The Singles Review: Oscar Key Sung, Power, Erasers & More

Welcome to the inaugural iteration of The Singles Review, our monthly wrap and critique covering a hand-picked selection of new Australian and New Zealand tracks. This month SARA SAVAGE, DOUG WALLEN, MAQUARIE FLETCHER and LACHLAN KANONIUK cover new releases from Oscar Key Sung, Erasers, Silicon, Ainslie Wills and Power.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]

Oscar Key Sung – 'Skip'

On first listen I kept thinking about Oscar's early musical project Psuche, whose live shows I used to describe as 'endearingly shambolic'. Now all grown up, there's nothing shambolic about the super-slick work of Oscar Key Sung – sometimes to a fault, I think, which is why I love the bit in the second verse of this track that's interrupted by a cheeky lil sound effect of an iPhone receiving a text message. It's a surprisingly humorous moment that counterpoises the earnestness of the song and its repeated hook. Elsewhere, befittingly intimate lyrics in 'Skip' complement Oscar's soulful vocals (at times reminiscent-ish of The Weeknd) in a confessional mode that suits him well. 78/100
– Sara Savage

Collarbones-esque in its ardent coo and ghostly wisps of melody, ‘Skip’ lodges a hopeful promise (“I won’t skip a beat”) in a stark realm of cosmic desolation. It’s gorgeously understated over a dissipating three minutes, but the lack of a satisfying climax makes it more fleeting than it should be. 72/100
– Doug Wallen

Has Oscar listened to any new music since So Far Gone? I hope it's not too late if he's reading this. I think he needs to step out of his S.N.A.G snuggie and experiment with new lyrical content and palettes. Like babe! I get it, you wanna "get to know this girl" lmao. Oscar has proved he's a huge talent but I'm waiting for him to break free because lord knows his fans will follow! It's okay bb! I read somewhere that the iPhone noise was a mistake that he left in, that was my favourite dang part. 62/100
– Maquarie Fletcher

Oscar is an undeniable gun in production, vocal and composition, but he so often let's it go to waste by resting on relatively insipid creations like 'Skip'. He's got a decent album in him I'm sure, but for now the just-released Altruism EP feels like a featherweight stopgap, and the notion of 'now or never' has an expiry date you'd think. The offhand appeal of last year's Café Romantica collab with Andras Fox is far more becoming. 58/100
– Lachlan Kanoniuk

Erasers – 'Golden Tones'

For a Perth band I always thought Erasers were more suited to a stereotypically 'Melbourne' audience (y'know: catatonic), and as someone who enjoys a good subtle sway back-and-forth on the D-floor I'm glad to see them back in action after an almost two-year break. With 'Golden Tones' they return doing what they do best: hypnotic, pulsating gloom-pop. This is a sound I can get behind. Bring on the album. 88/100
– Sara Savage

More synth-clogged, home-recorded drones from the superb Erasers/Pouring Dream/Leaving camp in Perth. Aptly titled too, for the most part: brighter tones surface after the initial claggy organ and menacing bass. Erasers are more pop-oriented than the other Pouring Dream stuff, but Rebecca Orchard’s dazed vocals still don’t wander in after almost two minutes. This is all about cumulative layers and persistent motion. 80/100
– Doug Wallen

Pretty cute, I like anything that puts me into a lil trance. Perth has such cool stuff happening! Is Perth the new Tote? 70/100
– Maquarie Fletcher

The droning synth feels like laser ear surgery, its clinical delivery a virtue. Has the air of religious ceremony once it draws you into the zone, which it does so with ease. 85/100
– Lachlan Kanoniuk

Silicon – 'God Emoji'

Lol at people comparing Silicon to Connan Mockasin – y'know there are more than two weirdo Kiwi pop bros around, yeah? Anyway, it's good to see Kody Nielson back under a new moniker. There's a well-informed, Cornelius-like quality in the low-key, futuristic psychedelia of 'God Emoji', complete with swirling synths, oscillating vocals and a catchy hook ("Don't wanna go out on a Saturday night"). It's hard to imagine Nielson breaking stuff and hurdling drum kits to this music like he was known for in the Mint Chicks days, but hey, who knows, could happen. 80/100
– Sara Savage

