Remo Drive return! Today they’ve revealed details of their highly awaited new album, A Portrait of an Ugly Man, which sees its release June 26 via Epitaph Records. With its acrobatic guitar work, deeply self-referential lyrics and off-the-walls energy, the album calls back to the dextrous, eccentric sound that helped the band – brothers Erik (vocals, guitar) and Stephen (bass) Paulson – explode into the underground with their 2017 debut.
Remo Drive sound larger than ever on the album’s hook-filled, indie rock anthem, “Star Worship”. The lead single preaches the need to eschew reverence for others and instead trust in yourself. It comes accompanied with a video which the brothers shot in their parents garage to keep busy during the ongoing quarantine.
A slice of tremolo-heavy classic rock filtered through the lens of the gunslinging American West, Remo Drive’s third album, A Portrait of an Ugly Man finds them truly in their element – both physically and sonically. Whereas the Paulsons filtered their buoyant songwriting through the concise lens of storytellers like Bruce Springsteen and The Killers on Natural, Everyday Degradation, A Portrait of an Ugly Man is more spontaneous, bolstered by the same charm and levity that made 2017’s Greatest Hits such an underground favourite.
“I wanted to get back to playing guitar the way I used to, and then throw songwriting on top of that,” Erik says. “On the last album, I approached playing guitar in a more songwriter-y way. I had really scaled it back so it wouldn’t be as hard for me to sing and play simultaneously, but the guitar is way more forward again now.”
Self-produced and mixed, A Portrait of an Ugly Man feels all at once familiar and fresh. Taking shape in their parent’s basement, the space breathed a looseness into the songs, while the freedom of the sessions left the band able to explore the next evolution of their sound.
As such, the 10-song set tips its hat to both the classic rock the brothers grew up on as well as previously untapped influences: Erik namechecks desert-rock artists like Queens of the Stone Age while admitting The Good, The Bad and The Ugly soundtrack and his binge-watching of old Westerns contributed to the album’s tumbleweed pastiche. But this time around, the guiding hands of their musical influences are consciously less overt.
That unflinching sense of self-awareness is what made Remo Drive so endearing as they found their footing in the mid-2010s, but it’s never been as crystalized as it is on A Portrait of an Ugly Man. The loathsomeness Paulson explores on the album certainly reflect less glamorous aspects of both his psyche and that of others, but when they’re cut with his quick wit and self-deprecation, they seem less like an actual indictment and more of an embrace of all of life’s imperfection and absurdity. “I was bumming myself out by trying to be more serious than I actually am,” Erik admits. “On this album, I wanted to write stuff that still communicated real ideas but had a bit of lighthearted, fun energy to it.”
In turning the mirror back at themselves in this way, Remo Drive have learned a lot about who they really are: A Portrait of an Ugly Man is an album that doesn’t seek to minimize important subjects like mental health or self-worth, but rather welcome them in and accept them as part of what it means to be human. The record also cements their place as an insular, self-sustaining act who don’t need shiny gear or expensive studios to produce a great album – that task starts and ends with the songs themselves. And, as it turns out, the recording process was proof that when it comes to a nurturing, creative environment, there’s no place like home.
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![Photo credit: The Sauce / Kane Lehanneur Australia’s funkiest musical export Ocean Alley are thrilled to announce their highly anticipated third album Lonely Diamond, out independently June 19 with distribution via UNIFIED Music Group. The news follows the premiere of their latest single from the record, ‘Hot Chicken’, on triple j last night, and comes off the back of the recent postponement of their Australian tour until 2021. Album pre-orders go live 9am AEST Wednesday 29 April from here. Watch ‘Hot Chicken’ via YouTube here. Grappling with spiralling out of control, ‘Hot Chicken’ encapsulates the seduction and suffering that comes from wrestling with the devil on one’s shoulder. Accentuated by the dangerous edge to vocalist Baden Donegal’s voice, ‘I’ll be the razor if you want to play’, the taunting driving guitars intensify the feeling to fight. Threaded with echoes of an Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western score, the song’s expansive soundscape grows and conquers, transporting the listener to the middle of a dusty stand-off in a state of isolation and emptiness. Drawing from the nostalgia of music eras past, Lonely Diamond combines 70s guitar rock, country and western, old school funk and synth-heavy new wave to create a deeply contemplative and atmospheric odyssey reminiscent of music legends including Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits and Pink Floyd. From its sprawling opening notes, the record feels like a seamless progression following their last album, 2018’s Chiaroscuro, with exploration and escapism forming two central themes that unfold and transform across the 12 tracks. Guitarist Mitch Galbraith explains, “It’s