2014 Preview: The Year Ahead

We look ahead at the Australian releases planned for this year, including new albums from Laura Jean, HTRK, Fair Maiden, Wagons, Straight Arrows and Firekites – plus a vinyl reissue from The Dacios and retrospective from The Earthmen.

January

Dappled Cities: Many Roads. Rarities/outtakes collection coinciding with the adored Sydney band’s 10th anniversary. Out now through HUB/Inertia.

Hydromedusa: New 7” from Adelaide stoner-punk band featuring members of Rule of Thirds. Follows last year’s The Rats Have My Mind tape. Out in January through Major Crimes.

Erothug: Close to No More EP. Genre-melding three-track release by Malaysian-raised Melbourne vocalist/producer. Follows 2011’s Touching EP. Out now through Brother Sister.

Blank Realm: Grassed Inn. Fourth album by Brisbane sprawl-pop ensemble. Described by M+N as “markedly cleaner” and earning an 8.0 on Pitchfork. Out now through Bedroom Suck in Australia and Fire internationally.

Treehouse: Interzone. Second album from Hobart band to watch Treehouse, initially self-released on 100-run cassette in mid-2013. Vinyl features new artwork and insert plus a digital compilation of eight live recordings. Recorded by Simon Maisch (Wasted Idol, Manchester Mourning). Out January 28 on vinyl through Vacant Valley.

Bare Grillz: Friends. Debut album by twitchy Newcastle trio, following a 2011 cassette. Out soon digitally and on limited vinyl, jointly through Y202 and Dream Damage. Features co-production by TV Colours’ Bobby Kill and additional vocals on one song by Assassins 88. Precedes a New Zealand tour around the final Camp A Low Hum.

Matthew P Hopkins: Nocturnes. Debut album under his own name by Hopkins (Bad Tables, Lamb Puffer, Half High, Four Door, Naked on the Vague, etc) after “a decade of micro-edition cassettes and CDRs.” Recorded late last year using “synth, cassettes, FX pedals, contact mic and random objects.” Limited to 300 copies on grey vinyl. Out January 27 through new London label Vittelli.

February

Inkswel: StuffKidsLike. New digital/cassette EP from Aussie beatmaker. Follows a collaboration 12” with Merwyn. Out late February through This Thing.

Ruined Fortune: Self-titled. Debut album from Sydney “freedom rock” duo of Angie Bermuda (Circle Pit, Southern Comfort, Straight Arrows, Angie) and Nic Warnock (Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, R.I.P. Society). Follows a 2012 7”. Recorded in Brisbane over two days with Cured Pink’s Andrew McLellan producing and Daniel Spencer (Blank Realm) and Joe Alexander (Bedroom Suck, Per Purpose) splitting drum duties. Compared in the presser to Royal Trux, Chrome and Throbbing Gristle. Out TBC on CD, digital, black vinyl and 150-run gold vinyl through Hozac. Album trailer below.

The Jezabels: The Brink. Second album from bass-less Sydney quartet, following 2011’s AMP-winning Prisoner. Recorded in London with Dan Grech-Marguerat (Moby, Lana Del Rey). Out January 31 independently through MGM.

Halfway: Any Old Love. Fourth album by Brisbane eight-piece, after 2010’s An Outpost of Promise. Set in Barcaldine in the ’70s and about an “injured big-time jockey working on the Central Western Railway Line.” Out February 7 through Plus One/MGM.

Gilded: A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skilful Sailor EP. Latest from respected experimental musicians Matt Rosner and Adam Trainer. Follows 2012’s debut album Terrane. Includes remixes by Spartak and perth and a live track recorded at The Bird in Perth last year. Out February 26 through Hidden Shoal.

Harmony: Carpetbombing. Long-awaited second album, following 2011’s On Rotation debut. Recorded and mixed by the band’s Tom Lyngcoln. Features a spoken-word performance from Cold Chisel legend Don Walker and a free-download bonus record with other artists covering all 15 songs, including Adalita, Mick Turner and Summer Flake. Out February 7 through Poison City.

Clag: Twozza 7”. First new music in years from Brisbane DIY icons. Follows the 2012 retrospective Pasted Youth. Out Feb 14 through Bedroom Suck.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Oddments. Third album in under a year from Victorian seven-piece. Follows Float On – Fill Your Lungs, which won the band a $50,000 Carlton Dry Global Music Grant. Watch the video for jingle-like lead single ‘Vegemite’. Out February 14 through Flightless/Remote Control on CD and digital, with “extremely limited-edition collectors vinyl” for Record Store Day in April.

