Features
New Noise: Atolls, Bloods, The Stress Of Leisure, Deep Street Soul
By Doug Wallen
Mascis-style indie rock, minute-long garage, Fall comparisons and exuberant soul in this week's Soundcloud roundup of new music.
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– Slacker-anthem-of-the-year potential right here, from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard bassist Lucas Skinner’s new Geelong trio Atolls. ‘Mumbles’ is part cobwebbed garage and part Mascis-style indie rock, veering through noise and effects like a narcoleptic student driver ploughing into every second cone on a test course. The song and its companion ‘Waters’ are out digitally now, stoking anticipation for a debut EP early next year. Atolls will launch the single with fellow New Noise alums Sleep Decade on Oct. 25 at Old Bar in Melbourne and Oct. 27 at the Nash in Geelong.
[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Mumble by Atolls
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– How much can a band accomplish in a minute? In the case of Bloods’ ‘True Blue’, quite a lot. Contagious reverb, barking harmonies, a robust chorus and a carousing garage feel. The pay-what-you-like (or free) track was produced by Owen Penglis, who’s rivalling Mikey Young for most ubiquitous DIY sound engineer. It follows in the catchy footsteps of ‘Goodnight’ and their ace version of the old Spider-Man theme song. Catch Bloods live in Sydney, either tonight (Sept. 27) at FBi Social or Saturday (Sept. 29) at GoodGod.
[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Turn Blue by Bloods
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– Brisbane’s The Stress of Leisure continue to sprawl quite proudly all over the shop on their fourth album Cassowary. In fact, ‘Shark Killer’ sees frontman Ian Powne go into Mark E Smith mode and relish every minute. The earworm-y music, meanwhile, is all colour-streaked indie rock of a fond 1990s vintage. It’s the latter bedrock, not the unmistakable Fall nods, that best fits with the irreverent rest of Cassowary.
[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] shark killer by TheLavenderRoom
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– Joining the burgeoning Melbourne funk/soul ranks alongside Saskwatch and The Cactus Channel are Deep Street Soul. Similarly timeless and exuberant, the band will launch a new 7” at the Toff on Oct. 6. The single is spearheaded by the two-and-a-half-minute strut ‘Hold On Me’, lifted from the recent album Look Out, Watch Out. Yet another kindred spirit, The Perfections, are also on the launch bill.
[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Hold On Me by showoffservices
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