Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“23” – Archer

After wowing me with her single “Bittersweet” a few months ago, Archer has dropped her fabulous debut EP, 23. The five tracks encapsulate Archer’s experiences as a young woman navigating relationships and her journey to adulthood.

“The whole EP explores themes of nostalgia and reflection. I guess it was just a period of my life where I was feeling really reflective and it kind of came out in my music. It’s kind of like standing still and looking at the past and the future and recognising where you’ve come from and where you see yourself going,” Archer explained. “I’ve discussed 23 being a significant number. The name of the EP came from the fact that I was 18 when I first started releasing music and now I’m 23. Again it’s just me being nostalgic and thinking about all the time that has passed since dropping Malibu and all the things that have changed since being 18.”

This EP reminds us of the importance of quality over quantity. The five tracks clock in at just over 15 minutes. It’s short and, it’s got to be said, bittersweet. The first three songs are absolute bops, anchored by electronic beats and Archer’s confessional lyrics. I’m a long way from 23, but I really connected to her words. Just when you think you’ve got her pegged as an artist, she takes a left-turn with “Slowly,” a beautiful piano-based ballad that shows a much softer side. While the other tracks got me moving in my seat, this is the one that made me really sit up and take notice. The closing track “Overgrown” makes such a strong final statement. A genre-bending number with some of the EP’s most powerful lyrics (and that’s saying something), it leaves no doubt that Archer is a force to be reckoned with.

23 is out now.

Images used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Here They Come” – Eliza Hull

When you put your heart into music, when you lay your soul bare and let your listeners see all parts of yourself, I don’t think you can ever go wrong. That’s exactly what Eliza Hull has done with her new EP, Here They Come. You might remember me raving about the single “Running Underwater.” It set my expectations high, but the songs that support it on this five-track EP are every bit as strong.

It’s no coincidence that Eliza released Here They Come a few weeks ago on December 1, to coincide with International Day of People With Disability.

“I wanted to release the EP during the week of International Day of People With Disability because this record is about celebrating my disabled identity; it’s about all the parts of myself I hid away for so long because of stigma,” Eliza explained. “I also want to be the representation I was seeking as a disabled emerging musical artist.”

While these songs are bound to connect with listeners with disabilities who may have felt underrepresented or marginalised, I connected with this music on a purely human level. These are songs of struggle and strength, of acceptance and liberation. Eliza is a superb songwriter with an incredible voice, and that combination is showcased so powerfully here. She keeps the instrumentation simple, ensuring we can catch every important word she sings. Every song is a triumph, from the gentle piano ballad “Stay” to the epic slow burner, “Lilac Dreams.”

I’ve sat with this EP for a few days and I am falling more in love with every listen. It really is such a special release. I’ve been a fan of Eliza’s work for many years. It feels like everything she’s done before has been building towards this. Here They Come is out now. She’ll play the following shows next year to support its release.

20 January 2024 – Sydney Festival @ ACO Pier 2/3, Eora/Sydney
17 February 2024 – Town Folk Festival @ The Bridge Hotel, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine
23 February 2024 – Malthouse Theatre Outdoor Stage, Naarm/Melbourne
24 February 2024 – Cube Theatre, Wiradjuri Country/Wodonga
3 March 2024 – Mordi Festival @ Peter Scullin Reserve, Boonwurrung Country/Mordialloc

Main photo credit: Simon Browne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Yasmin” – Malaika Mfalme

It’s been a long time since an album moved me like Yasmin. The debut from London-born, Tanzanian/Australian artist Malaika Mfalme, it’s a powerful collection of songs exploring love, loss, and healing.

Malaika said “I wrote Yasmin during a time of immense pain. While the world shut its doors and experienced the 2020 lockdowns, I was grieving my late partner. When I began writing it, I didn’t know it would turn into an album. It was my means of coping through writing about grief, loss, and then joy, healing and finally self-acceptance. Now I feel this album can help others move through that kind of pain, removing the taboo and shame Western society places on grief.”