From the South: Cool, Cool Memories. Second album from Canberaa/Melbourne band led by Conor Hutchison (Cat Cat). Follows 2011’s In Horizons. Described as “a Paisley Underground sound mixed with alternative-country and dreamy harmonies.” Out on limited swirling coloured vinyl through Birds Love Fighting.

Four Hours Sleep: Self-titled third album. Follows Love Specifics, which featured Paul Kelly, Angie Hart and Stephen Cummings. Out in February through Popboomerang.

Slow Violence: New Teen Angst Pt. 2 EP. Proper debut release from genre-jumping Canberra native Advait Thakur, currently finishing a degree at RISD in the US. Follows a great many Soundcloud offerings. Out in February through Dream Damage.

Moon Dice: My Motel Room. Debut album from Ancients offshoot led by Hamish O’Neill (Isle Adore) and featuring Love of Diagrams’ Monika Fikerle. Out on cassette TBC through US label Night-People.

Yolke: Yet-to-be-titled vinyl EP. Well-travelled Melbourne band’s follow-up to last year’s Syrup EP. Described as “a bit more lo-fi, dirge-y, heavy stuff, but still on the same Kraut-y ambient tip.” Out in late February through Fallopian Tunes.

March

naps: Hydrate. New digital/cassette album from Aussie beatmaker. Out early March through This Thing.

Kane Ikin: Warehouses. Dark, brooding new EP from Melbourne producer. Follows the January single ‘Hold Tight’. Out mid-March through This Thing. Also releasing a collaboration 12” with Harvey Sutherland through This Thing in April.

Scraps: Electric Ocean. “Coming-of-age record” for spacey Brisbane bedroom-pop artist Laura Hill. Compared in the presser to Stereolab, Peaking Lights and Julia Holter. Out March 10 through Fire.

Tamas Wells: On the Volatility of the Mind. Fifth album from Burma-based Australian songwriter. Follows 2010’s Thirty People Away. Out in March through Popboomerang.

Tincture: Debut EP from Brisbane producer/musician Luke Dalton. Includes last year’s breakthrough single ‘Tryst’, featuring Otouto’s Hazel Brown. Out in March through Silo Arts.

Sally Seltmann: Hey Daydreamer. Second album since Seltmann retired the New Buffalo moniker. Follows 2010’s Heart That’s Pounding and work with Seeker Lover Keeper. Produced by her husband Darren (The Avalanches) in their attic studio, with Seltmann recording piano in the lounge room and juggling synth, organ, guitar, bass and percussion. Includes lead single ‘Billy’ and advance track ‘Needle in the Hay’. Out February 28 through Caroline.

Low Life: Dogging LP. Debut album from elusive Sydney punk trio. Follows a self-titled cassette and the Sydney Darbs 7”. Recorded and mastered in Sydney by John Duncan. Out mid-March through Negative Guest List.

M.O.B.: Self-titled. First album from Sydney band featuring Al Haddock (Whores, Raw Prawn), Yuta Lagen (Oily Boys, ex-Low Life) and violinist Laurence Williams, who helped record the album. Includes ‘Australien’. Out in March through R.I.P. Society.

Roku Music: Collider. Debut album by Brisbane shoegazers. Includes the title track single. Out March 3 through Sonic Masala.

Liars: Mess. Seventh album from restless LA trio. Produced by member and Aussie expat Angus Andrew. Follows 2012’s On Rotation WIXIW. Out March 24 through Mute.

The Night Terrors: Spiral Vortex. New album by Melbourne’s “horror synth heavyweights.” Follows 2009’s Back to Zero, reissued last year. Out February 28 through Homeless, including limited 180gm vinyl.

The Holidays: Real Feel. Second album from Sydney trio. Follows 2010’s Post Paradise, which won the Australian Music Prize’s Red Bull Award for Best Debut. Made “over two years across countless cities and continents.” Out February 21 through Liberation.

Darren Hanlon: TBA. Follow-up to 2010’s acclaimed I Will Love You at All. Out in March, reportedly.