pushing forward into the unknown… taking a journey to a different place or a different time that seems familiar or that you’ve been before and all the emotions and feels that come with that.” There’s an ingrained familiarity with this record from the first listen – all the elements that define Ocean Alley’s sound are there, but more intricately arranged; new instruments are introduced, the production is pushed to new limits and the band has created complete synergy between each track. Album opener ‘Dahlia’ mystically sets the scene with an intergalactic introduction, while the introspective title-track ‘Lonely Diamond’ engulfs the listener in a wave of melancholy before finding purpose with warmth and tenderness. Hopefulness is intrinsically linked with these anxieties, feelings and experiences explored, and the bright and dreamy ‘Up In There’ creates an uplifting sense of reassurance that everything will be okay, with its soaring harmonies, swirling guitars and ethereal keys. Produced by long-time collaborator Callum Howell at the idyllic Grove Studios (built by INXS’ Garry Gary Beers), Lonely Diamond follows the success of Ocean Alley’s acclaimed second full-length LP Chiaroscuro. With its infectious blend of psychedelic surf-rock, the record propelled the band into national prominence and saw them sell 25,000 tickets over 15 sold out shows that year in Australia alone – culminating with their ARIA nominated, double platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ taking out #1 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018. Their breakthrough year was backed-up with 30 sold out shows around the world in 2019, plus major festival appearances at Reading & Leeds Festival (UK), Splendour In The Grass (AUS), Sziget (HU), BottleRock (US) and more, with the band amassing more than 250 million streams to date. OCEAN ALLEY – LONELY DIAMOND [LP] Out independently June 19 with distribution via UNIFIED Music Group Pre-order from 9am AEST 29 April here Lonely Diamond track list: 1. Dahlia 2. Tombstone 3. Way Down 4. Infinity 5. Up In There 6. All Worn Out 7. Stained Glass 8. Lonely Diamond 9. Wet Dreams 10. Hot Chicken 11. Puesta de Sol 12. Luna OCEAN ALLEY AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2021 with Psychedelic Porn Crumpets & Dulcie Tickets on sale now from oceanalley.com.au Saturday 6 February - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney SOLD OUT Sunday 7 February – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Friday 12 February – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane SOLD OUT Saturday 13 February – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Friday 5 March – Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth Friday 12 March – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Wednesday 24 March – Melbourne Arena, Melbourne Presented by triple j, Lonely Lands Agency & UNIFIED Music Group Follow Ocean Alley: oceanalley.com.au facebook.com/oceanalleyband twitter.com/oceanalleyau @oceanalleyband](https://controls.islaoceana.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/OCEAN-ALLEY-ANNOUNCE-THEIR-HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED.jpg "OCEAN ALLEY ANNOUNCE THEIR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED")
Photo credit: The Sauce / Kane Lehanneur
Australia’s funkiest musical export Ocean Alley are thrilled to announce their highly anticipated third album Lonely Diamond, out independently June 19 with distribution via UNIFIED Music Group. The news follows the premiere of their latest single from the record, ‘Hot Chicken’, on triple j last night, and comes off the back of the recent postponement of their Australian tour until 2021.
Album pre-orders go live 9am AEST Wednesday 29 April from here. Watch ‘Hot Chicken’ via YouTube here.
Grappling with spiralling out of control, ‘Hot Chicken’ encapsulates the seduction and suffering that comes from wrestling with the devil on one’s shoulder. Accentuated by the dangerous edge to vocalist Baden Donegal’s voice, ‘I’ll be the razor if you want to play’, the taunting driving guitars intensify the feeling to fight. Threaded with echoes of an Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western score, the song’s expansive soundscape grows and conquers, transporting the listener to the middle of a dusty stand-off in a state of isolation and emptiness.
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Australian band The Buckleys will close off their World Virtual Tour presented by Live Nation on Thursday 30 April with the goal to reach an audience of over 1M from across the globe as they conclude their run with a performance for their home country Australia & New Zealand at 6pm AEST / 8pm NZST.
Sarah, Lachlan and Molly Buckley are encouraging the Australian media and their fans to rally behind them and tune in for their final show on Thursday night.
“Please help us hit a million for our very first global virtual tour! We really hope our home country gets behind us,” Says, Sarah Buckley.
The Buckleys are a three-piece band of siblings (Sarah 20, Lachlan 18 and Molly 17 years of age), The Buckleys worked since they were young children towards their dream of a record deal, the release of their first album and tour and had scheduled the release of their single “Money” in March and their first international tour was due to kick off in April but global lockdown has seen them get creative.