I knew Yasmin was a special album from the moment I pressed play. Acknowledgements of country have become so commonplace that they can lose their meaning, so I was excited to hear Malaika’s take. Creating a beautiful soundscape for her heartfelt “Acknowledgement” helped it resonate and bridge the gap between the story of this land and Malaika’s own story. They explore their own connection to the land in “Mother,” a song which references the ultimate maternal figure, Mother Nature herself. In “Dream,” Malaika reflects on their first dream featuring their late partner. “Spirit” is quiet and beautifully vulnerable, a poignant moment birthed from the depths of sorrow.

“‘Spirit’ came from a deep time of grief, so I wanted to use repetition to create new meaning,” Malaika explained. “This repetition and call and response is significant in my African culture and in history, often using techniques like this to survive horror like slavery.”

“Imagine” and “Relief” are like companion pieces that lift the soul after the darkness. The first elevates the memories that bring comfort, the second is a powerful reminder of the importance of being loved and known, if only for a little while. “Good Man” sees Malaika, a trans/non-binary artist, reflecting on gender identity and the importance of manifesting it in the right way. ”Younger” completes another piece of the puzzle, like a musical letter to Malaika’s past self and the soul icons who helped them become the person they are today. It’s only fitting that the album’s final track is a tribute to Yasmin herself, the person who inspired this collection of music.

“Yasmin was an opera singer, and I was able to incorporate all of her friends in the song. All of us singing together was such an important healing process for all of us,” Malaika recalled. “The first verse is about the pain of her passing, the second is about letting her go, and the last is about remembering her.”

The first few times I listened to Yasmin I went in blind, with my ears and heart open. Without reading the press release, I could make my own meaning from these songs. I was instantly struck by their warmth and beauty. This album was inspired by darkness, but there’s light in even the most painful moments. Reading over Malaika’s notes has made me appreciate and love these songs even more than I thought was possible.

Yasmin is out now. Malaika will launch this exceptional album tomorrow night, December 14, at the Red Rattler Theatre in Eora/Marrickville. Tickets are available now from Humanitix.

Images used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Revision for Regrowth” – JK-47

Bundjalung artist JK-47’s long-awaited sophomore album Revision for Regrowth is one of the most ambitious albums I’ve heard in some time. It’s a concept album, one that plays with genre and while celebrating the power of hip hop as a storytelling medium. Its lyrics are some of the most powerful I’ve heard in a while. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s so good that it encourages repeat listens.

From the opening of “Introspect” you know this is no ordinary hip-hop album. Are they panflutes? And an angelic choir? They’re not a conventional backing for a rapper’s rhymes, but they elevate JK-47’s words in an unexpected way. JK-47 continues pushing the envelope, adding string sections, harps, and other instruments rarely associated with urban music into the mix. Then we hear the sounds of the bush and an Indigenous elder speaking in native language as “ReGrowth” opens, anchoring this music to country. The bold instrumentation of “Avalanche” wouldn’t sound out of place in a modern Broadway musical. The beautiful closer “Zuriel,” an ode to JK-47’s own family, features a gorgeous piano accompaniment that wouldn’t be out of place in a jazz composition.

The songs are introspective, personal and thoughtful ruminations about acknowledging the mistakes of the past, learning from them and moving forward as a better person. They speak of JK-47’s own experiences, but also universal human experiences that resonate so deeply.

“You realise you can’t do things the way you’ve been doing them because it’s not healthy but if you hadn’t lived the experience you wouldn’t have that perspective,” he explained. “When you cut something off you gotta learn how to regrow,”

The making of Revision for Regrowth was a truly collaborative process. JK-47 worked with his long-time creative partner and ARIA-Award winning hip-hop producer Jay Orient on every track. Their ties run deep, with the pair growing up as neighbours on the New South Wales coast. Education took them in different direction, but their love of music has brought them back together. This album also features special appearances from Tasman Keith, Adrian Eagle, Emily Wurrumara, Sachem, ECB Crew, and so many more. Their voices add energy and elevate the songs they’re involved in.

