Simona Castricum
Electronic
Melbourne synthpop artist Simona Castricum is helping to launch the new Aussie music magazine, Swampland. The mag focuses on long form music journalism, which sounds good to us. Simona Castricum’s propulsive new wave tunes also sound quite good to us. Thursday November 3 – The Gasometer Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
Moreton
Rock/alternative
Brisbane trio Moreton are kicking off their EP tour with a hometown show. The five track release, Specimen, is awash with brooding alt rock and post rock atmospherics. Thursday November 3 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
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Jordie Lane & The Sleepers
Folk rock
Jordie Lane and his hot new band The Sleepers have a new LP called Glassellland. Lane’s long been known for his warm folk rock tunes and personable story telling panache. These qualities are on display across Glassellland as well as moments of electrified expanse. Thursday November 3 – Jive – Adelaide, SA
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Friendships
Electronic
Nullarbor 1988-1989 is Friendships’ brand new LP. The cover features a fantastic painting of vicious dogs, and I think the title has something to do with dog-driven UFOs roaming above the arid Australian desert. But I could be wrong. Regardless, this is some seriously good, and occasionally confronting, experimental electronic dance music.
Friday November 4 – Oxford Art Factory – Sydney, NSW
The Outdoor Type
Folk pop
Apparently classic Aussie acts like Paul Kelly, The Go-Betweens and The Church guided the development of Zack Buchanan’s The Outdoor Type project. New single ‘Ruminations’ is a testament to this. The jangly folk pop song immediately brings songwriters like Paul Kelly to mind; not because it’s a blatant rip-off, but because of its ruminative and curious sensibility. Friday November 4 – Grace Darling Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
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Basic Mind
Electronic
A grotto is a cave or a fake cave. And really, if it looks like a cave and provides the same function as a cave, a fake cave is still a cave, isn’t it? Open to alternative opinions here. Anyway, Perth techno/funk act Basic Mind have an EP called Grotto, named after its lead track. It’s a warm analogue techno number conspicuously indebted to the ‘80s electronic innovations made in both Europe and the USA.
Friday November 4 – The Bird – Perth, WA
The Ancients
Psych pop
The Ancients have released three records over the last seven years. The latest of these, Night Bus, came out bang on three years ago. It hasn’t aged a day thanks to the band’s indifference towards rock music trends. It’s a collection of swirling, sometimes hazy, psych-pop-meets-shoegaze numbers. This Saturday they’re back onstage for the first time in several months.
Saturday November 5 – Northcote Social Club – Melbourne, VIC
THE PINHEADS
Garage Rock
The Pinheads Garage rock The Pinheads are a bunch of long-hairs from Wollongong with an enviable amount of energy and a fantastic knowledge of ‘60s garage rock. They put this knowledge and energy to good use, making rough as guts garage rock that doesn’t have a hint of conservatism about it.
Saturday November 5 – The Botany View Hotel – Sydney, NSW
Tiny Little Houses
Folk rock
I can’t figure out whether I love or hate Tiny Little Houses. I mean, they’re good and all, but they sound a lot like their influences. Neutral Milk Hotel. Bright Eyes. Elliott Smith – you get the picture. But then I love all those bands, so what could possibly be the problem? Perhaps this weekend’s show will help me make up my mind. Saturday November 5 – Republic Bar – Hobart, TAS
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Dream Shimmy
Shoegaze
Dream Shimmy. It’s all there in the name. Dream – washy guitars, oscillating from left to right eradicating your sense of gravity. Shimmy – there’s some serious groove going on her too, enough to get your knees-a-knocking in a way that’d scandalise your grandmother.
Sunday November 6 – Mojos – Perth, WA