Hello Satellites: 84000. Eva Popov’s follow-up to 2010’s self-titled debut as Hello Satellites. Produced in collaboration with Nick Huggins, J Walker (Machine Translations) and Joe Hammond. Named for the number of pores in the human body, according to Chinese medicine. Out in March through Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control.

Ernest Ellis: Cold Desire. Third album from Roland “Ernest” Ellis, following 2010’s Hunting and 2011’s King’s Canyon. Co-produced with Russell Webster from Shining Bird. Out March 7 through Spunk.

Emma Russack: Second album from well-travelled Melbourne songwriter. Follows 2010’s Sounds of Our City. Out late March through Spunk.

Kids of Zoo: Second album from Melbourne rock ‘n’ roll trio led by Tim Wold (The Specimens). Follows 2012’s self-titled first album. Out in the first quarter of the year through Every Night is a Saturday Night.

Full Ugly: Spent the Afternoon LP. Long-awaited debut album from Melbourne quartet founded by Love Connection’s Nathan Burgess. Recorded with Jack Farley (Beaches, Bitch Prefect). Includes the single ‘Drove Down’. Out March 7 through Bedroom Suck.

Postblue: I Hope They’re Praying for Me. Debut album from Byron Bay alt-rock/punk trio. Has been compared to Sugar, Smashing Pumpkins and Failure. Out March 28 through Poison City.

Luca Brasi: By a Thread. Second album from Godfather-named Tasmanian punk quartet. Follows 2011’s Extended Family and last year’s Tassie 7”, and tours with Bodyjar and Title Fight. Home-recorded with Lincoln Le Fevre and mixed by Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Murder City Devils). Out March 14 through Poison City.

April

Firekites: Long-awaited second album from Newcastle quartet. Follows 2008’s Wayne Connolly-produced The Bowery. Paging Kanye. Out in April through Spunk.

A Gender: Fixations. Second album from post-punk solo project turned trio led by Romy Hoffman (Romy, Macromantics, Noise Addict). Follows 2011’s *Self (En)Titled. Recorded with Casey Rice. Includes the single ‘Mani Pedi’. Out in March/April on digital and vinyl through French label Desire, the overseas home of Primitive Calculators.

Tiny Ruins: Second album from Auckland songwriter Hollie Fullbrook. Follows 2011’s Some Were Meant for Sea and last year’s Haunts EP. Out April 28 through Spunk.

Nakagin: Debut EP from Sydney bedroom producer. Follows last year’s “smooth and welcome” single ‘Orca’ and a split 12” with Guerre. Out in April through Silo Arts.

Ela Stiles: Self-titled. Debut solo album from Bushwalking and Songs member. Entirely a cappella. Out April 4 through Bedroom Suck.

Peter Escott: The Long O. New solo album from half of The Native Cats. Out April 4 through Bedroom Suck.

Twin Beasts: Second album from Melbourne ensemble formerly known as The Toot Toot Toots. Follows 2012’s “spaghetti western rock opera” Outlaws. Produced with Burke Reid (Gerling).

King Tears Mortuary: Asleep at the Wheel of Fortune 7” EP. Latest from Sydney garage band. Follows the five-song 7” Safe Sex. Due in April through Vacant Valley.

East Brunswick All Girls: Seven Drummers. Debut album from percussionist-unlucky Melbourne band. Follows 2009’s mini-album Dead Air. Recorded with Casey Rice (Dirty Three). Includes the Drones-esque single ‘Dirty Bird’. Due out in April independently. Pozible for the vinyl here.

The Dacios: Monkey’s Blood. Vinyl reissue of the Melbourne band’s On Rotation 2009 album. Out in April through Homeless.

Dan Sultan: Third album from Melbourne songwriter. Follows 2009’s ARIA-winning Get Out While You Can and February support dates with Bruce Springsteen. Includes the Nashville-recorded single ‘Under Your Skin’. Out in early April through Liberation.

The Creases: New EP from Brisbane duo-turned-quartet. Follows last year’s debut 7” on iconic London label Rough Trade. Out in April through Rough Trade/Remote Control.

Bruff Superior: New 7” from lo-fi Adelaide guitar-pop band featuring members of Old Mate, Body Horror and Summer Flake. Follows a self-titled debut tape from last year. Out in April through Major Crimes.

Teeth & Tongue: Third album from Jess Cornelius and company. Follows 2011’s Tambourine, ranked #12 in our Critics Poll. Includes last year’s single ‘Good Man’. Out in April through Remote Control.

