Tag: EP

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Owls Launch Self Titled EP

The Owls have hatched their new self titled EP, which was officially released today.

The disc features “Go, Let It Go,” which you may have heard on the radio. Even if you haven’t, you’re going to love the band’s silky melodies and dark, brooding bass lines.

To celebrate the release The Owls are played a couple of shows over the next few days, so if they’re near you make sure you check them out!

22 September 2010 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (with The Jezabels)
23 September 2010 – Gaelic Club, Surry Hills
25 September 2010 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Split Seconds Tours Western Australia

Split Seconds, the latest outfit for Perth singer-songwriter Sean Pollard, is preparing for the release of their debut EP with a swag of headlining gigs and festival appearances around their home state.

The EP was recorded in Perth with producers Steve Bond (The Panics, Snowman, The Bank Holidays) and Benjamin Golby, before Aussie expat Aaron Cupples (The Drones, Dan Kelly) added the finishing touches in London. It should get a release next year, but we get a taste of it with the debut single “Bed Down.”

If you’re not in Western Australia don’t worry. A national tour is in the works, so the rest of Australia will be able to see this exciting new band soon.

17 September 2010 – The Norfolk Basement, Fremantle (with Red Jezebel and Emperors)
18 September 2010 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (with Red Jezebel and Emperors)
25 & 26 September 2010 – Wave Rock Weekender Festival, Hyden
6 October 2010 – One Movement, WA Showcase @ Capitol, Perth
1-3 January 2011 – Southbound Festival, Busselton

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Behind Closed Doors” – Walking with Mirrors

It’s impossible to dislike Sydney outfit Walking with Mirrors. With their debut EP Behind Closed Doors they deliver five tracks that easily find their way under your skin. They’re not so revolutionary on the surface, but there’s just something about them.

We’ve all heard this kind of melodic rock before, with its big chords and sing-along choruses. But the conviction behind these songs elevates them above the pack. Lead singer Ryan Burke is a big part of the key to this band’s success. He gives the songs their heart, the gut-wrenching emotion that makes you believe the lyrics, no matter how clichéd some of them might be. I also give props to lead guitarist Jackson Holt, whose blistering hand speed kick so many of the tunes up a notch.

Not that everything hits the mark. While the title track “Behind Closed Doors” is undeniably catchy, when Ryan sings about the pressures of cameras in your face it doesn’t ring true. Perhaps the band simply ascribes to the “fake it until you make it” theory, but it sounds a bit insincere on a debut EP.

But Walking with Mirrors have a great energy, and a natural music sensibility. They rock hard, but they never forget about taking the audience along for the ride. The five tracks are a little samey, but they also appear to have come from a place of real heartache. There’s a lot to like here, and that helps Behind Closed Doors overcome any shortcomings.

Image source: Walking with Mirrors MySpace page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Anicca” – Greenthief

With a healthy dose of angst and experimentation comes Anicca, the new six-track EP from Greenthief.

Six tracks is ambitious for an EP, but Greenthief are a pretty ambitious band. They love to pair driving guitars and pounding drums with delicate piano and ethereal vocals. They’ve stuck a tune called “Prelude” in the middle of the disc. And you just never know where any song is going to end up.

That was perhaps the most confusing part of this CD for me. I felt I was being taken in one direction, and enjoying it, before the band sent the song to another place. At its worst this kind of treatment lacks focus, and at its best it’s groundbreaking. I admit that I’m still trying to decide.

There’s a lot to like here, especially the opening track “Plea for Sanctuary” with its crunchy guitar chords and hooky chorus, and the epic closer “Grain of Sand.” These tunes hint at the potential of this band. If this is what Greenthief are capable of, I want to hear more of it. They seem to be still experimenting with their sound now and finding their own identity away from their many influences, but this EP hints at real greatness.

Image source: iTunes

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Skin” – Useless Children

I pride myself on listening to music of all genres, but I must admit I felt a little out of my depth when I put Useless Children’s new EP Skin into my stereo. It exploded out of my speakers with what initially seemed like a whole lot of noise. I wondered what I’d say about this music that was so heavy, and honestly unfamiliar to me. But as I sat and listened, it all became clearer.

Useless Children were born to the Melbourne punk scene in early 2008. We’re talking about the real punk scene here, not the one commercialised by Top 40 radio. That rebellious energy of their early days is still apparent today, but it’s apparently become darker. Having listened to the EP, I don’t doubt that one bit. It’s aggressive, and a bit confronting, but also invigorating in its frenetic pace.

As I listened I began to appreciate these elements, and the incredible vocals of lead singer and drummer Cinta. How inspiring to see a woman kicking some major arse in such a male dominated genre. I began to hear the melodies that I’d missed at first. I also began to appreciate those moments when such an EP might seem like just the right kind of music, the times when the middle of the road, mellow tunes I typically listen to just wouldn’t do.

Skin is an EP which grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until it’s done. In just three tracks, it makes its mark and leaves you a bit breathless. If Useless Children can do all that on a recording, I can only imagine how impressive their live show is. If you love your music turned up to 11, make sure you check the band out at the following shows.

4 September 2010 – Blackwire Records, Sydney (All Ages)
10 September 2010 – Burst City, Brisbane (All Ages)
17 September 2010 – Bar Open, Melbourne (18+)
19 September 2010 – The Nash, Geelong (18+)
24 September 2010 – The Metro, Adelaide (18+)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Corby Announces Intimate EP Shows

Matt Corby is refusing to sit still in the months leading up to the release of his EP Transition to Colour. He will head to London to record his debut album in September before returning home for two shows.