The Buckleys World Virtual Tour came to fruition after lifelong friends CM Murphy and Arthur Fogel, along with Linda Kury and Devon Buchanan commenced urgent discussions on how to tour The Buckleys whilst the world was on lockdown. Mr Fogel’s right hand person, Tiffany Hilliard came up with the concept to tour the world virtually by countries and regions.
Last month, the band embarked on their first-ever virtual tour of North America, and by the end of the run, they will have played 18 shows across Europe, Asia, South America, New Zealand, and Australia – all from the comfort of their living room.
“I don’t think Australians have actually caught on to the fact that their own artist has been out there making music streaming records. Personally, I am stunned by the results so far. If the Australian people and our New Zealand cousins catch a seriously great live show, we will break a million engagements on their first World Virtual Tour. I am so proud of The Buckleys family, they carry the same mandate my showbiz mother and father gave me, the show must go on!” Says CM Murphy, Petrol Records Founder & Chairman.
Catch the final live show from The Buckleys on their World Virtual Tour:
THURSDAY April 30 @ 6pm AEST / 8pm NZST
Australia & New Zealand – https://www.facebook.com/LiveNationOzNz/
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Melbourne-based electropop artist Lakelend has today released ‘Fall Down’, a euphoric debut for the solo project of former Storm The Sky guitarist and songwriter Lachlan Avis.
Combining dreamy synths, smooth beats and Lachlan’s heartfelt vocals, the upbeat track tells the decidedly downbeat story of Lachlan’s first love and, by extension, first break up. In a word, ‘Fall Down’ explores a lover’s betrayal. “It creates a nostalgic yet heartbreaking feeling upon listening that was written for those that really need it – including myself,” Lachlan explains. Mixing vulnerability with likeability, and turning pain into something upbeat, Lachlan has created an entirely relatable sound that “people can listen to, drive to and dance to,” Lachlan continues.
Drawing influence from artists such as Lauv, LANY, The 1975 and The Chainsmokers – Lakelend was created after two years working with renowned producers Cam Bluff (Amy Shark, Illy, Hilltop Hoods, Allday), Xavier Dunn (Peking Duk, Graace, Jack River) and the MSquared team Michael Paynter & Michael DeLorenzis (Aloe Blacc, CXLOE). It is his first project since the breakup of alternative rock band Storm The Sky, with whom he toured extensively and released two ARIA Top 50 albums.
Don’t miss the start of something big.
‘Fall Down’ is OUT NOW.
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SUPPORT FOR ‘FA-FA-FADING’
“Fa-Fa-Fading is a literal dream; a soft-sung haze of melodies and harmonies that unite for this cloudy, dream-pop sound that still bites with the Timi Temple-esque crunch.”
– PIlerats (AUS)
“Big fan of Timi’s stuff. He packs more little sonic easter eggs into his tracks than the credits of a Marvel movie.” – 4/5 stars
Dave Ruby Howe – triple j (AUS)
Sydney-based DIY indie-rock artist Timi Temple has just revealed his infectious new single ‘Fa-Fa-Fading’ – produced and recorded by the artist himself.
‘Fa-Fa-Fading’ is a kaleidoscope of growling indie-rock, that takes cues from luminaries The White Stripes, Mac DeMarco and The Kills. The enigmatic track is a scintillating blend of driving guitar riffs, hefty drums and reverberating vocals. Building towards a heartfelt spoken-word bridge, the song carries its momentum through to an anthemic final chorus.
Timi talks about the meaning behind ‘Fa-Fa-Fading’:
“Fa-fa-fading is pretty much the soundtrack to my first few months of life post long-term breakup. There wasn’t a single activity I could do where I wasn’t reminded of my ex. From mundane things such as walking my dog to friends asking where my ‘former’ half was, and eventually it frustrated me to the point where this song popped out. Surprisingly, during the cathartic course of writing this song, having my memories down on ‘paper’ meant I was haunted by them less and less in real life.”
Timi has consistently toured the country, selling out venues across NSW, including Waywards, Oxford Art Factory Gallery, The Vanguard and Marly Bar, as well as touring with established acts like Baker Boy, Kilter, Cosmo’s Midnight and Bootleg Rascal.
As a performer he’s also featured on triple j‘s Like A Version with Kilter, Cosmo’s Midnight and Kota Banks, and performed at Australian festival juggernauts Splendour In The Grass, Field Day, Listen Out, Yours & Owls and Falls Festival.