It’s easy to lump this in with Kody’s brother (and ex-Mint Chicks bandmate) Ruban’s output as Unknown Mortal Orchestra. They both stoke foggy microcosms that can feel borderless, but this is distinguished by jostling bass licks and the almost disco flirtations at the end. It’s all fairly low-key, which fits with the chorus about staying in on a Saturday night. 75/100
– Doug Wallen

The title of this song had me thinkin' it'd be a post UV boi style ditty. Its kind of Ariel Pink lite or something? God, all this music sounds the same to me. It's smooth sure, but then so is my butt when I exfoliate it with Aesop. I wish it sounded like the Mint Chicks. 38/100
– Maquarie Fletcher

I've appreciated Kody's previous projects without investing too heavily, and I can see the same happening with Silicon. 'God Emoji' picks up where chillwave left in some ways, sounding like a slick R Stevie Moore in tone and sentiment. I dig it, and I especially dig the use of the classic disco 'boow's. 73/100
– Lachlan Kanoniuk

Ainslie Wills – 'Hawaii'

You can't deny the stunning multi-layered pop production and rock-solid vocals in this track, but there still seems to be something missing; something falls flat. 'Hawaii' doesn't grab me at all until about halfway through when it finally settles into the 80s power-ballad vibe it's going for, but even then that moment is short-lived – and though I feel like I really want to melodramatically grab the air to this song, it doesn't quite let me. 65/100
– Sara Savage

Ainslie Wills and regular collaborator Lawrence Folvig are intent on pushing far beyond singer-songwriter territory into genre-bending experimentation. Thus the Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder vibes in this morphing oddity of a power ballad. Matt Redlich’s production is genuinely transporting, but the song itself doesn’t stick and the lyrical message gets dulled in the process. 50/100
– Doug Wallen

Is it weird I get an almost Gillian Welch vocal vibe from Ainslie? I like this it's pretty nice. Its like a Golden Delicious version of Fiona Apple – a bit sweeter and juicier? The drums sound grouse towards the last portion of the track. I like their transition from a muddy background position to the forefront. A few moods within the one track. Cool. 68/100
– Maquarie Fletcher

I see this working way more as an album cut, but it works fairly well as a standalone track. There's nostalgia, but it's by no means used as a crutch. Sparkles like a moonlit lagoon when it hits a stride. 70/100
– Lachlan Kanoniuk

Power – 'Slimy's Chains'

I'm sure some people rag on Power for rock posturing or wearing their influences right on their sleeves, but whatever, who cares – this is raw Cool Death boogie-rock from Melbourne that doesn't mess around. Currently listening to this one in NYC and fuck I'm homesick for The Tote. 88/100 – Sara Savage

It’s simple enough, but these guys do live-wire proto-punk just right. Those grotty guitars and exaggeratedly snide vocals sound beamed straight from the ’70s, and the chugging momentum and whine of feedback seal the deal. This would fit perfectly in the HoZac catalogue. 75/100
– Doug Wallen

Boogie rock? Have you ever heard 'Boogie In Your Butt' by Eddie Murphy? That song is cooked but it really fit my personal brand circa year 11. I think this song also fits my personal brand year 11. Are the members of this band cute? I would probably have a crush on them if I listen to this via my 15 year old ears. I used to think I was pretty hard when I listened to The Gun Club and didn't do my homework. Nothing's changed. 59/100
– Maquarie Fletcher

'Slimy's Chains' is like two songs in one, both of them are fucking sick, its clanging riffs sounding like they're DI'd right into the earhole. Real and raw. 90/100
– Lachlan Kanoniuk

Final ratings:

Ainslie Wills – 'Hawaii' 63/100
Silicon – 'God Emoji' 67/100
Oscar Key Sung – 'Skip' 68/100
Power – 'Slimy's Chains' 78/100

Single Of The Month
Erasers – 'Golden Tones' 81/100

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Sara Savage is a writer, editor and broadcaster currently based in NYC. She runs the music blog & former Triple R radio show No Pants. Follow Sara on Twitter.

Doug Wallen is Music Editor of The Big Issue and a freelance journalist. Follow Doug on Twitter

Maquarie Fletcher is a freelance writer and host of Triple R's Hit Me Up.

Lachlan Kanoniuk is the Editor of M+N. Follow him on Twitter.