The Joe Kings – Calls in the Night

When gutsy blues riffs open the debut EP for this young Perth duo-turned-full band, it’s easy to see why they were invited to play the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival earlier this year.

Martha Tilston – Lucy And The Wolves

The sixth album for British folk songstress Martha Tilston, Lucy And The Wolves, is a poetic ode to nature with songs like Rockpools, Seabirds and Wave Machine inspiring pastoral yearning for grey English skies over the rocky British coast. Opener The Cape is dramatic, emotive and showcases her striking voice in a somewhat traditional folk style, setting in motion the album’s musical journey.

Hole – Nobody’s Daughter

Considering that Courtney Love’s first solo album, the 2004 America’s Sweetheart was a complete and utter flop, it was with some trepidation that I braved Hole’s new release Nobody’s Daughter. Love is, after all, a loose cannon. She released this album under the Hole name, despite legal objections from former Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson and announced that bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was in on the project, before Auf de Maur even knew about the reunion. But, whatever. It’s pretty kick arse, all things considered.

Matisyahu

Matisyahu’s voice crackles through the phone. “I was going over the Brooklyn Bridge, sorry. Any bridge going from Manhattan to Brooklyn breaks up reception,” he says. He is surprisingly soft spoken for such a powerful reggae-rock musician and someone who has a singing voice that soars.

Cloud Control – Bliss Release

Since meeting at a rehearsal for a local musical, Blue Mountains four piece Cloud Control have been producing whimsical tunes culminating in the release of their aptly named debut album, Bliss Release. Opener Meditation Song #2 begins sweetly and softly with singers Al Wright and Heidi Lenffer’s unique voices melding together perfectly, particularly on the higher notes.

Devendra Banhart at Billboard

“I want your babies,” screamed one enthusiastic lass when Mr. Banhart stepped on stage. Although, who could blame her? The man is damn fine. With a musician’s compulsory longish dark hair, a scraggly beard, leather vest and a spanishy accent to boot, it’s no wonder girls go wild. Raised in Venezuela until he moved to America in his teens, his accent is a weird mix of U S of A and South America, but when the band began speaking in Spanish to one another, girls in the audience audibly swooned.

Dark Was The Night (very delayed review, sorry!)

What could be better than a double disc compilation of new music and covers from the who’s who of indie acts? One whose profits benefit the international charity, Red Hot Organisation which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness of HIV Aids.

Naked In The Woods

The gang at FReeZACentral, a government initiative involving a mentoring program for those new to the music industry, has bottled up a surge of girl power. They’ve recorded a diverse array of tracks to introduce some little-known but talented female artists to our welcoming ears, alongside some more familiar names.

We Are Scientists – Barbara

When shit happens, the last thing you want to do is write a music review. With parking fines, uni ball-busting and hangovers in the mix, any kind of logical thinking is all but possible and I’m not sure if I can trust myself to write anything even close to a readable review. However, once listening to We Are Scientists’ third full length, Barabara, opening track Rules Don’t Stop puts an end to my self-indulgent misery.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Disneyland was the place of a musical epiphany for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy trumpeter Glen “the kid” Marhevka. Unlike most 11 year-olds, it wasn’t Mickey or Donald that made a lasting impression and he didn’t even go near the rides; instead, it was seeing jazz legend Cab Calloway in full swing that captivated him. “He’s definitely been a big influence on the band, and for myself,” Marhevka says. “We just love his style and energy.”