Okey Szoke: Spiced Bun. Second EP from Melbourne electronic producer Sam Szoke-Burke. Follows last year’s Work. Billed as the first-ever Australian record of tarraxo, “a slow form of club music that originated in Angola and has a vibrant scene in Portugal.” Includes remixes by Nidia Minaj (Portugal/France) and labelmates Poland. Out in April through Brother Sister.

NUN: Self-titled. Debut album from goth-y Melbourne post-punk band including members of Woollen Kits and Constant Mongrel. Follows the Solvents 7”. Out April 11, with vinyl through No Patience and CD through Aarght. Two singles due before then, with launches being booked now.

Leather Towel: Debut album from Melbourne punk quartet. Mixed by Tom Hardisty (Woollen Kits, NUN) and mastered by Mikey Young. Follows the Got a Smile That I Can’t Get Rid Of EP. Out around April through Aarght.

HTRK: Psychic 9-5 Club. Much-awaited follow-up to 2011’s Critics Poll-topping Work (work, work). Hailed as “the beginning of a new chapter for HTRK.” Cut at Blazer Sound Studios in New Mexico with Excepter’s Nathan Corbin, with further work in Australia and New York. Features the advance track ‘Give It Up’. Out in April through Mistletone/Inertia (Australia/NZ) and Ghostly International (US).

The Steinbecks: Kick to Kick with the Steinbecks. First album in years from Victorian guitar-pop group, featuring Josh and Joel Meadows from Sarah Records icons The Sugargliders. Follows last year’s At Arkaroo Rock 7”. Out in April through Popboomerang.

The Icypoles: My World was Made for You. Long-time-coming debut album from Melbourne four-piece girl group. Co-produced by band member Isobel Knowles (ex-Architecture in Helsinki) with Haima Marriott, who also mixed it. Includes last year’s free single ‘Babies’. Out April 25 through Lost & Lonesome, with overseas release via Lil’ Chief (NZ) and Highline (UK/US).

Straight Arrows: Yet-to-be-titled second album from Sydney garage marauders. Follows 2010’s It’s Happening and multiple tape and 7” releases. Heralded by characteristic lead single ‘Make Up Your Mind’. Recorded to tape by frontman Owen Penglis, half in his kitchen and half in his new studio space. Out in April through Rice is Nice.

Silly Joel & The Candymen: New 7” by hot rap group and Peak Twins offshoot. Follows 2012’s ‘Hard Candy’ and other singles. Out April 18 through Bedroom Suck.

Bi-Hour: An Accident EP. Three-song debut release from Hobart weirdo-pop duo Sam Upton and Steven Wright. Limited to 100 copies of digipack CD. Out in April through Vacant Valley.

perth: Where’s My Dystopia?. Remix album for Perth band’s second album, last year’s What’s Your Utopia?. Includes remixes by GUM (Jay Watson of Tame Impala and Pond), Valerio Cosi, Mental Powers and Ghostdrums. Out April 24 through Hidden Shoal.

May

Nick Batterham: Lucky Cat. Third solo album from Melbourne songwriter. Follows last year’s Closing Time at Yah Yah’s. Out in May through Popboomerang.

Lonah: Debut EP from collaborators Oisima (Adelaide) and True North (Sydney). Coincides roughly with Oisima’s album Nicaragua Nights, planned for early 2014. Out in May through Silo Arts.

DZ Deathrays: In-the-works second album from Brisbane duo of Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley. Follows 2012’s ARIA-winning international breakthrough Bloodstreams. Band currently recording at The Grove near the Central Coast of NSW with producer Burke Reid (Drones, Jack Ladder). Planned for early May through I Oh You/Liberation.

The Zebras: Third album from Melbourne indie pop band. Follows 2009’s Worry a Lot. Recorded and mixed by frontman Jeremy Cole. Includes the free single ‘Chase’ (below). Out in May through Lost & Lonesome.

Shovels: Debut album from trio formed last year and split between Melbourne and San Francisco. Follows last October’s debut EP. Out in May through Homeless.

Vance Joy: Debut album from songwriter James Keogh. Follows the international breakthrough EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing and a five-album deal with Atlantic Records. Out in May through Liberation.

Wagons: New album from venerable Melbourne country-rock consortium. Follows 2011’s Rough, Shake and Tumble and 2012’s solo album by frontman Henry Wagons. Out in May through Spunk.