Following the EP’s release on October 8, Matt will play the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on October 13, followed by Melt Bar in Kings Cross on October 14. Matt plans to invite several  guests to share the stage with him, so the nights are promising to be something special. These gigs are somewhat of a teaser before Matt embarks on a full length EP tour.

Tickets are available from the venues and by clicking the links above for these intimate shows.

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Declaration of Independence” – The Earth Republic

This morning I’ve been listening to Declaration of Independence, the solid debut EP from Sydney rockers The Earth Republic.

It’s a fitting name for the EP, which the band wrote and co-produced. This real independence allows the band to play around with their sound to deliver something that is eclectic, yet instantly accessible.

The opening track “Breaking It Again” is emotive and deeply powerful, if a little mournful after a couple of spins. I enjoyed it, but was thrilled to see the band switch gears for “Stop.” This song has one of the best bass lines I’ve ever heard, and that infectious groove makes this track one of the EP’s stand-outs for me. I also love “Vain,” a delightfully schitzophrenic song that swings wildly between rip-snorting riffs and more relaxed, jaunty rhythms. The closing track “Ready to Go,” really kicks along; I instantly thought it might be what Golden Earring would do if they were to write a sequel to “Radar Love.” Even if it is a bit derivative, it’s bags of fun.

The Earth Republic have generously posted all of the EP’s tracks online so you can hear them for yourself. Personally I’m impressed. The band hints at something really special here, and I have a feeling it’d be fully realised in the live arena. When a record makes you want to get out there and see the band on the stage, I think it’s done its job.

Image source: The Earth Republic website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Demon Parade Announce EP Launch Tour

Melbourne indie rockers Demon Parade are heading out on the road to support the release of their debut EP, God Said It’s Legal.

The band’s sound is like a meeting of 90s Britpop with 70s psychedelic rock, with its swirling guitars and lush harmonies. The EP was clearly a labour of love for the band; singer-songwriter and guitarist Michael Badger recorded and mixed the album at his own Jaya Jaya studios. Being so close to the project allowed Michael to bring out Demon Parade’s dense, ethereal sound. Take a listen to the first single “Do You Believe In Hell” here.

The band will play shows along the East Coast this August and September. While the music speaks for itself, it’s only going to sound better in the flesh. You can catch Demon Parade at the following shows.

7 August 2010 – Rats, Melbourne (with Wolf & Cub)
13 August 2010 – Missing Link Instore, Melbourne
13 August 2010 – The Birmingham, Fitzroy (with Guests Slight Of Build and Buried Feather) 14 August 2010 – The National Hotel, Geelong (with The Frowning Clouds)
19 August 2010 – Melt Bar, Sydney
20 August 2010 – The Grand Hotel, Wollongong  (with Royal Chant Doors)
28 August 2010 – The Espy, Melbourne (with The Fearless Vampire Killers)
3 September 2010 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne (with The Checks)
10 September 2010 – Neverland, Gold Coast (with Villains of Wilhelm)
15 September 2010 – The Filth @ Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (with Cabins)
17 September 2010 – The Filth @ The Ivanhoe, Manly
17 September 2010 – Mum @ World Bar, Sydney (late show)
18 September 2010 – Gallery Bar @ Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney (with The Salvagers)
25 September 2010 – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Heaps a Flash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Mushu” – Mushu

The self-titled EP from Sydney band Mushu crossed my desk earlier this week, and it’s taken up permanent residence in my stereo. In just six tracks this exciting act has made a big impression on me.

It all starts with the attention grabbing “Neap Tide,” a powerful track which juxtaposes gorgeous sweet harmonies with wailing guitars. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, but one that manages to work.

Mushu are no strangers to this kind of unlikely pairing. Lead singer Simone’s vocals are warm and lush, with a gentle emotional rasp. Her voice struck a real personal chord with me; it’s got a quiet feminine strength about it. It gets even stronger when paired with Mushu’s big sounds, those insistent guitars on “Neap Tide,” the pounding piano and driving strings of “Don’t Forget Me.”

The first half of the EP shocks your senses, while the second settles into a gentler groove. The music is more subtle here, although you’d never accuse it of fading into the background. “Paper Aeroplane” was a standout for me, with its gorgeous lyrics and compelling raw emotion. I was also shocked by the stunning crescendo the band builds in “Carousel Heart.”

In this EP Mushu have proven to be a band that’s impossible to ignore. In a sea of beige musical acts, that is a very good thing.

Mushu’s self-titled EP is available through iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aeons To Give Away New Beyond the Satellites EP

Sydney electro-pop duo Aeons are preparing to release their debut EP Beyond the Satellites this month, and they want you to enjoy it for free.

I’ve heard the first track from this five-song release, “Where The Sky Meets the Sea,” and I’ve got to say I’m impressed. I’m not typically a fan of electronic music, but this isn’t the kind of thing you need to hear in a club to appreciate. The track is well crafted, the vocals superb, and the sound very slick. Click here to give it a listen!

I shouldn’t be surprised though, as Aeons enlisted the help of Diamond Cut, the producer behind remixes for Cassette Kids, Amy Meredith, Delta Goodrem, and loads more. The lads themselves are no slouches, having performed at Parklife and remixed the likes of Lisa Mitchell and Deep Sea Arcade.

Beyond the Satellites will be released on June 18 through Aeons’ Bandcamp and MySpace pages.

Image used with permission from Aeons