Revision for Regrowth is a triumph. It’s out now. Listen up.

Images used with permission from GYRO PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Never Thought of Growing Up” – Loretta

Loretta have put a big smile on my face today with the release of their long-awaited debut EP, Never Thought of Growing Up. Featuring the brilliant singles “All My Friends (Are Your Friends)” and “Wish I Could Show You,” it’s some of the best and most uplifting indie-pop you’ll hear.

When you introduce an EP with such good songs, sometimes the rest of the recording can fall flat. But Loretta have a real knack for creating anthemic, optimistic music that gets stuck in your head and under your skin. The Eora/Sydney-based band could easily have released “Hope You’re Happy” and “How to Swim” as singles, because they’re every bit as good. Clocking in at around a minute and a half each, Loretta also show versatility with the introductory track “What Do We Become” and the beautiful instrumental interlude, “Halfway Home”. Everything works so beautifully together here, like the pieces of a technicolour jigsaw.

I have been a Loretta fan for a while, and I love to see the way they’re evolving. Notice that I very carefully avoided the word maturing there, because this is a band that retains its youthful energy. This EP is called Never Thought of Growing Up for a reason! They may have a few years on the clock these days, but they still make music that feels so fresh and fun. Right now they’re just doing it better than ever.

After waiting so long for an EP, I just wish there was a little more here. At around 15 minutes, it’s definitely one of the shorter EPs I’ve listened to. However, as more artists start extending the format into mini-albums, it’s probably not a bad thing that Loretta leaves us wanting more. Never Thought of Growing Up certainly delivers quality over quantity. I just hope a full-length album isn’t too far away.

Never Thought of Growing Up is out today. Loretta are wasting no time and kicking off a national tour to celebrate its release tomorrow. There are still some tickets available, so what are you waiting for?

4 November 2023 – Yah Yah’s, Naarm/Melbourne
9 November 2023 – Stranded Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
17 November 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong
23 November 2023 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
25 November 2023 – King Street, Mulubinba/Newcastle

Images used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Public Fun – Part 2” – Raging Hormones

On the release of Raging Hormones’ Public Fun – Part 1 EP earlier this year, I found myself hoping a sequel may be on the way. My dreams have been answered with the release of Public Fun – Part 2. And yes, it’s every bit as much fun as its predecessor.

Keen fans may have noticed Raging Hormones dropping singles from their latest EP every Friday for the last few weeks. However, now that they’re all out in the world it feels like the right time to celebrate them. While every song stands alone, listening to them together is such a treat. Just like the first Public Fun EP, this one goes hard. From the moment the drums and guitars come together to introduce “River of Ants,” the band has the power turned up to 11. It’s fast and frenetic and, there really is no better word for it, an awful lot of fun. I love the punky edge of “Milk Moustache” and couldn’t resist singing along to the big anthemic chorus of “Burning at Both Ends” before long. “Winnebago” is pure nostalgic joy and the closer “Guided by Vices” has such a cool attitude and snaky bassline.

With just five tracks, it’s all killer and no filler. However, with just five tracks it’s all over too quickly. There’s only one solution; to press play again. At least until the release of Part 3. Yes, I’m daring to dream again.

Public Fun – Part 2 was released today. Raging Hormones will celebrate its release in front of hometown fans at the Evelyn Hotel in Naarm/Fitzroy on November 10.

Main photo credit: Nick Manuell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Professional Misconduct” – The Screaming Jets

It’s taken me a little while to listen to The Screaming Jets’ 10th studio album Professional Misconduct. And a little while after that to put fingers to my keyboard and share my thoughts. It’s taken time, because like so many people from Newcastle I needed a moment to process the unexpected loss of the band’s founding member Paul Woseen. I knew I needed to push through though, because this album is such an important body of work for this band.