Martyr Privates: Self-titled. Debut album from Brisbane dirge-rock trio, formed in early 2011 in a storage shed in Milton. Follows last year’s “insanely good” 7” on Bon Voyage. Includes the single ‘You Can’t Stop Progress’. Out May 2 through Bedroom Suck.

Cables: Self-titled debut tape from Adelaide band featuring members of Wireheads, Big Richard Insect, Fake Tan and XY Clinic. Features ‘Cables Theme Song’. Out TBC through Major Crimes.

Major Crimes: Second release by Adelaide band featuring members of Rule of Thirds and Body Horror. Follows 2012’s Monsoon](http://majorcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/major-crimes-monsoon-ep-mcr001) EP. Out TBC through Major Crimes.

June

Fair Maiden: Self-titled. Debut album from Adelaide quartet led by Ellen Carey (Birth Glow, Clue to Kalo, Jemima Jemima) and “occasionally featuring” members of Peak Twins, Summer Flake and others. Out June 6 through Bedroom Suck.

Livingstone Daisies: Second album for Melbourne power-pop quartet featuring Van Walker, Liz Stringer and Weddings Parties Anything’s Michael Barclay. Follows last year’s Don’t Know What Happiness Is. Out in June through Popboomerang.

Major Leagues: Debut album from Brisbane noise-pop quartet. Follows their Weird Season EP and last year’s single ‘Endless Drain’, which ranked #10 in our Tracks of 2013. Due in May independently.

Exhaustion: Second album from bleak Melbourne trio featuring members of Actual Holes, Deaf Wish, Lower Plenty, Ooga Boogas and Leather Towel. Follows last year’s quick-to-sell-out Future Eaters. Due out sometime in 2014 through Aarght.

July

Twerps: Second album from Jessica Alba-beloved jangle exports. Follows 2011’s self-titled album. Slated for mid-year through Chapter. Making-of trailer below.

Ribbons Patterns: Big Days. Second album from Melbourne band fronted by Donnie Dureau (Blueline Medic), featuring a new line-up. Follows 2010’s self-titled debut. Recorded in Hobart with producer Lincoln Le Fevre. Out July 4 through Poison City.

Laura Jean: Fourth album from acclaimed folk singer/songwriter. Follows 2011’s a fool who’ll. Being recorded right now in England with John Parish (of PJ Harvey fame) and Norway’s Jenny Hval. Slated for mid-year through Chapter.

August

Sunbeam Sound Machine: Debut album from the psychedelic solo project of Nick Sowersby, which becomes a four-piece live. Follows last year’s digital double EP. Out in August through Dot Dash/Remote Control.

Sewers: Second album from Brisbane punk quartet. Follows last year’s Hoisted. Out in August through Homeless.

The Earthmen: College Heart. Retrospective compilation from 1990s Melbourne pop greats. Coincides with a planned one-off reunion gig. Read recent interview here. Out in August through Popboomerang.

Beyond…

Spod Spodumentary (Rice is Nice)
Circular Keys TBA (Independent)
Geoffrey O’Connor TBA (Chapter)
City Calm Down TBA (I Oh You)
Day Ravies TBA (Popfrenzy)
Grand Salvo TBA (Preservation)
The Bon Scotts TBA (Popboomerang)
Jonny Telafone TBA (Chapter)
Document Swell TBA 12” EP (Fallopian Tunes)
Tlaotlon TBA cassette (1080p)
Exotic Snake Two TBA EPs (Fallopian Tunes)
Wywy B TBA cassette (1080p)
Big Yawn TBA EP (Fallopian Tunes)
Batpiss TBA (Every Night is a Saturday Night)
Miami Horror TBA (Remote Control)
Footy TBA (Lost & Lonesome)
GUM Delorean Highway (Spinning Top)
Milk Teddy TBA (Lost & Lonesome)
Deep Sea Arcade TBA (TBA)
Bad Lifers TBA LP (Dream Damage)
Fig Newlies TBA EP (Dream Damage)
Cat Cat TBA EP (Dream Damage)
Last Leaves TBA (Lost & Lonesome)
Wooshie EP (This Thing)
Hyperborea LP (This Thing)
Ausmuteants Felix Tried to Kill Himself 7” (Goodbye Boozy) and Stale White Boys Playing Stale Black Music 7” (Easter Bilby)

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