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Following a hugely successful launch of their debut single, new Yolŋu surf-rock band King Stingray have released a mesmerising new video for ‘Hey Wanhaka’.
Premiering at the Clipped Music Video Festival this past weekend, the animated video for Hey Wanhaka was created by the band’s guitarist, Roy Kellaway, along with artist and long time mate, Kayla Flett. “This clip tells a story of the Stingray man travelling around the Territory.” explains Kellaway, “The Stingray man meets up with the Lorrpu (white cockatoo) and they party and celebrate together. The cockatoo is then putting the word out to everything “Hey! Wanhaka? Whats everyone up to?“.
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John Carpenter has shared a new single and visualiser for “The Dead Walk,” a track from his first album of non-soundtrack music in nearly five years, Lost Themes III: Alive After Death (set for release February 5 from Sacred Bones).
The song’s pulsing synths and skittering hi-hats calls to mind a zombie apocalypse situated in a discotheque, a mental image reinforced by the accompanying visualiser in which artwork by Boneface is given creepy life by Liam Brazier’s animation. The clip also hints toward a more detailed visual collaboration to come.
Underpinning Carpenter’s musical renaissance has been his ongoing and evolving collaboration with Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies. They’ve composed and performed as a trio since the first Lost Themes album in 2015: on studio albums, on soundtracks, and onstage.
On Lost Themes III, the trio reaches a new level of creative mind meld as richly rendered worlds are built in the interplay between Davies’s guitar and the duelling synthesisers played by the Carpenters. But whereas the original Lost Themes album came as a pleasant surprise after years of relative silence from Carpenter, the third instalment sees him in the midst of a resurgent moment as a cultural force. The trio’s 2018 Halloween score gave his music its biggest audience in decades, and the world he releases his new album into is one that has, at long last, given him the credit he deserves as a founding father of modern electronic music.
LOST THEMES III: ALIVE AFTER DEATH TRACK LIST
1. Alive After Death
2. Weeping Ghost
3. Dripping Blood
4. Dead Eyes
5. Vampire’s Touch
6. Cemetery
7. Skeleton
8. Turning the Bones
9. The Dead Walk
10. Carpathian Darkness
In early 2021 Midnight Oil will perform a handful of special outdoor concerts called Makarrata Live. At each show, the band will be joined on stage by an incredible line up of First Nations collaborators for a unique concert event featuring music from their #1 mini album The Makarrata Project plus iconic Midnight Oil songs of Reconciliation from throughout their career.
These gigs will seek to elevate The Uluru Statement From The Heart which calls for a Makarrata – or “truth telling” – to account for the theft of lands and displacement of First Nations people. The shows will take place in strict accordance with each state’s Covid19 protocols. Due to the huge logistical challenges involved, these events will only be staged at one venue in SA, QLD, NSW, VIC & ACT making them each a unique live experience. The band is aware that many fans will be disappointed that the tour is visiting such a limited number of locations but Midnight Oil will tour in their own right later in 2021 by which time large indoor shows can hopefully be staged safely and without compromise throughout Australia and New Zealand at least.
Makarrata Live will be previewed at Sirromet Wines (near Brisbane) on Sunday 28 February, before its official world premiere on Monday 8 March at WOMADelaide in South Australia (at which the band will also perform a one-off headline performance on Saturday 6 March). The Makarrata Live dates will then follow on at Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley on Saturday 13 March and Canberra’s Stage 88 on Wednesday 17 March before a grand finale at Geelong’s Mt Duneed Estate on Saturday 20 March. For full tour and ticketing info see below.
“We’re relieved and excited at the thought of finally playing music to live audiences again”, said Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett. “Lots of the songs which have struck the deepest chords with our audiences over the years, like Beds Are Burning, Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers, The Dead Heart and Truganini, revolve around Indigenous issues so we’re definitely inspired to be playing a set that combines older songs like those with newer songs that share similar lyrical themes.”
“The most fulfilling part of The Makarrata Project came through collaborating with so many First Nations artists during those recording sessions”, adds the band’s guitarist and keyboard player, Jim Moginie. “I think everyone’s looking forward to seeing what shape all the music from different eras takes as those gifted singers add their voices to it live. We’ve never done anything like this so it feels good to still be pushing the envelope a bit despite everything that’s happened in 2020.”
Midnight Oil originally planned to play some Makarrata Live concerts earlier this year including a headlining slot at Splendour In The Grass. Those plans were unfortunately delayed by Covid19 and were then thrown into doubt by the harrowing terminal illness of long-time bass player, Bones Hillman. However, Bones urged his bandmates to proceed with these live shows to help draw focus to the new recordings the group had all made together late last year. In fact, just a few hours before his tragic passing he received confirmation that The Makarrata Project had debuted at the top of the ARIA Album Charts. It was Midnight Oil’s first new music #1 since Hillman’s very first record with the band, Blue Sky Mining, way back in 1990.