As a teenager growing up in Newcastle, The Screaming Jets were so much a part of my journey to adulthood. I must have been 15 or 16 when they played an under-18s gig at the Cambridge. I was hooked. I made my way in to Civic Park in 1997 when they honoured the Newcastle Knights after their grand final win. Then when I turned 18s the gigs became more frequent. Shows at the Newcastle Workies, Toronto Workies … venues with sticky floors, the air thick with cigarette smoke and beer. They were always such physical gigs, with punters jostling to move me on from my front row position, but I always stood firm. I found myself reminiscing about those moments when we lost Paul, and again listening to this album, their first of new material since the release of Chrome in 2016. It’s new music, but it’s the same old Jets, as it should be. Dave Gleeson’s voice up front and center, surrounded by guitars and those driving drums. It’s proper rock music, the way it’s meant to be. Hard-hitting numbers like “Nothing to Lose,” “No Reason,” and “Speed Quack” have become firm favourites. “Lying With Her” is haunting in its stillness. I might have gotten misty listening to “Second Chance” thinking about what might have been.

The Screaming Jets will never be the same, but I’m so glad we have this one last album with Dave and Paul working together. I think Professional Misconduct might be their best work since World Gone Crazy way back in 1997. It’s certainly a fitting tribute for the band’s late bassist, but it’s not the end for the Screaming Jets. They will tour around the country as scheduled, bringing this music to the people. It’s what Paul would have wanted. Enjoy this brilliant new music and plenty of old favourites at the following shows:

3 November 2023 – The Triffid, Meeanjin/Brisbane
4 November 2023 – Beenleigh Tavern, Yugambeh Country/Beenleigh
10 November 2023 – Chelsea Heights, Bunurong Country/Chelsea Heights
11 November 2023 – Prince Bandroom, Bunurong Country/St Kilda
17 November 2023 – Dubbo RSL, Wiradjuri Country/Dubbo
18 November 2023 – Bathurst RSL, Wiradjuri Country/Bathurst
1 December 2023 – The Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
2 December 2023 – Anitas Theatre, Woolyungah/Wollongong
5 January 2024 – Summernats 36, Ngambri/Canberra
19 January 2024 – Blank Space, Gooneburra Country/Toowoomba
20 January 2024 – Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Bundjalung Country/Kingscliff
23 January 2024 – Longyard Hotel, Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth
25 January 2024 – Sunken Monkey, Darkinjung Country/Erina
27 January 2024 – Laurieton Ex Services Club, Biripi Country/Laurieton
28 January 2024 – Pacific Palms Recreation Club, Worimi Country/Elizabeth Beach
1 February 2024 – The Albies Bar, Undalup/Busselton
2 February 2024 – Port Beach Brewery, Walyalup/Fremantle
3 February 2024 – Ravenswood Hotel, Bindjareb Country/Ravenswood
9 February 2024 – Hornsby RSL, Darug and GuriNgai Country/Hornsby
10 February 2024 – Club Central, Bendiagal Country/Hurstville
16 February 2024 – Commercial Hotel, Wurundjeri Country/South Morang
17 February 2024 – Village Green, Wurundjeri Country/Mulgrave
23 February 2024 – Toronto Hotel, Awabakal Country/Toronto

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Horror Movie” – Gia Darcy

Hailing from Darkinjung Country/Central Coast and now based in Eora/Sydney, Gia Darcy is a breath of fresh air on the indie pop landscape. With the release of her EP Horror Movie, she delivers five tracks that showcase her excellent songwriting and angelic voice.

The quality of Gia’s songwriting was what really drew me in. The title track is such a witty commentary on her horror relationships that unfold so predictably that outsiders can clearly see the dangers she’s oblivious to. “Do I Know” is a sweet country pop song in the vein of early Taylor Swift and local artists like Chelsea Berman and Amber Lawrence. Gia shows her sensitive side with “Say It.” This poignant track is really the heart of the EP, a song that shows a vulnerability that’s so compelling. She might have been entangled in relationships with a few horror movie villains, but by the end of the EP it’s clear that Gia is no victim. “Save Your Breath” and “Toxic” are modern girl power anthems. They leave us with such a strong impression of this artist and her power.