Previous singles have seen strong support from radio tastemakers triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, 4ZZZ, RTR FM, 2XX and a slew of other Australian community radio stations. His catalogue has received praise from online tastemakers Indie Shuffle (ZAF), Clash Magazine (UK), We Love That (DEU), Hi Five For (CAN), Monster Children, Pilerats, Life Without Andy, Purple Sneakers, Savage Thrills, The AU Review and Best Before.
In the coming weeks Timi Temple will reveal an accompanying music video for ‘Fa-Fa-Fading’.
‘Fa-Fa-Fading’ is available worldwide now
FOLLOW TIMI TEMPLE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
![Grammy and Ivor Novello nominated live phenomenon Elderbrook hands over the baton to acclaimed Dutch DJ and producer Joris Voorn to deliver a pulsating and powerful re-work of his emotive new single ‘Numb’. Voorn is one of the most renowned and revered producer to come out of The Netherlands, sitting at the epicentre of the Dutch electronic music scene with his melting pot of underground house and techno. His prolific 2019 4th studio album \\\\ [four] boasts an impressive cast list of collaborations including the iconic Underworld, and further cements his global contribution across the last two decades as an international DJ, producer and label owner. His re-edit of ‘Numb’ adds another layer of intricacy to the track, delivering a deep, dark, yet euphoric backdrop with his distinctive, crisp drum production. Elderbrook’s trademark vocals float over the uplifting, metronomic pulses of the Dutch studio heavyweight, resulting in a potent dancefloor moment. ‘Numb’ continues to cement Elderbrook as a multi-faceted talent with a passion for storytelling, an artist who can easily explore and push boundaries within his genre, centred around exploring themes of human connection. The single follows the explosive 2019 Rudimental collaboration ‘Something About You’ with the single amassing over 50M combined streams, 14M video views and earning the producer his 2nd #1 at US Dance Radio. Collaborations with Camelphat, Diplo, Black Coffee and Rudimental have earnt him a revered reputation across the board as a live act, multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer/songwriter. Across the last month Elderbrook's home-streamed isolation sessions have showcased his versatility as an artist, delivering a top-tier fan experience live and direct from his kitchen, teasing moments from his exemplary debut album which is set for a summer release. CONNECT W/ JORIS VOORN Website Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube SoundCloud Spotify CONNECT W/ ELDERBROOK Website Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube SoundCloud Spotify](https://controls.islaoceana.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Elderbrook-releases-Joris-Voorn-remix.png "Elderbrook releases Joris Voorn remix")
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Following the release of their hit new single in late 2019 Diplo & SIDEPIECE’s single ‘On My Mind’ they now reveal an insane new video which could arguably stand confidently for video of the year. On a steady journey to the top of the global charts the single has reached almost 20 million combined streams and been chosen by BBC Radio 1 as ‘Tune Of The Week’, as well as reaching #1 at U.S. Dance Radio
Using intense visual effects and a small but motley cast of characters, the video delivers a totally unexpected and fun work of art. Seemingly an exceptionally high-end artistic production, the video for ‘On My Mind’ was created using a new technology supplied by the ‘Sway’ app that uses Al- powered motion filters that can make any regular Joe throw some serious shapes.
Curtailing the spirit of dancing and grooving that the song trajects, the ‘On My Mind’ video provides a truly unique visualiser for the internationally acclaimed song.
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From the minute the signature house drums roll in, Maya entwines romance and melancholy accented by the velvety vocals of Claudia Kane on a track that is proving to be a huge dance floor weapon in recent weeks.
It’s been ten years since the British-Japanese producer unleashed the often sampled, modern house classic “What They Say” and “Run To You” feels like another modern classic has been born. The relentless uncompromising detail in “Run To You’ is another affirmation to influence others. The tracks cavernous mix of both fresh and familiar textures demonstrates that sometimes delving into a new territory marks a more acquainted sound than ever. “Run to You” looks set to dominate charts and playlists, propelling the prolific producer into the summer, Maya’s sinister and atmospheric wall of sound has a sultry and elastic taste; trademark in production quality and delivered with a sense of ease and statement.
As Maya’s alter ego Nocturnal Sunshine’s “Full Circle” album campaign continues with fervour with collaborations with Young M.A., Peaches and Ry X. Maya has proved time and again that she really brings that best out of her guests. Adding to a list of vocalist dignitaries that include Tricky and Nadine Shah to Miss Kittin and Kim Ann Foxman; Claudia Kane’s feature performance delivers a powerful debut vocal performance that’s soaked in both the tragedy and beauty while Maya stays immersed in the groove. The results are impressively adventurous.
While primed for the right club moment, Maya Jane Coles latest single “Run To You” provides an inquisitive source of identity as has her rich musical career extends confidently into yet another new space.