“Bonesy leaves giant shoes to fill but we’ll need to find a new bass player for this tour”, said drummer Rob Hirst. “On this issue Bones was clear: ‘the show must go on!’, he said, ‘as soon as it’s safe to play gigs again’. We’re hoping that these Makarrata Live shows will increase awareness of The Uluru Statement From The Heart and further the reconciliation between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians, we’ll also be dedicating the tour to Bones.”
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With the release of ‘Punching Bag’ this month, Dust Of Us gave fans further insight into the layered and idiosyncratic world of their upcoming debut EP. Collaborating with talented Australian-born, UK-based vocalist Jess Chalker gave the song additional emotive heft and a melodic beauty to offset its dark lyrical content.
Today, Dust Of Us delivers two special remixes of the track – one by cinematic Brisbane indie-pop group Fresco Kyoto and the other by Melbourne-based production whiz Super Magic Hats. The two artists offer drastically different reinterpretations that take the original song into colourful different territory.
“A dynamic, textured indie-pop dreamland.”
Left Bank Magazine
“‘The Swans’ is a remarkable musical piece that evokes a magical landscape and a serenity that is hard to find in these type of tracks.”
Synthpopyourworld
“Beautiful song, well executed. Really like the way it falls into a deeper song with its progression, without taking away from the delicacy of the production.”
Double J, Zan Rowe
“It gently seeps. The production is super cool, I can’t stop listening to it. I just want to know what next element you twist or work into the track. Nice, guys.”
Triple J, Claire Mooney
‘Punching Bag’ is out now via Double Drummer / Believe
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed
Armed with infectious bass lines and vocal swagger that is intriguing as it is seductive, Melbourne trio VINNY return with brand new single, ‘Fire’. As their second release for the year, the group have taken a deep dive into some sharp and edgy rock vibes, flecked out with funk and indie influences.
‘Fire’ is the perfect starting point for newcomers to the VINNY sound and with its release, the band says ‘Welcome’; let the music wrap you up as you get your head around who this band is at their core.
And who is VINNY at their core? Self described as forming from ‘the pits of a dark neon lit disco church’, the band is vocalist/percussionist Josh Aubry, guitarist/synths player Jim Stirton and guitarist Tony Clay. Together, the band’s influences range from hedonistic images of a Studio 54 mythology, the seedy dancefloors of Melbourne’s clubs and slick sorts of soundtracks that can only be found in Spaghetti Westerns. The music’s over the top and drenched in grooves and tight in its delivery, testament to the band’s history of writing and performing with one another.
Debut track ‘Chaos’ was released back in May and it was just as the title indicated; a hectic way for VINNY to make their presence known. ‘Fire’ takes things a step further, giving the listener an outlet to let their hair down and immerse themselves in the melodies and confident arrangement.
As to where ‘Fire’ came together? VINNY reminisces on a chance encounter in a setting far, far from Melbourne’s inner city suburbs.
“We had this groove and feeling in our bones. We were lying poolside sipping pina coladas, watching the sun go down when out of nowhere, a topless, coconut-oiled man walked past us down to the beach playing his saxophone, shooting fire out of the bell (thus the name, ‘Fire’). We befriended him and asked if he would come into the studio that night to help us finish off the track. We worked throughout the night and finished the song by sunrise.” VINNY
‘Fire’ is out now!
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed
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Lexington, KY three-piece Too Close To Touch have dropped the fourth volume of their EP series I’m Hard To Love But So Are You.
“As we close out what has surely been one of the most difficult years for all of us, we’re both humbled and happy to bring you a new batch of songs from Too Close,” says vocalist Keaton Pierce. “I would say that this group is definitely the most diverse, and hits a pretty broad range on the spectrum of what we’ve released in the past. It feels fitting though, as this year has delivered such a wide array of emotions to everyone- Happiness, anger, sadness, hopefulness, and at times, hopelessness. As always, thank you for listening. It means the world to us, and hopefully you as well.”
The band has also released the music video for “Pick Me Up,” animated by Andrew Onorato (Billie Eilish, Childish Gambino), which you can watch, here. The track, produced and mixed by Daniel Muckala (Nick Carter, Echosmith), “relates to experiences dealing and coping with struggles and painful challenges we face,” explains the band. “There’s nothing worse than the feeling of being alone when facing the unfamiliar. Not knowing who or what you can trust. That period of status can make or break us, and lead to seemingly uncontrollable moments where we act out of panic and fear.”
LISTEN TO I’M HARD TO LOVE BUT SO ARE YOU, VOL. 4
Too Close To Touch is Keaton Pierce (vocals), Mason Marble (guitar), and Kenny Downey (drums).
The band’s releases include the EP series I’m Hard To Love But So Are You (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3), the songs series of “Leave You Lonely”, “Before I Cave In”, “Burn,” and their albums Nerve Endings (2015), and Haven’t Been Myself (2016).