With the release of Horror Movie, Gia Darcy shows she’s a pop chameleon with a real knack for storytelling. Her lyrics are clever yet honest, always from the heart even when her tongue is planted firmly in her cheek. Take a listen and if you’re in Eora/Sydney, make sure you get out and support her when she launches the Horror Movie EP at Oxford Art Factory on November 3.

Images used with permission from Gia Darcy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Best Friend” – Clayton Francis

As a big fan of American indie-pop duo LANY, I was instantly drawn to Aussie artist Clayton Francis’ new EP Best Friend. Their music is so similar, with electronic percussion, uplifting synths, sweet vocals, and romantic lyrics that make the world seem better. However, the more I listened, the more I started to appreciate Clayton’s music in its own right.

Unlike LANY’s singer-songwriter Paul Klein, Clayton is happily married to his high school sweetheart. When he sings songs like the title track “Best Friend” and “As Long as You Love Me,” you know they come from a place of true, deep love. When he sings that he’d lay down his life for his partner in “You’ll be the Death of Me,” you believe him. This music isn’t fan service. He’s not trying to make the audience swoon, although they just might. He’s simply showing us his heart, and that’s a beautiful thing. Of course, being married to your high school sweetheart has its downside. You won’t find this music taking any dark turns. “Find My Way”, a song about the pursuit of a career which can take him away from his relationship, is as close to a story of struggle as this EP gets. But that doesn’t matter too much to me. There are plenty of places to hear songs about heartbreak and betrayal. There’s certainly a place for music that simply makes you feel as good as this collection of songs does.

The music from Clayton’s EP might sound like lost tracks from a LANY recording, but as a fan of that music I don’t care too much. It’s good when they make it, and it’s every bit as good as good here. What may give him a slight edge though is his maturity. And of course, we always have a soft spot for our own. If you love the indie pop music LANY are making, make sure you listen to Clayton Francis. He might just be your new favourite artist.

Images used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Down in Hollywood” – Dana Gehrman

I must admit, I approached Dana Gehrman’s new album Down in Hollywood with a little trepidation. I wasn’t very familiar with this Meeanjin/Brisbane-based blues-rock artist, and I’m ashamed to admit I’m not across the music from Little Feat, whose songs she covers on this release. I thought I’d feel like a fish out of water listening, but I have a policy of playing everything that lands in my inbox. I’m so glad I did. While I expected to feel out of my element, Down in Hollywood is one of the most accessible and enjoyable albums I’ve heard in some time.

This album has a beautiful nostalgia about it, even if you don’t know the source material. And Dana’s voice is so warm and welcoming, the marriage is heavenly. She wraps her vocals around these songs with gusto. All too often there’s a disconnect when people sing covers, because they didn’t write the material, but you can hear how much these songs matter to Dana.

“I grew up with Little Feat, emanating from vintage Tannoy speakers in cabinets larger than life. These songs are so engrained in me; when we play them, they feel as much a part of me as my own songs,” Dana added. “I don’t believe you could ever make their songs better; these are just my humble interpretations of songs I truly love.”

After listening to Down in Hollywood, I’m inspired to listen to Little Feat’s originals, but not just yet. For now, I’m happy to sit with Dana’s fabulous interpretations and celebrate them as standalone works before I make inevitable comparisons. Dana will launch Down in Hollywood with these shows along the East Coast next month:

1 October 2023 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Caloundra
5 October 2023 – The Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
6 October 2023 – The Citadel, Kalibai Country/Murwillumbah
7 October 2023 – Tom Atkin Hall, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
13 October 2023 – St Bernard Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Mt Tamborine
14 October 2023 – Felons Barrel Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Jo Corbett Publicity