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PRE-ORDER ‘A RAVER’S DIARY’ HERE
ISOLADE
DUSTY KID – ‘A RAVER’S DIARY’ RE-ISSUE
RELEASE DATE: 15th MAY
One of Italy’s most talented electronic music exports, Sardinian Dusty Kid makes a return with the re-issue of his 2009 classic Techno album – ‘A Raver’s Diary’. The audio will be made available on vinyl for the first time on 15th May. As well as delivering a number of remixes from a range of electronic producers, that breathe new life into the album. Paolo Alberto Lodde AKA Dusty Kid also releases a package of never before heard B-Sides and singles. To mark the start of the project, tracks ‘Moto Perpetuo (Heat Engine)’ and ‘Pluk’ (Nicolas Bougayeff Remixes), is available to stream now.
Since its release in the late ‘00s, ‘A Raver’s’ Diary’ his set the mark for groove ridden melodic techno LPs. As it surpasses it’s 10th Anniversary, Isolade help to deliver a full package on double vinyl. Set to include new remixes, versions and B-sides; never before heard.
First appearing in the early-00’s with a string of well received releases, Dusty Kid was one of many sparks that helped usher in a new era for electronic music. With releases on globally esteemed labels such as Systematic, Bpitch Control and Mau5trap, he saw himself catapulted into the spotlight and saw support come from key international artists such as Richie Hawtin. Dusty Kid had grown organically into his global position and saw himself become a permanent fixture on the international touring circuit.
Upon its release in 2009, the album demonstrated Dusty Kid’s extraordinary flair for producing intelligent dance music. A truly versatile and classically trained musician, his eclecticism and ability to embrace diverse sounds is what has made his music so timeless and sees ‘A Raver’s Diary’ continue to electrify and inspire.
Merging direct dancefloor tracks with deep and hypnotic productions, ‘A Ravers Diary’ inspires trance inducing atmospheres that make the music engaging from the first beat. ‘The Fugue – Contrapunctus X’ pays homage to Bach’s experimentation with monothematic instrumentation. The track directly references the theory as the basis to the track with two pieces of music occurring dependently together. Instantly commanding the attention of the listener with a melodic intro and austere bassline, Dusty Kid delivers this as a darker version of the original.
Reworking original ‘Moto Perpetuo’, Dusty Kid’s ‘Heat Engine’ rework reveals an uncompromising techno track laced with trance elements. Meanwhile Freedom Fighters, adds progressive psytrance to his remix of ‘Moto Perpetuo’. The ‘Klin (Enaxri Point)’ rework is pitched up, embodying a deep electro beat, whilst ‘Amazon’ infuses ambient tones with emotive breaks. Filled with melancholy ‘America’ is a 17-minute-long opus – a lengthy piece that calls for its own ‘director’s cut’.
‘Cowboys Titles’ slows down the tempo on the album, layering synths amongst dreamy tone and edges down further with the Winter In June remix. Upping the ante, producer Ferlin’s remix of ‘Cowboy’s’ invokes acid lines whilst Andrea Cossu adds ambient and deep techno sounds. On ‘Nemur’ Dusty Kid utilises lyrics and vocals in a folk-pop techno crossover. The track receives its own acoustic cover on the project alongside a mystic remix from Grizzly and a classical ‘Walls Of Guitar’ version from Italian producer Odyzë.
Canadian Nicolas Bougayeff looks back at his roots in 90’s rave music with his remix of ‘Pluk’, delivering both his two ‘Journey’ and ‘Tool’ remixes. Italian composer and violinist Vito Gatto also remixes ‘Pluk’, delivering a string heavy track. ‘Lynchesque’ also receives a trio of remixes from Italian electronic artist Marascia, Isreali Eitan Reiter and Acid Techno Pioneer, Robert Babicz.
2020’s re-issue holds a diverse range of remixes, new versions and remasters from both Dusty Kid and friends. ‘A Raver’s Diary’ is set to reaffirm the prodigal Dusty Kid and his abilities as an electronic music artist.
Dusty Kid’s ‘A Raver’s Diary’ Vinyl Release will be available 15th May via Isolade.
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There aren’t a lot of artists out there who can turn one of dance music’s greatest classics into a genre-crossing masterpiece, but Charlotte de Witte is clearly one of them and has outdone herself once more. Today, the widely acclaimed Techno starlet presented not one but two brand-new renditions of Jerome Isma-Ae’s ‘Hold That Sucker Down’, with both the Rave Remix and Trance Remix set to appease Techno lovers and Trance enthusiasts alike.
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