In 2016, Too Close To Touch won the award for Best Underground Band at the Alternative Music Press Awards. Haven’t Been Myself debuted on the Billboard charts as the #3 Alternative Artist Album, #9 Top New Artist Album, and #133 Billboard Top 200 Current Album.
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FOLLOW MATT STORM:
Website | Spotify | Facebook |
FOLLOW IVAN HARTLE:
Website | Spotify | Facebook |
UK house music heavyweights Gorgon City have revealed a new dancefloor focused banger ‘Trapdoor’. The UK & Chicago based duo of Kye Gibbon and Matt Robson Scott have become known for their addictive take on bass driven vocal and deep house; carving out a distinct and instantly recognisable sound after producing a string of chart hits and underground dance floor moments.
The prolific pair have clocked up over 1.5 billion global streams to their name and close to 10 million singles sold across their career.
Gorgon City’s club focused REALM imprint is home to the duo’s more underground and instrumental house cuts, which often emerge to fans for the first time via the duo’s packed DJ sets – previous tracks include ‘Lick Shot’, ‘Delicious’, ‘Elizabeth Street’ ‘Roped In’ ‘Motorola’ & ‘Grooves On The Vinyl’.
Their latest single ‘Trapdoor’; a playfully euphoric and driving house number was no different having been road tested to packed crowds in the Gorgon City REALM club shows in late 2019 and now comes packed alongside three previous label classics.
With an impressively growing discography packed full of outstanding releases, the past 18 months have seen Gorgon City release a series of standout singles. The recent ‘Burning’ ft Brooklyn singer Evan Giia accompanied by remixes from Snakehips and Ben Hemsley. The unmistakable track ‘House Arrest’ with Sofi Tukker clocked up over 12 Million streams in 10 weeks, topped international radio playlists and hit the #1 spot on US Dance Radio. The duo also collaborated with house music royalty ‘MK’ on ‘There For You’ and continued their innovative trailblazing with ‘Nobody’ featuring Chicago duo DRAMA.
The band are working towards and string of live dates for 2021, a staple part of Gorgon City’s offering to fans. 2019 saw amazing live sets around the world including Coachella and EDC Vegas, Israel’s Get Lost Festival as well as sold out UK shows at Printworks, Warehouse Project, Tobacco Dock and dates all around Europe and the US.
Gorgon City ‘REALM’ EP is out now
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MACEO PLEX – ‘CINEMAX’
MINISTRY OF SOUND & ELLUM AUDIO
OUT NOW
Maceo Plex unveils his latest single titled ‘Cinemax’. Released via Ministry Of Sound and Ellum Audio, ‘Cinemax’ is available to stream and purchase from today.
Created this year in the midst of a global pandemic and much political uncertainty, ‘Cinemax’ is the follow up single to ‘Nu World’ which saw all proceeds donated to the American Civil Liberties Union’s campaign to fight voter suppression in the 2020 US election. ‘Cinemax’ sees Maceo Plex sample Alice Russell and The Quantic Soul Orchestra’s ‘Pushin’ On’, utilising the sample to symbolise resilience and unity as we move forward into the new year.
“We are leaving the past behind. Time to unify, leave the racism and division behind us. The lyrics tell this story. The song itself is a deep chugger, always building with forwarding momentum” – Maceo Plex
Returning to Ministry Of Sound following the 2019 single, ‘When the Lights Are Out’ which received an array of media support from the likes of Resident Advisor, Billboard, Mixmag, DJ Mag and more, ‘Cinemax’ is a further exhibition of Maceo Plex’s signature studio output, fusing melodic house and brooding techno. A standout track in recent sets with fans and like-minded artists searching online for news of an official release, Alice Russell’s vocal sample is instantly recognizable and was also used on Oliver Dollar and Jimi Jules’ 2014 house hit ‘Pushing On’. Released via Defected Records and Ministry Of Sound, ‘Pushing On’ peaked at #15 in the UK singles chart
An artist who has crafted a remarkably impressive discography of productions across the sphere of electronic music and beyond, Maceo Plex’s ‘Cinemax’ follows a string of acclaimed singles / remixes this year. Highlighted by two official remixes for Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, September’s ‘Nu World’ and most recently, an official remix of Faithless’ ‘Synthesizer’.
The leading electronic producer, artist and live act, Maceo Plex’s accolades are in abundance. The figurehead behind the seminal underground label, Ellum Audio, Maceo Plex has released four studio albums, mix compilations for London’s fabric and !K7’s DJ-Kicks series, along with an impressive catalogue of productions under his Mariel Ito and Maetrik aliases. Having curated several BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix’s, headlining global festivals and gracing the cover of many a magazine from Mixmag to DJ Mag, Maceo Plex has also remixed artists including Coldcut, Röyksopp, GusGus, DJ T, Maribou State, Perry Farrell, Faithless and more. The start of 2020 also saw Maceo Plex announce plans for a new three-part, multidimensional sensory experience live show titled ‘M³’.
Maceo Plex ‘Cinemax’ is out now via Ministry Of Sound & Ellum Audio
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