed record of modern classic hip-hop, featuring dancehall, soul, reggae, funk and RnB influences. Ru.CL's skilful lyricism is complemented with diverse, but focused production from an all-star cast including Lance Wilson, Katalyst, Aseembly Line, 7stu7 and Luke Pierre.
25th Jul 11
Jordie Lane - Blood Thinner
Vitamin Records
Filled with sparse, but detailed compositions, Blood Thinner is a very focused and assured return from Melbourne's Jordie Lane. Playing almost every sound and instrument on the record, Jordie Lane has again produced an impressive collection of songs, spanning folk and Americana influences, and evoking the songwriting sensibilities of musical heroes Gram Parsons and Bruce Springsteen.
18th Jul 11
Zomby - Dedication
4AD/Remote Control
Dedicated to his late father, Zomby's second full-length release is a poignant record, and an expressive display of the producer's versatility and skill. Preferring to allow his music to speak for him, Zomby has remained an unassuming and elusive yet important and influencial fixture on the electronic music scene, releasing everything from tributes to UK garage and hard-core drum n bass, to more refined hip-hop and post-dubstep beats. Referencing the work of fellow London producers Burial and Kode 9 as well as minimalist Southern US hip-hop styles, Zomby presents a unique sonic signature that at once clean and precise as well as rugged and fragmentary; evocative synthetic melodies blend with 808 drum machines to produce an emotional effect that is much greater than the sum of its parts.
11th Jul 11
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Spunk/EMI
The project of Ruban Nielson, former Mint Chicks guitarist, Unknown Mortal Orchestra has quickly attracted plenty of positive critical attention for both their live performances and recorded material. The self-titled debut perfectly captures the varied influences of the band, traversing psychedelic soul and garage punk, with a lo-fi hip hop aesthetic running through the rhythmic section of the record. The band succeeds in creating a satisfying, unique synthesis; a cohesive collage of past musical forms that presents an intriguing vision of the future.
4th Jul 11
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Sub Pop/Inertia
Shabazz Palaces from Seattle are a powerful, original force in modern music. Following from two self-released EPs, Black Up is the group's debut full-length on a label, and fascinatingly the first hip-hop album from the Sub Pop label, a label well known for their work with bands like Beach House, Nirvana, Fleet Foxes, Sebadoh, and The Shins amongst others. Founded by Palaceer Lazaro (aka Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler of 90s Daisy Age hip-hop crew Digable Planets), Shabazz Palaces specialise in a more abstracted form of beat creation, incorporating fractured and distorted soul samples, electronically altered beats and a careful consideration of space and echo between the verses.
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