Geryon
Electronic
Geryon’s We Don’t Talk About the Ghost EP contains four tracks of searching, sensual and irregular electronic pop music. This Thursday, the Melbourne producer/vocalist is launching the EP within the acoustically expansive confines of Howler, and we’re predicting the songs will gain an even gutsier core. Thursday August 4 – Howler – Melbourne, VIC
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The Pinheads
Lo-fi rock’n’roll
Six good for nothing scamps out of Wollongong, The Pinheads have plunged into the back catalogues of The Sonics, MC5 and early Kinks, returning with a penchant for fierce and no nonsense garage rock’n’roll. There’s nothing flowery about the band’s high octane delivery, but they’re no chumps either – these songs have been put together with enough craft that the excitement doesn’t diminish on repeat listens.
Thursday August 4 – Stoke Factory – Wollongong, NSW
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Voiid
Garage rock
Sometimes Voiid play fast and angrily, a brimful of distortion underlining their disaffected point of view. Sometimes they lean back into a mid tempo groove, letting the guitars jangle and the vocals contemplate dissatisfaction. In both instances you get the impression these girls aren’t particularly happy about the way things are, and feel no inclination to play nice. Thursday August 4 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
Tangents
Alternative/electronic
Contemporary electronic maestro Four Tet remixed Tangents’ recent single ‘Jindabyne’, and it’s no surprise given the Aussie quartet’s curious merging of layered acoustic instrumentation, jazzy beats and electronic flourishes. But unlike Four Tet, most of what Tangents achieve is the result of live, improvised instrumental interplay. It’s bloody glorious in recorded form; live, you’d imagine the possibilities expand further.
Friday August 5 – Glebe Justice Centre – Sydney, NSW
Late Night Hysterics
Atmospheric electronic
Perth five piece Late Night Hysterics are adamant about the designation “atmospheric electronic”. It’s equally ambiguous and instructive, just like pretty much every genre tag. But what they’re trying to encourage is that listeners dive into their compositions, forget about analysis and comparison, and embrace flittering beats, synth hooks, blown out bass and duelling vocal lines. Friday August 5 – The Bird – Perth, WA
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Ben Houghton
House
Ben Houghton’s mini EP Beta Blocker is now available on 12-inch vinyl courtesy of Momentary Records. The A-side consists of two mellifluous house originals, ‘Beta Blocker’ and ‘Softly Spoken’, while the B-side sees Harvey Sutherland and Inkswel each reworking the title track. All up it’s a warm and fuzzy house collection, equal parts pleasant and boogie inducing.
Saturday August 6 – Gasometer Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
Cash Savage and the Last Drinks
Alt-country/rock
Cash Savage’s new LP One of Us pushes the limits of her established atmospheric alt-country sound. At times it’s haunting and bleak, but Savage and co. are also prone to dish up an upbeat country romp. The highlight is the record’s lead single ‘Falling, Landing’, which revolves around a volatile drum beat, careening guitars and Savage’s firm, groggy narratorial voice.
Saturday August 6 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
Silentjay & Jace XL
Electrosoul
The fact that they’ve been picked up by South London label Rhythm Section International, run by underground party don Bradley Zero, should confirm that Silentjay & Jace XL are onto a good thing. The Melbourne duo makes intimate electronic soul music, showing no hesitation to lay their emotions bare.
Saturday August 6 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
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Oliver’s Army
Alt-folk
‘Oliver’s Army’ is one of many standouts from Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ Armed Forces record. Given the song’s iconic standing, it’s a bold decision for Melbourne-based muso Ryan Oliver to adopt it as his solo moniker. However, Oliver’s alt-folk songs – occasionally displaying bedroom candidness, occasionally employing Americana tropes – never overreach. They’re pleasant and quietly affecting, distancing themselves from the Costello link.
Sunday August 7 – Northcote Social Club – Melbourne, VIC
Flyying Colours
Psych-gaze
Flyying Colours have always known how to do good things with guitars. Their live shows demand that you wear earplugs or else be forced to live with a humming sound for days afterwards (possibly years). They’ve also got a knack for suffusing their throbbing guitar arrangements with complementary hypnotic vocal melodies. This is certainly the case with new single ‘It’s Tomorrow Now’, which they’re launching this weekend.
Sunday August 7 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
